Viking names 2 new Nile River cruise ships in ceremony at Karnak Temple

   November 11, 2024 ,   Cruise Industry

Viking River Cruises recently named its newest riverboatsViking Hathor and Viking Sobek, during an exclusive celebration in Luxor (Egypt).

The ceremonial role of godfather for Viking Hathor was held by Edward Herbert, whose great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, famously supported the 1922 excavation of King Tutankhamen’s tomb near Luxor.

Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, was honored as the godfather for Viking Sobek.

The Hathor and Sobek vessels are purpose-built for navigating the Nile, designed in the elegant Scandinavian style that defines Viking’s entire fleet.

Sisterships to Viking Aton and Viking Osiris, Hathor and Sobek will operate Viking's 12-day "Pharaohs & Pyramids" itinerary. All these ships are constructed at Cairo’s Massara Shipyard.

Viking’s private docking in Luxor hosted the formal naming, followed by an evening celebration within Karnak Temple. Guests enjoyed a performance by crossover soprano Sissel Kyrkjebo, godmother to the Viking Jupiter, who sang the national anthems of Egypt, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

These 82-passenger Nile cruisers feature Viking’s signature touches, including a square bow and Aquavit Terrace, enhancing a familiar experience for Viking’s guests.

Viking's Egyptian fleet now includes Hathor, Sobek, Viking Ra, and MS Antares, with 4 more ships (Viking Amun, Viking Thoth, Viking Sekhmet, and Viking Ptah) set to launch by 2026.

During the Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests stay 3 nights in Cairo, touring landmarks like the Pyramids of Giza, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. The itinerary continues in Luxor with visits to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an 8-day Nile cruise, which includes stops at the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens, the temples of Abu Simbel, and a visit to a traditional Nubian village. The journey concludes in Cairo, offering one final night in Egypt’s ancient capital.