Viking has officially taken delivery of its newest Nile River ship, the Viking Hathor, according to a press release.
The delivery ceremony took place at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt, where the ship was presented. Accommodating 82 guests, the new Viking Hathor will sail the popular 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary.
“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 travelers, 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.”
The Viking Hathor, an identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris and Viking Aton, features several signature Viking elements, including the distinctive square bow and the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. The Egypt fleet also includes the Viking Ra and MS Antares.
The 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids itinerary begins with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo, where guests can explore landmarks such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The journey continues with a flight to Luxor, where guests visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an eight-day Nile River cruise aboard a Viking ship. This cruise includes stops at the tombs of Nefertari and Tutankhamun, the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples of Abu Simbel, the High Dam in Aswan and a visit to a Nubian village. The trip concludes with a final night in Cairo after a return flight from Aswan.