Viking Ra

The 2018-built MS Viking Ra is a Nile River cruise ship bought by Viking Cruises for cruisetours in Egypt. The boat's itinerary program started in March 2018. This top-luxury Nile cruiser is named after the ancient Egyptian Sun god Ra. It also pays homage to Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) and his papyrus-reed boats Ra and Ra II.

Viking Ra's fleetmates in Egypt are Antares (2007), the sisterships Osiris (2022), Aton (2023), Hathor (2024), the 2025-built Sobek, Amun and Thoth, and the 2026-built Sekhmet and Ptah.

Unlike the sisterships, Viking Ra is not a newbuild, but an existing vessel acquired by Viking Cruises and drydock refitted (totally reconstructed) to meet the company's highest standards of amenities and services.

Viking Ra features spacious public areas, a stylish outdoor deck with an infinity swimming pool, 2 large Jacuzzies (whirlpool tubs), sunbathing area (with premium garden furniture - loungers and low tables) and a shaded seating area (covered with sail-like awnings) with deckchairs and 4-seat tables.

Viking's cruise ship Ra has an indoor Bar Lounge, Restaurant, wellness complex (spa, massage rooms, beauty salon with hairdresser-barber services).

Like most Egypt-based/Nile cruisers, Viking Ra was constructed at Cairo's Maasara Shipyard, which is owned by The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co).

Cabins

The riverboat Viking Ra staterooms (24 total) are in 3 types (suites) and equally sized (27 m2 / 290 ft2). The most common cabin type (accounting for 20 of all staterooms) are with full-size, step-out balcony (off the living room) plus French Balcony (in the bedroom).

As standard amenities provided complimentary, all Viking Ra staterooms offer:

• riverview (large windows, most of which are floor-ceiling and opening to a French Balcony)
• dedicated cabin steward, housekeeping service (twice daily), daily-replenished bottled water
• hotel-style double bed (79x63 inches / 200x160 cm, with under bed storage for suitcases), luxury Egyptian bedding sets (linens, sheets, duvets), deluxe pillows, bedside tables/cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps. Optional twin-beds (2 separate lower beds) configurations (plus 1 sofabed) are also available.
• large lounge area (furnished with a low table, comfortable sofa/not sofabed, comfortable club chairs, mirrored vanity (writing desk) with a chair, wardrobe (wooden hangers)
• en-suite bathroom (with glass-enclosed shower cubicle, double-sink vanity, anti-fog LED mirror, WC-toilet, undersink storage, premium brand bath toiletries (Freyja), luxury bathrobes. Slippers are provided complimentary upon request.
• 40-inch smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite reception, on-demand movies), multiple USB ports, refrigerator / mini-bar, electronic safe box (in the closet), phone, hairdryer, 110/220 V power outlets, individual air-conditioning.

Viking Nile River cruise itineraries in Egypt

Previously, Viking Cruises Egypt operated Nile River and Lake Nasser cruisetour itineraries with chartered ships. Since 2020, the fleet consists of Viking-owned ships navigating the Nile portion only (roundtrip from Luxor) with fly-cruise packages inclusive of two domestic flights (Cairo-Luxor-Cairo).

Viking's Nile River cruisetour is themed "Pharaohs and Pyramids".

The 12-day itinerary incorporates 7-day cruising on Nile River and starts with a 3-night hotel stay in Cairo and tours to iconic attractions like Grand Egyptian Museum, Great Pyramids of Giza, Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Cruise tourists then fly to Luxor to visit Karnak and the Temples of Luxor before boarding the Viking cruise ship for a 7-night Nile cruise to Aswan and back. The next table shows the 7-day roundtrip itinerary as a ports sequence.

Tours include a private visit to Nefertari's tomb (Valley of the Queens) and excursions to Khnum Temple (Esna) and Dendera Temple complex (Qena). A visit to a Nubian village is also included.

