By
Alex Smith |
Viking has taken delivery of its newest ship for the Nile River, Viking Hathor, in a delivery ceremony at Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.
Viking Hathor will host up to 82 guests in 41 staterooms and features a design inspired by Viking’s river and ocean cruise vessels, with a square bow and the returning indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. It joins identical sister ships Viking Osiris and Viking Aton in the Egypt fleet, alongside Viking Ra and MS Antares.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor to our award-winning river fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “With its abundance of cultural treasures and ancient antiquities, Egypt has always been a destination of great interest to curious travellers, including our guests. We believe our ships are by far the most elegant vessels sailing the Nile River, and we look forward to introducing even more explorers to this fantastic destination in the years to come.”
Like its sister ships, Viking Hathor will sail Viking’s 12-day ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids’ itinerary roundtrip from Cairo. Each voyage will begin with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo and visits to sites around the city. Guests will then fly to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, before boarding the ship for an eight-day cruise along the Nile River that will feature visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Shore excursions are also available 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 Nubian village. The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the city.