Viking christens Viking Osiris in Luxor

Viking christened its new river ship, Viking Osiris, with a celebration in Luxor, Egypt.

Designed to sail on the Nile, the ship was built at the Massara shipyard in Cairo and will sail on Viking‘s Bestseller itinerary, “Pharaohs & Pyramids”.

Offering a blessing of good fortune and safe navigation for the ship was George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon, the company’s ceremonial godfather, who further stated, “It is a great honor to be the godfather of Viking Osiris, one of the most beautiful river ships to ever grace the Nile. And it’s great that this is happening in the centennial year of my great-grandfather’s discovery of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb, and no doubt he and my great-grandmother would have been happy to board Viking Osiris if it had sailed in their time.”

“Egypt has always attracted curious explorers for its rich history and antiquities, and since we began operating on the Nile River in 2004, our guests continue to be amazed by the country’s many cultural treasures. Today we are pleased to officially welcome Viking Osiris to our growing fleet on the Nile River, enabling us to welcome even more curious explorers to this incredible destination,” said Torstein Hagen, president of Viking. “During this pivotal year for Egypt, we are also very grateful for the continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family and for the fact that Lord Carnarvon has honored us by serving as our first godfather.”

The 12-day itinerary, Pharaohs & Pyramids, includes a three-night stay in a first-class hotel in Cairo, where guests can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sakkara Necropolis, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and from late 2022 also the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Luxor and Karnak Temples before boarding the ship for an eight-day trip on the Nile River, with privileged access to Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens and Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The trip concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

For guests sailing on the Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary on the Nile River, Viking also offers a 5- day pre-extension of the trip called “British Collections of Ancient Egypt“, which gives guests an introduction to Egyptian antiquities in preparation for their Nile experience, including retracing the steps of Howard Carter and the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.

Viking Osiris accommodating 82 guests in 41 cabins, features the elegant Scandinavian design that Viking is known for, a distinctive square bow, and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit deck. In addition, Viking Aton, sister ship of Viking Osiris, will join the fleet in 2023. During the Naming Ceremony in Luxor, Hagen also announced that two more sister ships, Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

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