Viking has announced an expansion to its Egypt fleet with new ship Viking Aton, scheduled to debut in September 2022.
The new state-of-the-art river vessel is currently under construction and will sail on the cruise line’s Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, along with its sister ships Viking Osiris and Viking Ra.
“Egypt remains a top destination for many of our guests who are inspired to discover the rich history and beauty of the region,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, in a press release statement. “We will always maintain our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that are focused on the destination. The addition of Viking Aton is a reflection of our continued investment in Egypt; we look forward to introducing the country’s cultural treasures to even more Viking guests in the future.”
Viking Aton will host 82 guests in 41 staterooms, and includes features such as spacious suites with two full-size rooms and verandas; a pool and sun deck with 360-degree views; Viking Lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass doors; and Viking’s Aquavit Terrace concept, offering al fresco dining and indoor/outdoor viewing along the Nile River.
The Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary begins with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo, where guests can visit sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Guests will then fly to Luxor to visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River.
The itinerary includes Privileged Access® 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. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night.
Guests also have the option to extend their journey with the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension, which retraces the steps of Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Beginning in London, the tour will include a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public; as well as a visit to the home and personal museum of Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus.
After visiting London’s Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan, guests will then travel to Oxford to view the Egyptian collections of the Ashmolean Museum and Oxford University’s Griffith Institute. Lastly, guests will visit Highclere Castle – the country seat of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon – to view the Earl’s private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.
For more information visit viking.com.
