Viking now has ten Nile-focused river cruise ships, boosting choice for passengers.
A delivery ceremony was held for the Viking Sekhmet at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt this week. Named after an ancient Egyptian goddess of war, the ship can host 82 guests in 41 cabins and is 236 feet long. Its Scandinavian design follows the rest of Viking’s river and ocean-going fleet, and it features a distinctive square bow, as well as an indoor and outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
The Viking Sekhmet will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, as well as the new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary in 2027.
During both itineraries, guests begin with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo, where they can visit sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum.
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Passengers 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.
The itinerary features trips to the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan and to a Nubian village.
The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
Prices start from £5,495 per person and include flights, transfers, onboard meals, tips, wifi and an excursion in almost every port.
Other Viking ships on the Nile river include Viking Osiris – named after the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld, afterlife, and rebirth – and Viking Aton, inspired by an Egyptian sun god.
Leah Talactac, president and chief executive of Viking, said: “The Nile has connected people with the history and culture of Egypt for thousands of years, and it continues to be a destination that inspires curious travellers.
“With the arrival of the elegant Viking Sekhmet, we are pleased to offer even more opportunities for curious travellers to explore Egypt in Viking comfort.”
Viking is continuing to grow its fleet, with the cruise line expected to take delivery of 19 additional river ships by 2028, 11 additional ocean ships by 2032 and two additional expedition ships by 2031. With these orders, Viking will have 114 river ships in 2028 and 28 ocean and expedition ships in 2032.
This figure includes two hydrogen-powered ocean cruise ships that will have the capacity to produce up to six megawatts of power and to sail with zero exhaust emissions during parts of a voyage.
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