Viking® has announced that its newest Nile River ship, the Viking Sobek, will be available for booking starting today. The ship will debut in 2025 and will be the sixth in Viking’s Egypt fleet. The Viking Sobek will be inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships and will feature 82 guests in 41 staterooms.

The Viking Sobek will offer my dream cruise; the popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. That begins with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo. Guests will then fly to Luxor, where they will visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River. The cruise will include Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, as well as excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village.

In addition to the Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, Viking also offers a variety of 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, where they will visit the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public. They will also visit the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, and the Petrie Museum in London.

Other Pre and Post Extensions include a three-night stay in Istanbul, where guests can visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia; a four-night stay in Jerusalem, where guests can explore the ancient history and vibrant culture of the city; and a four-night stay in Jordan, where guests can view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak, and experience the lost city of Petra.

Viking’s announcement comes on the heels of several recent accolades, including being named to the top of its categories for oceans, rivers, and expeditions by readers in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 “World’s Best Awards.” Viking is also rated at the top of its categories for oceans, rivers, and expeditions by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler.