Pharaohs & Pyramids: Viking Launches Newest Luxury River ship, The Viking Sobek

Viking Sets Sail with the Viking Sobek: Luxury on the Nile.

Ahoy, adventure-seekers and luxury enthusiasts! Viking, the renowned cruise line celebrated for its exceptional ocean, river, and expedition cruises, is making waves once again. The company recently announced the availability of voyages on its newest Nile River ship, the Viking Sobek, set to make its grand debut in 2025. 

With Viking’s 2024 Egypt season nearly sold out and robust demand for 2025, the company is opening the Viking Sobek’s inaugural season and 2026 departure dates across its entire Nile River fleet ahead of schedule. Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, expressed his pleasure at the continued interest in Egypt, emphasizing Viking’s unique position as the only Western company to build, own, and operate ships on the Nile. He also highlighted Viking’s commitment to offering the largest fleet and most elegant ships on the Nile.

This exciting announcement follows Viking’s recent accolades, further solidifying its reputation as a top-tier cruise line. Readers of Travel + Leisure voted Viking to the top in multiple categories, including oceans, rivers, and expeditions in the 2023 “World’s Best Awards.” Similarly, Condé Nast Traveler’s readers rated Viking as the best in its categories for oceans, rivers, and expeditions. This remarkable achievement makes Viking the only cruise line to receive these prestigious honors from both publications in the same year.

In its inaugural year, the Viking Sobek’s sister ship, the Viking Osiris, was featured in Condé Nast Traveler’s “2023 Hot List” as one of the “Best New Cruises” and named the “Best Luxury River Cruise” by Forbes in its “2023 Best Luxury Cruises” list. TIME magazine also recognized Viking’s excellence, featuring Giza and Saqqara on its “World’s Greatest Places of 2023” list and recommending sailing the Nile River with Viking, particularly for its unique stops in both Giza and the village of Saqqara.

The Viking Sobek, designed to host 82 guests in 41 staterooms, is a state-of-the-art river cruise ship that draws inspiration from Viking’s award-winning river and ocean vessels.

Sporting the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is renowned, the Viking Sobek promises to provide an unparalleled luxury experience.

The Viking Sobek joins a growing fleet of Viking ships in Egypt, including the Viking Osiris, which debuted in 2022, the Viking Aton, which made its debut in 2023, and the Viking Hathor, set to debut in 2024. Alongside these ships, Viking’s Egypt fleet also includes the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. With the addition of the Viking Sobek, Viking will boast a total of six ships sailing the Nile River by 2025.

Exploring Egypt: The Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

Viking’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary offers an immersive journey through Egypt’s rich history and culture. The adventure begins with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where guests have the opportunity to explore iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Saqqara, and the awe-inspiring Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

From Cairo, guests will fly to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. Then, they’ll board the Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring exclusive access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings. Along the way, guests will enjoy excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a vibrant Nubian village, providing a glimpse into traditional village life.

The journey culminates with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city, allowing guests to reflect on their incredible adventure through Egypt.

For travelers looking to extend their adventure, Viking offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide exclusive access to archives and exhibits.

One such extension is the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt, which begins in London. Guests will enjoy a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum, explore the home and personal museum of renowned architect Sir John Soane, and visit London’s Petrie Museum. The extension also includes visits to Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum and a Privileged Access visit to Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, where Howard Carter’s archives are housed. The extension concludes with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle, home to the Earl’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts.

Additionally, Viking offers a three-night Pre-Extension in Istanbul, allowing guests to explore the timeless city and its important religious sites. After the river voyage, travelers can extend their journey with a four-night Post-Extension to Jordan, exploring Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra.