Viking Floats Out Viking Hathor, Specially Designed to Sail the Nile River
Viking has announced that its newest ship, the 82-guest Viking Hathor, which will sail the Nile River, has been “floated out.” This major milestone marks the first time the vessel has touched water and indicates that the ship is now ready for its final stage of construction.
Viking Hathor debuts in August and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman of Viking and he remarked “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.”
“With the float out of the Viking Hathor, we look forward to welcoming more guests to experience this fantastic region.”
Latest Viking Float Out
Viking Hathor’s float out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo. Next, she will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
The state-of-the-art Viking Hathor hosts 82 guests in 41 staterooms and is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships. As such, she shares the same exquisite Scandinavian design as her sister ships, the Viking Osiris and the Viking Aton.
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.
By 2025 Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile, including the Viking Sobek which is currently under construction. Other ships in the Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares.
Viking’s Stellar Itineraries
Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary is a 12-day adventure and guests begin their trip with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo. In Cairo guests can view the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Guests then fly on to Luxor, where they see the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River.
Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
Along the way guests have the opportunity to visit the tombs of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Other excursions include a trip to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel, and the High Dam in Aswan. Additionally, guests can tour a colorful Nubian village. The final night of the itinerary has guests flying back to Cairo.
Time magazine featured both Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places” list and recommended that readers sail the Nile River with Viking. Time noted that Viking is one of the few companies to stop in both Giza and the village of Sakkara, where excavation sites, such as the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active.
Viking News: Egypt Cruises Excite
Viking guests can also book Pre and Post Extensions for Egypt, and enjoy Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension are met in London by a Viking Tour Director and expert Egyptologist.
They visit the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum, as well as the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane where a candlelight re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities takes place.
London’s Petrie Museum is also on the itinerary. It houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in existence, and view Egyptian mummies and art. Guests also enjoy access to Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where they explore Howard Carter’s archives which explains the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
To round out the tour, guests have Privileged Access to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s outstanding collection of Egyptian artifacts. There they will view archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.
Guests may also book a three-night Pre-Extension in Istanbul, where they can explore the “Blue Mosque” and the renowned Hagia Sophia.
At the end of the river voyage, guests have the option of extending their journey with a 4-night Post-Extension to Jordan—Petra, Dead Sea & Amman where they will see 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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