Viking has taken delivery of Viking Sekhmet, its newest Nile river ship, at a ceremony held at the Massara shipyard in Cairo. The ship hosts 82 guests in 41 outside staterooms and joins Viking’s existing fleet of identical sister ships on the Nile.
Leah Talactac, president and chief executive of Viking, said the ship expanded access to Egypt for the line’s guests.
“The Nile has connected people with the history and culture of Egypt for thousands of years, and it continues to be a destination that inspires curious travellers. With the arrival of the elegant Viking Sekhmet, we are pleased to offer even more opportunities for curious travellers to explore Egypt in Viking comfort,” Talactac said.
Ship to sail Pharaohs & Pyramids and new eclipse itinerary
Viking Sekhmet will sail the line’s existing 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, alongside a new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary in 2027. Both begin with a three-night stay in Cairo, visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Grand Egyptian Museum, before guests fly to Luxor for an eight-day round-trip Nile cruise.
The Nile leg includes visits to the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan and a Nubian village visit, before concluding with a final night in Cairo.
Viking’s fleet set to expand significantly by 2028
Based on its committed orderbook, Viking expects to take delivery of 19 additional river ships by 2028, 11 additional ocean ships by 2032 and two additional expedition ships by 2031, bringing its river fleet to 114 ships by 2028 and its ocean and expedition fleet to 28 ships by 2032.
