Viking’s Newest Nile River Cruise Ships Join Growing Fleet in Egypt
When I cruised with Viking on its new Nile River ship Viking Osiris, it was a thrilling experience, offering a highly educational program while enjoying the cozy comforts of the nicest ship in Egypt. There was excellent food and daily activities packed with tours to the most sought-after destinations along the river.
We saw all the best stuff, including the Great Pyramid complex in Giza, the Great Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and the Valley of the Kings and the tombs of King Tut and other great pharaohs and leaders from the ancient era.
I am convinced that a Viking Nile River cruise is the best way for people to visit these popular sites in Egypt.
And the line continues to add to its growing fleet in this special destination.
Viking named its newest river ships, Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, at a celebration in Luxor. Edward Herbert, served as ceremonial godfather of Viking Hathor.
His great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, was Howard Carter’s benefactor and co-explorer, whose excavation uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Luxor more than 100 years ago on November 4, 1922. Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, served as the ceremonial godfather of Viking Sobek.
Sister Ships Join Viking’s Nile River Fleet
Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek are identical sister ships to Viking Aton and Viking Osiris and are state-of-the-art vessels designed specifically to navigate the Nile River on Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
"Today, we are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek to our growing fleet in Egypt. Along with their sister ships, we believe they are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking.
The naming ceremony took place at Viking’s exclusive docking location in Luxor.
Godfather of Viking Hathor
The Hon. Edward Herbert is the son of George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, and Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon. In his godfather role, Edward joins his father and mother, who are also Viking’s first “godparents.” In 2022, Lord Carnarvon became Viking’s first godfather, fulfilling the role for Viking Osiris.
Lady Carnarvon is the godmother of a Viking Longship, Viking Skadi and an ocean ship, Viking Mars.
Edward’s great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, spent 16 years working in Luxor and in 1922, with his colleague Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen. In Lady Carnarvon’s book “The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun,” she discusses the behind-the-scenes story of the historic discovery.
Highclere Castle, Egypt & Viking
For years Viking has offered a variety of ways to experience life at Highclere Castle, which is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the historic estate best known as the main filming location of the TV series Downton Abbey.
Among the 5th Earl’s many talents, he was an avid amateur photographer. His photographs are at Highclere Castle currently, stored in photo albums in The Library. They show the process of discovering and excavating the tomb of Tutankhamen, as well as scenes of daily life in Egypt during that period. The Carnarvons allow Viking to share this private collection for travelers sailing onboard the sister ships cruising in Egypt on the Nile.
For cruisers interested in extending their exploration of Egypt, Viking offers pre- and post- extensions that provide privileged access to archives and exhibits. The five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension begins in London, where where you meet your Viking tour director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience access to two museums: first a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public — and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.
Visitors also will visit London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, you will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and art — and go behind the scenes at Oxford University’s Griffith Institute to see Howard Carter’s archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Lastly, visitors will enjoy an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl of Carnarvon’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.
Godfather of Viking Sobek
With his exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and deep interest in world cultures, Mohamed El Banna was destined for a career in the travel industry. He completed a bachelor’s degree in commerce and began working in tourism in 1970. Seven years later, he founded Cosmos Tourism Company — now Cosmos Egypt — a Cairo-based tour operator and the country’s oldest destination-management company.
He continues to run the business with his son, Sherif El Banna, who serves as CEO.
Viking has proudly partnered with Cosmos Egypt and El Banna for more than 15 years to offer tours along the Nile River.
As Viking’s exclusive tour operator in Egypt, the company continues to handle all ground operations and transportation for shore excursions and helps source English-speaking tour guides and Egyptologists. Mr. El Banna also helped Viking create its operational division in Egypt, which now includes more than 500 company employees that work in the country. Through these extensive partnerships, Viking consistently provides its cruisers with an award-winning and seamless travel experience in Egypt.
As one of Egypt’s most devoted ambassadors for travel, El Banna has held several influential government positions throughout his distinguished career. Previously, he was a member of the Chamber of Tourism from 1986 to 1994 and served two terms as the Deputy of the Tourism and Antiquities Committee in the House of Representatives from 2005 to 2015. Currently, he is a senator in the Egyptian Senate, a role he will fulfill through the end of his five-year term in 2025.
Viking's Growing Egypt Fleet
The ships can carry up to 82 cruisers in 41 staterooms. Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, like their fleetmates, are inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The ships feature several aspects familiar to Viking cruisers, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in the Egypt fleet include Viking Ra and the MS Antares.
Viking plans to welcome four additional ships in the next two years — the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth in 2025 and the Viking Sekhmet and the Viking Ptah in 2026 — which would bring Viking’s fleet to 10 vessels on the Nile River.
Viking's Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, you begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where you can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Travelers then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions 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 colorful Nubian village, where you can experience a traditional elementary school.
Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.