Tourexpi
Set to debut in 2024, the Viking Hathor will join the
company's growing fleet of purpose-built ships on the Nile River, which sail
the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Demand in Egypt remains strong, with Viking's 2023 season sold out
and some sailings into 2025 already selling out.
Viking today announced voyages on its newest Nile River ship, the Viking
Hathor, are now available for booking. Set to debut in 2024, the Viking Hathor
will join the company’s growing fleet of purpose-built ships on the Nile River
including her identical sister ships, the Viking Aton and the Viking Osiris
(pictured here). For more information, visit www.viking.com.
"Egypt continues to be one of our most popular
destinations," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "As a
country rich with history and culture, we are pleased to bring the Viking way
of exploration to Egypt for our guests. With the addition of
the Viking Aton this summer and the Viking Hathor next
summer, we are looking forward to meeting the growing demand in the
region."
The news follows recent accolades for Viking's river fleet in Egypt.
In its first year of sailing, the Viking Hathor's identical sister
ship, the Viking Osiris, was
named as one of the "Best New Cruises" in Conde Nast Traveler's "2023
Hot 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 Hathor & Viking's Growing Egypt Fleet
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Hathor is
inspired by Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant
Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The Viking Hathor is
the identical sister ship to the Viking Aton, which
debuts in August 2023, and the Viking Osiris, which
was named in 2022 by Viking's first ceremonial godfather, the 8th Earl of
Carnarvon. The sister ships feature several aspects familiar to Viking guests,
such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. In
addition to the Viking Aton and the Viking Osiris, the Viking
Hathor will join the other ships in the Egypt fleet, the Viking Ra and
the MS Antares. In
response to strong demand, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile by 2025
with the addition of a new sister ship, the Viking Sobek, which is also
under construction and will be delivered in 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 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.
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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