Most Nile River cruise boats (from a total of ~200 vessels) are marketed as 5-star - but most of them are definitely not premium. The onboard food is buffet-style and far away from gourmet. The major advantage of the Egyptian river cruises are that they are way cheaper in comparison to the European inland cruises. Viking's Nile tours surely bring the luxurious style (generally associated with the Viking brand) to Egypt, along with higher cruise fares.

Viking Ra ship cruise deals are inclusive of:

• 11 Egypt excursions (led by a local professional guide) with headsets for guests being provided
• Complimentary onboard Internet and beverages (beers, wines, soft beverages) during lunches and dinners)
• All Government taxes and fees in ports of call
• Domestic flights (in Egypt) between Cairo and Luxor; and between Aswan and Cairo
• Airport transfers (on embarkation and disembarkation dates) - only if flights are purchased through Viking Cruises' "Viking Air" flight program.

Viking's Nile cruisetour features:

• 7-night Nile River cruising portion
• 12-day itinerary visiting 1 country, 6 ports, 1 city (by land, 3-night hotel stay (Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo, 1-night hotel stay (InterContinental Cairo Hotel).
• The cruise tour visits 4 UNESCO sites in Egypt, as well as the Dendera Temple complex (Hathor).
• Onboard Culture Curriculum (enrichment program) with an expert Egyptologist (also leading all shore excursions). Lectures onboard are also themed on women's roles in Egypt and on the country's current political events.
• Passengers also visit a private home in an authentic Nubian village (from Aswan).
• Onboard and ashore dining/meals that are cruise price inclusive include 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners. Onboard meals include Egyptian specialties. but American classic dishes are always available.

Signature onboard (formal) events are the Welcome Cocktail Reception and the Farewell Dinner.

Viking Cruises Egypt tour packages (optional hotel+land travel)

In 2023-2024, Viking Cruises Egypt introduced pre- and post-cruise packages as optional extensions of the brand's premium Nile River voyages.

The 3-night Pre-Istanbul Package (priced from US$1400 pp) is inclusive of 3 hotel nights in Istanbul (at Westin Istanbul Nisantasi Hotel or similar), 3 meals (breakfasts), 2 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Istanbul Old City Tour, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace), flight from Istanbul to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Pre-Jerusalem Israel Package (priced from US$2400 pp) is inclusive of 4 hotel nights in Orient Jerusalem Hotel (or similar), 8 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner), 3 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Bethlehem Walking Tour, Jerusalem City Tour, Israel Museum Tour), a flight from Tel Aviv to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Pre-British Collections of Ancient Egypt package (priced from US$3700 pp) is inclusive of 2 hotel nights in London (Rosewood Hotel), 2 hotel nights in Oxford (Old Bank Hotel), 6 meals (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches), 4 Privileged Access visits (British Museum, Sir John Soane's Museum, Griffith Institute, Highclere Castle), 3 3 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Petrie Museum, Oxford Walking Tour, Ashmolean Museum), flight from London to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Post-Petra Jordan, Dead Sea and Amman Package (priced from US$2200 pp) is inclusive of 1 flight from Cairo to Amman, 4 nights (1x at Dead Sea, 2x in Petra, 1x in Amman), 8 meals (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners), 4 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Ancient Town of Madaba; Dead Sea Museum, Petra, Amman, Jerash), as well as all transfers. The home flight (from Amman) costs extra.

Viking Ra ship's interiors were designed by the company's Longships designers. The riverboat's interior blends the line's traditional Scandinavian design with traditional Egyptian elements, including Arabic geometric patterns and terrazzo flooring.

On March 14, 2017, US federal trademark registration was filed by the company Viking River Cruises Ltd (Bermuda), Hamilton HM11, trademarking/reserving the words "VIKING RA". The USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) has given the VIKING RA trademark serial number of 87371138. The trademark "VIKING RA" is filed in the category "Transportation & Storage Services".