Egypt has been on the receiving end of some amazing luxury tourism products, and Viking Cruises is not staying behind. However, their newest ship, Viking Osiris, has a very special story: it was recently christened by none other than the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, the company’s first ceremonial godfather and the great-grandson of one of the discoverers of King Tutankhamon’s tomb 100 years ago.
Designed specifically to navigate the Nile, the state-of-the-art ship will sail Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
“Egypt has always drawn curious explorers for its rich history and ancient antiquities, and ever since we first began operating on the Nile River in 2004, our guests continue to be amazed by the country’s many cultural treasures. Today we are pleased to officially welcome the Viking Osiris to our growing fleet on the Nile River, which allows us to welcome even more curious explorers to this incredible destination,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, in a press statement. “During this milestone year for Egypt, we are also very grateful for the continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family, and that Lord Carnarvon has honored us by serving as the first godfather in our history.”
Cool note: your history buff clients will absolutely love that the Carnarvons have allowed Viking to share their private collection of their ancestor’s incredible photographs—which show the process of discovering and excavating the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as scenes of daily life in Egypt of the period—with guests sailing on board the Viking Osiris.
Don’t forget, Viking has long had a connection with the Carnarvons, as they offer a variety of ways for its guests to experience life at Highclere Castle, their home and the historic estate best known as the filming location of Downton Abbey.
For guests sailing the Pharaohs & Pyramids Nile River itinerary, Viking offers a five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt Pre Extension. Guests experience Privileged Access to archives and museum exhibits not normally accessible to the public, including a private, early morning tour of the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum, as well as visits to Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Petrie Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, which houses Carter’s archives. At Highclere Castle, guests also have the opportunity to view the Earl’s private collection of Egyptian artifacts.
The new Viking Osiris can host 82 guests in 41 staterooms. The 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary begins with a 3-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo so they can visit the local iconic sites (beginning in late 2022, they will also be able to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum). They then fly to Luxor for a visit to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding the ship for an 8-day, round-trip voyage on the Nile River. The itinerary ends with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the city.
For more information, visit viking.com.
