Viking has added another vessel to its fast-growing Nile fleet. The Viking Sekhmet, named after the ancient Egyptian goddess of war, was delivered this week at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, making it the cruise line's tenth ship dedicated to Egypt's most famous river.
The new ship is deliberately small by ocean-cruise standards. It carries just 82 guests across 41 cabins and stretches 236 feet, with the clean Scandinavian styling and square bow that runs through Viking's fleet. There's an Aquavit Terrace with both indoor and outdoor seating, a signature Viking touch that works well for river sightseeing.
The Sekhmet will run Viking's established 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, and from 2027 it will also offer a new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile sailing timed to the eclipse.
Both itineraries follow the same broad shape. Guests start with three nights in a Cairo hotel, with time for the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Grand Egyptian Museum. From there it's a flight to Luxor for the temples of Luxor and Karnak, then an eight-day roundtrip Nile cruise. Excursions along the way include Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex at Qena, Aswan's High Dam and a visit to a Nubian village. A final flight back to Cairo wraps things up with one more night in the capital.
Prices start at £5,495 per person, which covers flights, transfers, onboard meals, tips, wifi and an excursion in almost every port — an appealingly all-inclusive package compared with ocean cruise pricing, where extras pile up quickly.
The Sekhmet joins sister ships already sailing the river, including the Viking Osiris and Viking Aton, both also named for Egyptian deities. And the wider fleet build-out is substantial: Viking expects to take delivery of 19 more river ships by 2028, 11 more ocean ships by 2032 and two expedition ships by 2031, bringing it to 114 river ships and 28 ocean and expedition vessels. Two of the new ocean ships will be hydrogen-powered, capable of running with zero exhaust emissions during parts of a voyage.
Why it matters for travellers: Egypt's river cruise market has been heating up for a few years now, and Viking's expansion means more departure dates, more cabin availability and better price competition on one of the world's most iconic waterways. The Nile template — temple stops, desert scenery, a floating base camp — suits travellers who want history without constant packing and unpacking. If you've been priced out or found sailings full in the past, a tenth ship widens the door.
