Viking Takes Delivery of New Nile River Ship in Egypt

There’s another small ship ready to sail on the Nile River! Viking announced on Tuesday that it has taken delivery of Viking Sekhmet, a purpose-built ship for the Egyptian waterway. The delivery ceremony took place at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.

“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 travelers,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. “With the arrival of the elegant Viking Sekhmet, we are pleased to offer even more opportunities for curious travelers to explore Egypt in Viking comfort.”

Ship & Itineraries

Viking Sekhmet can accommodate 82 guests in 41 outside staterooms. She is identical to Viking’s other purpose-built Nile River ships: Viking Osiris, Viking Aton, Viking Hathor, Viking Sobek, Viking Thoth, and Viking Amun. The design for all these Nile River vessels was inspired by Viking’s other river ships and ocean ships, with a cozy, modern Scandinavian design that Viking is known for — including a distinctive square bow and indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.

Viking Sekhmet will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, as well as the new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary in 2027. During both itineraries, travelers begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo. There, they’ll have the opportunity to visit iconic sites including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Guests then fly to Luxor, where they’ll visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. The journey will feature visits 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 High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school.

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

Fleet Growth

Based on Viking’s committed orderbook, the line expects to take delivery of 19 additional river ships by 2028, 11 more ocean ships by 2032, and two additional expedition ships by 2031. With these orders, Viking will have 114 river ships in 2028 and 28 ocean and expedition ships in 2032.