By
Richard Humphreys |
Viking has floated out its two newest ships, Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet, which will operate cruises on the Nile River from autumn 2026.
The float out ceremonies took place at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt, and the ships will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. Set to debut in September and November 2026, Ptah and Sekhmet will sail Viking’s popular 12-day ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids’ itinerary.
“Egypt is truly a phenomenal destination, distinguished by its remarkable history, enduring culture and the singular power of the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “With the float out of our two newest ships, we look forward to further expanding our elegant fleet on the Nile and welcoming more curious travellers to experience this extraordinary region in the years to come.”
Each ship will host 82 guests in 41 staterooms and feature several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a Scandinavian interior design, a space-saving square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
Following the float ceremonies at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, the ships will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out
During the ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids’ itinerary, guests will begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali or the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Accompanied by an Egyptologist, guests will then fly to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before beginning an eight-day roundtrip on the Nile River. The sailing features a visit to 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, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, as well as the opportunity to visit a Nubian village. The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the city.