Citing High Demand, Viking Cruises Adds More Sailings on Nile River

Viking is adding more sailings to its 2024 Viking Hathor season on the Nile.

Viking said on Thursday that the ship, which will debut in 2024, will sail more of the company’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, which is already sold out on current ships for 2023 and some other sailings into 2025.

The ship will join four other Viking ships already sailing the river—Viking Ra, MS Antares, Viking Aton, and Viking Osiris. By 2026, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile with the addition of a new sister ship, Viking Sobek. Viking Hathor, a sister ship to Viking Aton, will feature the company’s signature square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace

The Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary starts with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, taking guests to the Great Pyramids, the Sakkara, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. From there, guests will fly to Luxor where they’ll visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding their sailing for an eight-day cruise on the Nile.

The cruise includes 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, and more.

The itinerary ends with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the capital city.

“Egypt continues to be one of our most popular destinations,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “  “As a country rich with history and culture, we are pleased to bring the Viking way of exploration to Egypt for our guests. With the addition of the Viking Aton this summer and the Viking Hathor next summer, we are looking forward to meeting the growing demand in the region.”