Viking Takes Delivery of Viking Hathor
Viking Cruises has taken delivery of its new Nile River cruise ship, the Viking Hathor, in a handover ceremony at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.
Viking Hathor, which can accommodate up to 82 guests in 41 cabins, joins the growing fleet of state-of-the-art Viking ships on the Nile and will sail the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. The ship features the elegant Scandinavian design that Viking is known for, with familiar aspects seen on her sister ships, such as the signature square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
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The 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary begins with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where guests can visit iconic sites like the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Saqqara Necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. The journey continues with a flight to Luxor, where guests explore the temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an eight-day cruise on the Nile River, including visits to Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens and Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, along with excursions to the Temple of Khnum at Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples of Abu Simbel, the Aswan High Dam, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village. The journey concludes with a return flight to Cairo for one final night in the ancient city.
For guests wishing to extend their stay in Egypt, Viking also offers pre- and post-cruise extensions that provide exclusive access to archives and exhibits. One option is the five-day “British Collections of Ancient Egypt” extension, starting in London, where guests will enjoy privileged access to two museums: a private morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the public, followed by a visit to the home and private museum of renowned architect Sir John Soane, complete with a candlelit tour. Guests will also visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses over 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will explore the Ashmolean Museum, one of the world’s oldest museums, with a diverse collection of mummies and Egyptian art, and go behind the scenes at the University of Oxford’s Griffith Institute for a privileged-access visit to view Howard Carter’s archives detailing the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. The extension also includes an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to see the magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts of the Earl of Carnarvon, as well as archives and exhibits not typically open to the public.
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Piramids of Giza, Egypt for Secrets of Egypt
Other options include a three-night pre-extension in Istanbul, where guests can explore the timeless city and significant religious sites, including the Blue Mosque and the legendary Hagia Sophia. After completing the Nile journey, guests can extend their trip with a four-night post-extension in Jordan: Petra, Dead Sea, and Amman, featuring Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra, the lost city.
Viking remains committed to offering carefully curated and unique experiences, having earned numerous accolades, including being ranked first in river, ocean, and expedition cruises by Condé Nast Traveler in the most recent Readers’ Choice Awards. Additionally, the Viking Aton was named one of the “Best New Cruises” in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List 2024,” while Viking Osiris was named one of the “Best New Cruises” in the “Hot List 2023” and “Best Luxury River Cruise of 2024” in Forbes’ “Best Luxury Cruises” list. TIME magazine also featured both Giza and Saqqara on its 2023 “World’s Greatest Places” list, highlighting Nile River cruises with Viking.
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