Sarah Bretz, ContributorViking has officially taken delivery of its newest Nile River ship, Viking Hathor. The delivery ceremony took place when the new ship was presented at Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt. The 82-guest vessel will operate Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaoh’s & Pyramids itinerary.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor to our award-winning river fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With its abundance of cultural treasures and ancient antiquities, Egypt has always been a destination of great interest to curious travelers, including our guests. We believe our ships are by far the most elegant vessels sailing the Nile River, and we look forward to introducing even more explorers to this fantastic destination in the years to come.”
Viking Hathor
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Hathor is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design that Viking is known for. An identical sister ship to Viking Osiris and Viking Aton, Viking Hathor features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Additional ships in the Egypt fleet include Viking Ra and MS Antares.
Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum.
They then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. The itinerary features visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school, are also on the schedule. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
Those looking to extend their journey in Egypt can book a pre or post-cruise extension that provides privileged access to archives and exhibits. Additional offerings include a three-night pre-cruise extension in Istanbul. After concluding the river cruise, guests can also extend the journey with a four-night extension to Jordan — Petra, Dead Sea & Amman to view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak, and experience the lost city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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