Viking has “floated out” its newest ship purpose-built for the Nile River, Viking Aton. The event marks a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. The traditional float-out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo on April 4, 2023. The ship will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
Set to debut in August 2023, the Viking Aton will sail the 12-day “Pharaohs & Pyramids” itinerary. Viking has seen very strong demand in Egypt, with the 2023 season now sold out and many 2024 sailing dates already sold out. The surge in demand has led Viking to open 2025 sailing dates sooner than expected.
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Aton is identical to its sister ship the Viking Osiris, and has several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace. In addition to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton will join the Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. In response to strong demand, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile by 2025 with the addition of two new sister ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, which are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
During the 12-day “Pharaohs & Pyramids” itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. They will enjoy privileged access to the tomb of Nefertari and the tomb of Tutankhamen, besides 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, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where they can experience a traditional elementary school. The journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the city. Viking also offers pre- and post-cruise extensions for guests looking to extend their journey.
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