Viking received its latest Nile-river vessel in Egypt, the Viking Sekhmet, after a hand-over event at Cairo’s Massara shipyard. Built specifically for cruising the Nile, the ship will broaden Viking’s Egyptian cruise offering, adding two twelve-day itineraries scheduled for 2027.
Leah Talactac, Viking’s president and chief executive officer, remarked on the hand-over. “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. 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 Details and Itinerary
The Viking Sekhmet can host 82 passengers in 41 exterior cabins. Drawing on design cues from Viking’s river and ocean ships, the craft showcases the brand’s hallmark Scandinavian style, featuring a unique square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
According to Viking, the vessel joins the expanding Nile fleet and will sail the long-standing Pharaohs & Pyramids circuit as well as the new Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary slated for 2027. Both twelve-day routes begin with a three-night hotel stay in Cairo, giving travelers time to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sakkara necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
After the Cairo stop, guests fly to Luxor, where they tour the Luxor and Karnak temples before embarking on an eight-day round-trip cruise down the Nile. The schedule includes stops at Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Khnum at Esna, the Dendera temple complex in Qena and the Aswan High Dam. A visit to a Nubian village, including a local primary school, is also part of the journey before the guests return to Cairo for a final overnight stay.
The hand-over aligns with Viking’s long-range plan to enlarge its fleet. The company’s order book projects the addition of 19 more river vessels by 2028, 11 ocean ships by 2032 and two expedition vessels by 2031. With these deliveries, Viking anticipates operating 114 river ships by 2028 and a combined total of 28 ocean and expedition ships by 2032, supporting continued growth of its destination-focused cruise lineup.