Having launched their first dedicated ship on the Nile in 2018 (Viking Ra), Viking River Cruises is now in the process of building a custom vessel to join her. Due to be launched towards the end of 2020, the new addition will be perfectly suited to this iconic waterway and offer an intimate and in-depth look at one of the most fascinating periods in world history.

Marc Ryckaert [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Just 82 guests will be on board at full occupancy, giving you plenty of deck space and the chance to strike up some lasting friendships with some of the other likeminded travellers. The ship is set to be named Viking Osiris, after the Egyptian god of life, death, the flooding of the Nile. Passengers will be able to delight in the stylish Scandinavian design and excellent facilities found on the rest of the fleet.

Educational Extensions

To complement these new Nile River cruises, Viking will also be launching a range of pre-cruise excursions to help you get much more out of what is sure to be a spectacular trip. Taking place in both the UK and Egypt itself, these extensions are designed to help you brush up on your knowledge of Egyptology and therefore enhance your holiday.

Firstly, the five-day ‘British Collections of Ancient Egypt’ tour will take you to London and Oxford, where you’ll see some of Britain’s best Egyptian artefacts and exhibits. In the capital, you’ll visit the British Museum and Sir John Soane’s personal collection of antiquities that includes a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus. There’ll also be time to visit the Petrie Museum before you journey to the beautiful city of Oxford. Here, the university’s Griffith Institute will open its doors and give you privileged access to Howard Carter’s archives. An impressive array of mummies and Egyptian art can also be seen at the Ashmolean Museum, whilst a visit to Highclere Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey, will highlight the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon’s sprawling private collection.

The second option gives you some time in the Egyptian capital of Cairo before you set sail on your Nile River cruise. ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids’ is a 12-day tour which includes three nights in a fantastic hotel to see some of the country’s most impressive sights away from the river. The Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali will all be on your list of must-sees before you fly into Luxor to meet the ship. Before you climb on board, though, take the chance to marvel at the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. The eight-day cruise will then take you to fascinating sights such as the Valley of the Queens, Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan.

An Interesting Concept

The idea of offering an educational extension that takes place in the UK before you set sail is an interesting concept that could easily be applied to other itineraries. In the future, could we see cruise lines offering wine tasting courses before Rhine River cruises, information surrounding the American Civil War prior to a Mississippi River cruise or even a brief introduction to Buddhism in the days leading up to a Mekong River cruise?

If you would like to know more about the Nile River cruises we have available, or want to register your interest in sailing on board Viking Osiris in 2020, call our team on 0800 954 0064. You can also keep up with all the news regarding this new ship between now and then when you sign up to our mailing list.