Viking Newest Egypt Ship Touches Water For The First Time

Set to Debut in Summer 2024, the New Viking Hathor Further Expands Viking’s Fleet on the Nile River

Today Viking announced its newest ship for the Nile River cruises the 82-guest Viking Hathor was “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone for the line and the first time the newly constructed ship has touched water.

Set to debut in August 2024, the Viking Hathor will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships on the Nile River and will sail guests on Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

“Egypt is a phenomenal destination, and we are pleased with the continued interest for our Nile River voyages. Our guests are thinking people who are curious about the world and Egypt, with its cultural treasures and ancient antiquities, remains at the top of the travel list for many of them,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “With the float out of the Viking Hathor, we look forward to welcoming more guests to experience this fantastic region.” Hagen added.

A traditional float out ceremony of the Viking Hathor took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt and is significant for the line as it marks the ship moving into its final stage of construction. She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out to Vikings renowned luxury specifications that guests are accustomed to.

The Viking Hathor Joins Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet

Playing host for 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art and luxurious Viking Hathor is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The Hathor Will sail on select Viking Nile River cruise itineraries.

An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris and the Viking Aton, the Viking Hathor features several aspects familiar to seasoned Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.

Viking will have six ships sailing their Nile River cruise itineraries by 2025 with the addition of another sister ship, the Viking Sobek, which is already under construction and will be delivered next year. Additional ships in the Egypt fleet currently include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Nile River Cruise 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. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, and 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. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

Recently, the Viking Osiris was named one of the “Best New Cruises” in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” and the “Best Luxury River Cruise” in Forbes’ “Best Luxury Cruises” list. Additionally, TIME magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places” list, recommending sailing the Nile River cruise with Viking.

TIME notes that Viking is among the very few who stop in both Giza and the village of Sakkara, where excavation sites, like the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.

Additional Offerings

For guests looking to extend their journey in Egypt, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London, where they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums. First a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.

Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world, and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and art and go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter’s archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Lastly, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.

You can add a three-night Pre-Extension in Istanbul, where guests can visit the timeless city and important religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” and the legendary Hagia Sophia. After concluding the river voyage, guests can also extend the journey by adding a 4-night Post-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.

My Thoughts

Viking continues to be innovative in their design and build of new ships, setting the bar higher with each new build. Viking guests are accustomed to elegance, luxury and world class service, and that is exactly what Viking delivers and excels at, continuously improving on an already phenomenal product in both the luxury ocean and river cruise space.

I would highly recommend exploring the Viking Nile River itineraries and marking your calendar to go explore one of the most beautiful and ancient areas of the world. Viking will undoubtedly provide you with an unforgettable and luxurious experience along the way.