Viking has officially taken delivery of the Viking Sekhmet, a new river ship purpose-built for sailing the Nile. The delivery ceremony took place on September 29 at the Massara shipyard in Cairo.
With this new addition, Viking further strengthens its offering dedicated to discovering Egypt, a destination that continues to play a central role in the company’s portfolio. The Viking Sekhmet will operate some of the most representative itineraries along the Nile, combining river cruising with stays and visits to the country’s most important archaeological and cultural sites.
According to Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking, the Nile continues, after thousands of years, to represent an important link to Egypt’s history and culture, as well as a destination capable of inspiring curious travellers. The arrival of the elegant Viking Sekhmet, Talactac noted, will enable the company to offer additional opportunities to explore Egypt in the comfort for which Viking is known.
With 82 guests and 41 outside cabins, the Viking Sekhmet has been specifically designed to operate on the Nile. The ship incorporates the key aesthetic elements that characterize the Viking fleet, with a clean and elegant Scandinavian-inspired design. Distinctive features include the square bow, which has become one of the recognizable characteristics of Viking ships, and the Aquavit Terrace, a space designed to allow guests to enjoy the scenery while sailing in an environment that connects indoor and outdoor areas.
The Viking Sekhmet also joins a family of sister ships already operating on the Nile, maintaining design and operational continuity within the company’s Egyptian offering.
In 2027, the new ship will operate both the established 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary and the new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary. The experience extends beyond the cruise itself. The programme includes an initial three-night stay in Cairo, at a first-class hotel, during which guests can visit some of Egypt’s most celebrated landmarks.
Highlights include the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Saqqara necropolis, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Grand Egyptian Museum. From Cairo, guests then fly to Luxor, the gateway to the Nile cruise. Before embarking, visits are planned to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, while the river cruise itself unfolds over eight days. The itinerary allows guests to reach some of Upper Egypt’s most important archaeological sites, including the Valley of the Kings, with a visit to the tomb of Tutankhamun, the Temple of Khnum in Esna and the Dendera temple complex in Qena. The journey continues towards Aswan, where guests will visit the High Dam and take an excursion to a Nubian village. Here, they can gain a closer insight into the lives of local communities and visit a traditional elementary school. At the end of the cruise, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo and a final overnight stay in the Egyptian capital.
The arrival of the Viking Sekhmet forms part of a broader expansion programme across all of the company’s divisions. Viking expects to take delivery of 19 additional river ships by 2028, as well as 11 new ocean ships by 2032 and two additional expedition ships by 2031. Based on the orders already placed, the company will have 114 river ships in 2028, while its ocean and expedition fleets will reach a combined total of 28 vessels by 2032.
The expansion confirms a strategy focused on growth in the experiential travel segment, with itineraries built around the cultural and historical discovery of destinations. Within this context, the Nile continues to represent one of Viking’s most distinctive offerings. The Viking Sekhmet further strengthens a travel model in which sailing becomes an integral part of the discovery experience: not simply a means of travelling between destinations, but a way to slowly journey through the Egyptian landscape and reach some of the most important sites in its history.
Giorgia Lombardo
