Tourexpi
Set to debut in 2025,
the Viking Sobek will
join the company's growing fleet as its sixth ship sailing the popular
12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
With Viking's 2024 Egypt season nearly sold out and 2025 selling well, strong
demand has led to an early opening of the Viking Sobek's inaugural season
and 2026 departure dates across the entire Nile River fleet.
"We are very
pleased with the continued interest in Egypt and are proud to be the
only western company to build, own and operate ships on the Nile,"
said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "With the addition of
the Viking Sobek, we will offer the largest fleet and the most elegant
ships on the Nile, by far. We look forward to introducing even more curious
travelers to the rich history, culture and antiquities of Egypt in
the coming years."
Today's announcement
follows several recent accolades, as Viking was voted to the top of its
categories for oceans, rivers and expeditions by readers in Travel +
Leisure's 2023 "World's Best Awards." Viking is also rated at
the top of its categories for oceans, rivers and expeditions by the readers
of Condé Nast Traveler. No other cruise line has ever received these same
honors by both publications in the same year. In its first year of sailing,
the Viking Sobek's identical sister ship, the Viking Osiris, was
named one of the "Best New Cruises" in Condé Nast
Traveler's "2023 Hot List" and the "Best Luxury River
Cruise" in Forbes' 2023 "Best Luxury Cruises"
list . Additionally, TIME magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on
its "World's Greatest Places of 2023" list, recommending sailing the
Nile River with Viking. TIME notes that Viking is among the very few
who stop in both Giza and the village of Saqqara, where excavation sites, like
the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.
The Viking Sobek &
Viking's Growing Egypt Fleet
Hosting 82 guests in
41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Sobek is inspired by
Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian
design for which Viking is known. The Viking Sobek is the identical
sister ship to the Viking Osiris, which
debuted in 2022, the Viking Aton, which
debuted in 2023, and the Viking Hathor, which
will debut in 2024. Other ships in Viking's Egypt fleet include
the Viking Ra and
the MS Antares; with the
addition of the Viking Sobek, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile
River by 2025.
Viking's 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 Saqqara (also known as "Sakkara") and the Mosque
of Muhammad Ali. Guests 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, featuring Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari
in the Valley of the Queens and 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 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.
For guests looking to
extend their journey, 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's magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as
archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.
Additional offerings
include a new 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. Before their
voyage, guests can also choose to extend their journey in Jerusalem, exploring
the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel's fascinating
capital. After concluding the river voyage, guests can also extend the journey
with 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.
Image Credit: ©
Viking
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