Viking Announces New Nile River Cruise Ship

Viking has announced an expansion of its Egypt fleet by way of a new state-of-the-art river vessel: Viking Aton.

viking aton rendering nile river egypt
Viking Aton (Rendering courtesy of Viking)

Inspired by the design of the line’s Viking Longships, and built specifically for the Nile River, Viking Aton is currently under construction and is scheduled to debut in September 2022. Sailing on Viking’s popular Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, the new vessel will join the line’s existing Egypt river fleet, which includes identical sister ship Viking Osiris and Viking’s first owned and operated ship on the Nile, Viking Ra.

“Egypt remains a top destination for many of our guests who are inspired to discover the rich history and beauty of the region,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.

“We will always maintain our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that are focused on the destination. The addition of Viking Aton is a reflection of our continued investment in Egypt; we look forward to introducing the country’s cultural treasures to even more Viking guests in the future.”

Viking Aton

Holding 82 guests in 41 cabins, Viking Aton will have the elegant Scandinavian design that Viking is known for.

Aton‘s features include all exterior cabins with river views, spacious suites with two full-size rooms and balconies, a pool and sundeck, Viking Lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and the much-loved Aquavit Terrace for al fresco dining.

viking aton veranda stateroom rendering
Veranda stateroom (Rendering courtesy of Viking)

Viking Aton will join the line’s other ships on the Nile — Viking Osiris which is set to launch this year, and Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. Viking is the first and only Western company to build, own, and operate ships on the Nile.

READ MORE: Viking’s First Expedition Ship Marks Construction Milestone

Pharaohs & Pyramids

During the 12-night Pharaohs & Pyramids cruisetour itinerary, passengers begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

Travelers then fly to Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-night roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings. There are also excursions to the Temple of Khnum of Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village.

The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

viking aton pool deck rendering
Pool deck (Rendering courtesy of Viking)

Extending the Journey

Those who want to extend their trip can take advantage of Viking’s pre and post-cruise extensions, which provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits.

Building on the success of the Oxford & Highclere Castle program, which visits the filming location of “Downton Abbey,” Viking has applied the same degree of Privileged Access to a new curated pre-cruise extension that allows guests to retrace the steps of the world’s most famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. This five-night British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension journey begins in London.

Other offerings include a pre-cruise extension in Jerusalem where guests can explore the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel’s capital, and a post-cruise extension to Jordan — Petra, Dead Sea & Amman to view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak, and experience the lost city of Petra.

From now through January 31, 2021, United States residents can take advantage of special savings on cruise fares and up to free international airfare on select 2021 to 2023 ocean and river itineraries.

READ MORE: A 138-Day Viking World Cruise Has Been Set for Late 2022

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