Viking® has disclosed that its latest Nile River vessel, the Viking Sobek, is now open for reservation. The vessel is set to make its maiden voyage in 2025, adding to the company’s expanding fleet as its sixth ship to embark on the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. The 2024 Egypt season is almost fully booked, and the 2025 season is selling well, leading to an early launch of the Viking Sobek’s initial season and 2026 departure dates for the entire Nile River fleet.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, expressed his satisfaction with the growing interest in Egypt and pride in being the only western company to construct, own, and operate ships on the Nile. The addition of the Viking Sobek will provide Viking with the largest and most luxurious fleet on the Nile.
In its debut year, the Viking Sobek’s sister ship, the Viking Osiris, was named one of the “Best New Cruises” in Condé Nast Traveler’s “2023 Hot List” and the “Best Luxury River Cruise” in Forbes’ 2023 “Best Luxury Cruises” list.
The Viking Sobek, a state-of-the-art vessel that can accommodate 82 guests in 41 rooms, is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships. The Viking Sobek is the identical sister vessel to the Viking Osiris, which was launched in 2022, the Viking Aton, which was launched in 2023, and the Viking Hathor, which will be launched in 2024. The Viking Ra and the MS Antares are also part of Viking’s Egypt fleet.
The 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary begins with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where guests can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Saqqara, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before embarking on an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River.
For those wishing to extend their journey, Viking also offers pre and post extensions that provide privileged access to archives and exhibits. Additional offerings include a new three-night pre-extension in Istanbul, where guests can visit the timeless city and important religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” and the legendary Hagia Sophia.
Viking, founded in 1997, offers destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans, and lakes worldwide. The company has more than 250 awards to its name, including being rated at the top of its categories for oceans, rivers, and expeditions by both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.
