Viking's new Nile river ships reach temples other cruises skip - here's the 11-night tour
Viking is in the middle of launching a dozen new river ships on the Nile, and the pitch is simple: an 11-night Egypt tour that pairs a seven-night cruise with four nights on land, and sails further north than almost any rival vessel on the river.
The differentiator is the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, near the city of Qena. On a recent sailing, Viking guide Karim Zohny led a group of two dozen passengers from the ship Viking Osiris through the temple, pointing out the famously colorful reliefs that line its sandstone pillars, walls and ceilings - including intricate celestial maps and giant images of Cleopatra and her son Caesarion.
Most Nile cruise ships never get here. They stick to a roughly 130-mile stretch of the river, which means the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved ancient temples in all of Egypt, is off the menu. Viking's ships push further north to include it.
What the 11-night tour actually covers
The itinerary is built around Egyptologist-led tours of the heavy hitters: the Pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hathor, with historical context from guides like Zohny rather than a rushed walk-through.
The fare is mostly all-inclusive. Accommodations, most meals, the guided tours, internal flights and even Wi-Fi are bundled in, which removes a lot of the nickel-and-diming that can creep into Egypt travel. A few extras - hot air balloon rides over Luxor and premium beverage packages - cost more.
The new ships themselves are the other selling point. Viking is positioning them with upscale amenities, spacious cabins and a high staff-to-guest ratio, aimed at travelers who want a slower, more comfortable pace than the older boats that dominate the Nile.
Prices vary by cabin type and travel dates, with higher fares during peak touring months, but the all-inclusive structure means the headline number is closer to what you'll actually pay.
