Viking River Cruises: Viking Sobek float out
Viking Sobek, the sixth Viking ship to sail on the Nile River with a capacity of 82 guests, has been launched, marking a significant milestone as it touches water for the first time. The ship will set sail in the fall of 2024, joining Viking’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships on the Nile and will navigate the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
“Egypt has always fascinated travelers with its rich culture and history, and it continues to be a destination of interest for our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “We believe that Viking Sobek and its sister ships are by far the most elegant ships on the Nile, and we look forward to welcoming even more guests to explore this fantastic region.”
The traditional launching ceremony for Viking Sobek was held at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, marking the beginning of its final construction phase, which will take place at a nearby shipyard where the interior will be completed and fitted out.
Viking
Viking Nile River
During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests will stay three nights in a first-class hotel in Cairo, allowing them to visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sakkara necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. The cruise then begins in Luxor, where guests can visit the Luxor and Karnak Temples before embarking on an eight-day journey to discover the Nile, with visits to Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens and Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the Abu Simbel temples, the Aswan High Dam, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village. Finally, the journey concludes with a return flight to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
The new and modern Viking Sobek, sister ship to Viking Osiris, Viking Aton, and Viking Hathor, which is set to debut this summer, accommodates 82 passengers in 41 cabins. It features the elegant and Scandinavian design Viking is known for and includes familiar aspects such as the distinctive square bow and the Aquavit Terrace. With the addition of both Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, the company will have six ships sailing the Nile by the end of 2024.
Viking Sobek
Viking Sobek
Viking Cruises has also received several accolades as “Best Luxury Cruises” and stands out as one of the few companies that stop at both Giza and the Sakkara village, where active excavation sites like the mega tombs of animal and human mummies can be seen. For guests wishing to extend their stay in Egypt, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits.
With the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension, the journey begins in London, where, with the Viking Tour Director, an experienced Egyptologist, guests can visit two museums: the Egyptian Collection of the British Museum and a visit to the home and personal museum of the famous architect Sir John Soane. Guests will also visit the Petrie Museum in London, which houses over 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world, home to a diverse collection of Egyptian mummies and art, and will go behind the scenes at the Griffith Institute at the University of Oxford, enjoying a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter’s archives detailing the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Finally, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to see the magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts of the Earl of Carnarvon, as well as the normally inaccessible archives and exhibits.
Luxor
Il Cairo
