Viking Takes Delivery of 82-Passenger Nile Ship in Cairo
Guests visit the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara before flying to Luxor, where the eight-day cruise begins, with Abu Simbel offered on some departures.
Viking took delivery of the 82-passenger Viking Ptah at Massara shipyard in Cairo on Aug. 7, 2026, adding a purpose-built vessel to its Nile River operation. The ship will serve the line’s 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
Viking Ptah built around Nile operations
“We are delighted to welcome the Viking Ptah to our growing fleet on the Nile River,” said Leah Talactac, president and CEO of Viking. Talactac said the addition would allow the company to carry more guests in Egypt.
The 3,600-gross-ton ship is 236 feet long. It carries 48 crew. Its 41 staterooms range from standard accommodations of approximately 230 square feet to two 525-square-foot Explorer Suites. The five-deck vessel also has a square bow and an indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
The Cairo-to-Cairo Pharaohs & Pyramids program combines a hotel stay in the Egyptian capital with an eight-day river cruise. Guests visit the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara before flying to Luxor, where the onboard portion begins.
The Nile schedule includes Luxor and Karnak temples, the Valley of the Kings, Esna, Dendera and Qena, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Edfu and a Nubian village. The itinerary ends with a return flight to Cairo, while some departures offer Abu Simbel and optional land extensions.
More Nile ships scheduled
AmaWaterways plans to introduce an updated AmaDahlia in September 2026, followed by the new AmaNubia in November. The latter will accommodate 76 passengers in 38 staterooms and operate the Secrets of Egypt & the Nile itinerary.
AmaNubia will join AmaDahlia and AmaLilia, with AmaCleo scheduled to enter the company’s Egypt program in fall 2027. Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways, said the company is seeing “strong renewed interest in Egypt.”
Viking orderbook runs through 2031
Beyond Viking Ptah, the company expects to accept 20 additional river ships by 2028, along with nine ocean ships and two expedition ships by 2031. If those vessels are delivered as planned, Viking would operate 114 river ships in 2028 and a combined 26 ocean and expedition ships three years later.
