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This is where you can see tens of thousands of pieces from the times of the ancient pharaohs. These include magnificent sarcophaguses, statues, tools, jewelry, murals, writings, and the famed golden mask of King Tut. The best thing about traveling right through the heart of Egypt on your Nile River cruise is that you get to see the landscape and scenery from a different perspective. As you sail from port to port, you also will be happy to call a luxury river boat such as Viking Osiris your home. While the temples of Karnak and Luxor are notorious as two of Egypt’s most famous temples, cruisers on a Viking Nile River voyage will get to see many other spectacular temple sites along the journey.
Fellow Passengers
With the launch of Viking Osiris, the line is able to continue that tradition in Egypt, where the ship sails along the famous Nile River. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. Join our expert Egyptologists on a 12-day cruisetour through Egypt on board our modern Nile ships, owned and operated by Viking. For those that purchase air through Viking, onboard gratuities and transfers are part of the package, too.
What Is a Typical Viking River Cruise in Egypt Like?
By the end of the cruise, you will have a greater understanding and appetite for the country’s cuisine. On the Egypt ships, the standard cabins on the main deck have windows that reach waist-level instead of only narrow ceiling windows, and since these lack balconies, they feel longer and larger as a result. Many of the design influences of the main restaurant are drawn from Egyptian markets using woven accents and wood panels.
Destination
This is similar to what is available on Viking Osiris and the next two river ships under construction. In the cabins, Viking’s signature toiletries, heated bathroom floors and towel racks, and bottled water are standard. If you’ve sailed with Viking before, only the size of the ship and some of the artwork may seem different. The ship's main dining room, The Restaurant, is located on Deck 3, offering three meals a day. Directly above it is Aquavit Terrace, a Viking staple that features an indoor/outdoor space offering a more casual approach to dining. Just off Aquavit Terrace is a small area for sunning and the ship's small infinity-style pool.
Lunch and dinner times depend on the tour times, and local entertainers may sometimes board to add some fun to the experience. Look closely, and you’ll also notice many Norse mythology references throughout the art, fabric and design choices. Viking spends two days in Aswan, and this is a chance to learn about the High Dam project and how it was built in the 1960s to provide stability to the fertile lands along the Nile. Before the dam, the region had problems with flood conditions ruining crops and leading to famine.
The High Dam created the 300-mile-long Lake Nasser, which now offers irrigation and electricity. Cruisers can tour the dam and later ride a traditional wooden felucca boat on the Nile River. Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure. TIME notes that Viking is among the very few who stop in both Giza and the village of Saqqara, where excavation sites, like the megatombs of animal and human mummies, are active. A Nile River cruise with Viking begins with three nights in Cairo at a luxury hotel.
Additional offerings include a new three-night Pre-Extension in Istanbul, where guests can visit the timeless city and important religious sites including the “Blue Mosque” and the legendary Hagia Sophia. Before their voyage, guests can also choose to extend their journey in Jerusalem, exploring the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel’s fascinating capital. The company wants you to know you're on a Viking ship, whether it's on Europe's rivers, an expedition journey or its ocean ships. All of Viking's ships look similar on the inside, with modern, Scandinavian design.
Food on Viking Osiris Blends American Favorites with Regional Specialties
Viking Osiris cabins span Decks 1 through 3 and overall are spacious and offer lots of space, no matter the category. These cabins are modern through and through, and no detail was missed, from heated bathroom floors to multiple USB ports and outlets for charging power. When Viking launched its first purpose-built Nile River cruise ship in August 2022, voyages through the heart of Egypt immediately became more accessible, luxurious, and exciting. Visit one of Egypt’s most complete ancient temples, buried and preserved under desert sands for 2,000 years.
The ship is exceptionally appointed, with large cabins, nooks aplenty for escaping and viewing areas for watching life unfold on the Nile. Shore excursions are fascinating, though a little exhausting, and crew -- especially the onboard program directors -- are 100% passenger focused. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, and Esna all offer opportunities to visit small and large souks (marketplaces), where you can shop for souvenirs, regional foods, spices, or other items of interest.
Owned and operated by Viking, MS Antares is a classic ship, your floating oasis as you immerse yourself in ancient Egypt. She is a spacious, state-of-the-art vessel with a refined, understated ambience. Viking's ships on the Nile have similar aesthetics to other river vessels in the fleet, but there are notable differences, too. For the most up-to-date testing, masking and vaccination requirements aboard Viking Osiris, visit Viking's health and safety information page. You can also use Cruise Critic's guide to health requirements on the world’s major cruise lines as we know them. Women in Egypt often wear head scarves or abayas, and dress overall is modest.
Journey through the world’s most exciting destinations with The World’s Leading River Cruise Line. The ship shines when it comes to Egyptian dishes, and those who want to explore new dishes will be rewarded with flavorful options that you will remember for ages. We adore the little spaces Viking has created for guests to escape, especially the small window-side seating area in the Deck 3 Atrium. It sits in its new place with a striking facade of four enormous statues of Ramses II guarding the entrance of the sandstone temples.
The Viking ships in Egypt showcase the company's signature Nordic design inspirations with minimalist, colorful design as well as the square-like bows that allow it to travel more efficiently with more space for passengers. Viking ships in Egypt feature the same livery on the façade like others in the fleet with the name prominently listed. During your trip, you might purchase a traditional galabeya, to wear on Egyptian night. Food on Viking Osiris offers an international menu designed to appeal to a mostly American audience. Overall, we were impressed with the quality, though the selection at times felt a little limited. The Viking Osiris deck plan offers five passenger levels, arranged around a beautiful midsection filled with floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights that span three full decks.
While these comfortable ships certainly set the standard for Nile River cruising, that’s only part of what makes a Viking river cruise in Egypt such a wonderful experience. We sailed on one of the first voyages on Viking Osiris and found a host of great activities that travelers will love. Los Angeles (June 1, 2023) – Viking® () today announced voyages on its newest Nile River ship, the Viking Hathor, are now available for booking.
While in Luxor, you also will be able to visit King Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Viking takes cruisers over for a full tour of the impressive burial sites, with the tombs carved deep inside the mountains. Viking also offers Viking Aton, which debuted in August 2023, so even more cruisers have a chance to take a voyage in style in this exotic destination. Launched in August 2018, Viking's all-suite river vessel for Egypt -- the first that it will own instead of charter -- is a complete rebuild of an existing ship. The design reflects Viking's Scandinavian aesthetic, with added Arabic accents. Twenty have full-size verandas in the living room, plus French balconies in the bedroom.
Other cruise lines on the Nile may vary in their offering, but those familiar with Viking will find the same inclusions in Egypt they know elsewhere. At least one daily shore excursion is included in your Viking Osiris cruise fare, and they are enriching and fascinating. Led by specialists who know everything about Egypt (including how to read hieroglyphics!), shore tours will visit all the highlights, including the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, Abu Simbel, Luxor and Karnak temples and much more.
Voyage to the Pharaohs: New Nile River Vessels and Sailings - Luxury Travel Advisor
Voyage to the Pharaohs: New Nile River Vessels and Sailings.
Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When in Aswan, though, I highly recommend Viking’s premium excursion (added fee) that takes cruisers to Abu Simbel. Plus, the story of the rediscovery and a massive relocation project to preserve them is fascinating. Edfu is fun to visit, especially because you can enjoy a ride to the Temple of Horus on a traditional horse-drawn caliche. You wander down long passages to visit chambers, with every wall ornately decorated with colorful murals. The art depicted the daily life and religious doctrine of ancient Egyptians.
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