Viking has formally named its second new Nile ship, Viking Osiris, at a ceremony in Luxor.
The honour fell to George Herbert, the eighth Earl of Carnarvon, who becomes the line’s first ceremonial godfather.
Osiris joins Viking Ra, launched in 2018, in Viking’s Nile fleet, with Viking Aton to follow next year. The ship was built at Cairo’s Massara shipyard and is purpose-designed to navigate the Nile.
It will sail Viking’s 12-day Pharoahs and Pyramids itinerary, taking in Cairo, the Great Pyramids, the necropolis of Sakkara and mosque of Muhammad Ali. Later this year, guests will also be able to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum.
Guests then fly onwards to Luxor to visits its temples and those of Karnak before their eight-day round-trip on the Nile, which includes visits to the tombs of Nefertari and Tutankhamun, as well as opportunities to experience traditional Nile village life.
Nearly 100 years ago, the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered by famed Egyptologist Howard Carter and his co-explorer and benefactor, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon.