Viking has taken delivery of its newest Nile river ship, Viking Sekhmet, during a ceremony at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.

The 82-passenger vessel is the latest addition to Viking’s growing Egyptian river fleet and follows the delivery of sister ship Viking Ptah in August 2026.

Built specifically for navigation on the Nile, Viking Sekhmet features 41 outside staterooms and will operate the company’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

The ship will also be deployed on Viking’s new 12-day Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary in 2027.

“The Nile has connected people with the history and culture of Egypt for thousands of years, and it continues to be a destination that inspires curious travelers,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer, Viking.

“With the arrival of the elegant Viking Sekhmet, we are pleased to offer even more opportunities for curious travelers to explore Egypt in Viking comfort.”

Viking recently announced that Michael Consoli, owner of Cruise Planners, will serve as godfather of the new vessel.

The delivery of Viking Sekhmet comes as the cruise line continues to expand its presence on the Nile, with the addition of purpose-built ships designed for the river’s operating conditions.

Both Viking Sekhmet and Viking Ptah accommodate 82 passengers, providing smaller-capacity accommodation for the company’s Egyptian itineraries.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids programme combines a Nile river cruise with hotel accommodation and guided excursions in Cairo and other historic destinations.

The 12-day itinerary begins with a three-night stay at a hotel in Cairo, where passengers can visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Passengers then fly to Luxor for visits to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding their river ship.

The eight-day roundtrip Nile cruise from Luxor includes excursions to several of Egypt’s major archaeological and cultural sites.

Among the scheduled visits are the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Khnum in Esna, and the Dendera Temple complex near Qena.

The itinerary also includes Aswan, where passengers can visit the High Dam and a Nubian village.

Following the river cruise, passengers return to Cairo by air for a final overnight stay before the conclusion of the programme.

The new Total Eclipse on the Nile itinerary will follow a similar 12-day format in 2027, although the announcement did not provide further details of its eclipse-related activities.

The delivery also forms part of Viking’s wider fleet expansion programme across its river, ocean, and expedition operations.

Based on its committed orderbook, Viking expects to take delivery of another 19 river ships by 2028, alongside 11 ocean ships by 2032 and two expedition vessels by 2031.

These additions are expected to bring the company’s river fleet to 114 vessels by 2028.

Viking also projects a combined fleet of 28 ocean and expedition ships by 2032.