River cruise operator Viking Cruises has “floated out” its newest shop for Egypt’s iconic River Nile.
The 82-guest Viking Thoth has touched water for the first time, marking a major construction milestone.
The new ship is set for delivery in October and will join Viking’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile and will also sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
“Egypt is a country of profound historical and cultural significance, which makes it a destination of great interest to our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With two new ships, the Viking Thoth and the Viking Amun, debuting in 2025, we are very proud to continue expanding our elegant fleet and introducing more curious travellers to this phenomenal region.”
The traditional float out ceremony of the Viking Thoth was held at Massara shipyard in Cairo. It is significant because it marks the ship moving into its final stage of construction. The vessel will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests 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, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, 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, featuring visits 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, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
