Viking has christened its two newest river ships cruising the River Nile – Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek – with a celebration at Luxor, Egypt.
While the Hon. Edward Herbert, whose great-great-grandfather helped discover King TutanKamen’s tomb in 1922, served as the ceremonial godfather of the Viking Hathor; Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, served as the ceremonial godfather of the Viking Sobek.
The state-of-the-art Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek join the Viking Aton and the Viking Osiris in offering cruise-goers luxurious 12-day Nile River itineraries Pharaohs & Pyramids.
“(W)e are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek to our growing fleet in Egypt. Along with their sister ships, we believe they are by far the most elegant vessels on the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “We are very grateful for our continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family and that Eddie has honoured us by serving as the godfather of the Viking Hathor. For more than 15 years, Mohamed El Banna has been a part of the extended Viking family, helping to take good care of our guests in Egypt, and it is a great honour that he is serving as the godfather of the Viking Sobek. As our award-winning fleet on the Nile continues to grow, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to this phenomenal destination.”
The Hon. Edward Herbert, Godfather of the Viking Hathor
The Hon. Edward Herbert is the son of George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, and Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon. In his new godfather role, Edward joins his father and mother, Viking’s first “godparents.” In 2022, Lord Carnarvon became Viking’s first godfather, fulfilling the role of the Viking Osiris. Lady Carnarvon is the godmother of a Viking Longship, the Viking Skadi and an ocean ship, the Viking Mars®. Edward’s great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, spent 16 years working in Luxor and later, in 1922, with his colleague Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen. In Lady Carnarvon’s newest book, The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun, she explores the unparalleled life of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and tells the behind-the-scenes story of the historic discovery.
Egypt & Viking’s Highclere Castle Connection
Viking offers exclusive experiences for guests to explore Egypt and its rich history, including access to Highclere Castle, the filming location of popular TV series, Downton Abbey. Guests onboard all four ships also have the opportunity to view and appreciate the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s private photography collection at the Castle, which documented the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb and every day life in Egypt during that time.
For history buffs, Viking’s 5-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt tour extension provides guests with Privileged Access to museums and archives, including the British Museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Petrie Museum, Ashmolean Museum, and Oxford University’s Griffith Institute. Highlights include a candlelit tour, behind-the-scenes visits, and exclusive access to Highclere Castle’s private Egyptian artifact collection and archives, offering a unique and immersive experience.
Mohamed El Banna, Godfather of the Viking Sobek
Founder of Cosmos Tourism Company – now Cosmos Egypt – the country’s oldest destination management company, Mohamed El Banna continues to run the business with his son, Sherif El Banna, who serves as CEO. Viking and Cosmos Egypt’s partnership spans more than 15 years; and as Viking’s exclusive tour operator in Egypt, the company continues to handle all ground operations and transportation for shore excursions and helps source English-speaking tour guides and Egyptologists. Banna also helped Viking create its operational division in Egypt.
Viking’s growing Egypt Fleet
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek are inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris and the Viking Aton, the Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek feature several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Other ships in the Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares. Viking plans to welcome four additional ships in the next two years—the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth in 2025 and the Viking Sekhmet and the Viking Ptah in 2026—which would bring Viking’s fleet to 10 vessels on the Nile River.
Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
Viking’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids journey through ancient Egypt’s begins in Cairo, where guests will spend three nights exploring the iconic Great Pyramids, Sakkara, and the Grand Egyptian Museum. They will then fly to Luxor and board one of the luxurious river ships for an 8-day Nile River cruise, and visit temples, tombs, and villages, including the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Karnak, and a vibrant Nubian community. Other highlights include Abu Simbel, the High Dam, and Dendera Temple complex, and numerous immersive cultural experiences. The itinerary concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
