Viking has officially launched two new state-of-the-art river ships, the Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek, with a christening ceremony. The event took place at Viking’s docking location in Luxor, Egypt.
The Hon. Edward Herbert, whose great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, famously co-discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen, served as the godfather for the Hathor. Meanwhile, Mohamed El Banna, the founder of Cosmos Egypt and an influential figure in Egypt’s tourism sector, took on the honor of godfather for the Sobek.
New Vessels to Tour the Nile
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, expressed his excitement about the new ships, remarking in a press statement, “We believe they are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile.”
He went on to highlight the company’s long-standing relationship with the Carnarvon family, noting how honored the company was to have Edward Herbert as the godfather of the Viking Hathor. “For more than 15 years, Mohamed El Banna has been part of the Viking family, and it’s a privilege to have him as the godfather of the Viking Sobek,” Hagen added.
The two new ships join the expanding fleet in Egypt, with both vessels being identical sister ships to the Viking Aton and Viking Osiris. With only 82 guests on board, the ships feature spacious staterooms, a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace—all designed to maximize the experience of Egypt’s ancient wonders.
Viking has long offered travelers unique opportunities to explore Egypt’s treasures, and the new ships will play an integral role in its 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. Guests will begin their journey with a 3-night stay in Cairo to visit landmarks such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum. They will then fly to Luxor for an 8-day cruise along the Nile, exploring legendary sites like the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak and the vibrant Nubian village of Aswan.
For those seeking deeper exploration, there are pre- and post-cruise extensions with Privileged Access to private collections and archives, including rare access to the archives of Howard Carter, the archaeologist behind the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb.
With the addition of the Hathor and Sobek, Viking is enhancing its offerings in Egypt, providing even more immersive experiences for travelers eager to uncover the mysteries of this ancient civilization.
For more information, visit vikingcruises.com.
