Viking, the leading river and ocean cruise line, has announced the float out of its newest ship, the Viking Aton, for the Nile River. This marks a significant construction milestone for the company, as the Viking Aton is set to debut in August 2023 and will join Viking’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships purpose-built for the Nile River.

With strong demand for Viking’s Nile River voyages, the 2023 season is already sold out, and many 2024 sailing dates have also been sold out. This surge in demand has led Viking to open 2025 sailing dates sooner than originally expected. Viking’s commitment to Egypt is evident in its growing fleet, with plans to have six ships sailing the Nile by 2025.

Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen

The Viking Aton is an 82-guest ship with 41 staterooms, inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.

During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo before flying to Luxor to visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. Guests then board a Viking river ship for an eight-day 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 and 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 colourful Nubian village.

For guests looking to extend their journey, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London. They will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums.

Overall, Viking’s commitment to Egypt is evident in its growing fleet and offerings, allowing guests to explore this fascinating region with Privileged Access to historical sites and exhibits.

Written by: Jill Walsh

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