On Jan. 26, Viking floated out its newest ship, the 82-guest Viking Osiris. The float out marks a construction milestone as the first time a ship touches the water. Viking Osiris will debut in August 2022 on the bestselling, 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

The ship’s debut will coincide with key events in Egypt, including the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on the Giza Plateau and the 100^th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb by Howard Carter. Viking enjoys a long-time relationship with the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon’s family; the Earl was Carter’s benefactor. As a result of the partnership, guests sailing on Viking Osiris will experience Privileged Access to memories from 1922 and the events surrounding the tomb discovery.

© Viking

“Our guests are curious explorers, and just as the iconic explorers before them, they choose Egypt as a destination because of its unparalleled access to history and antiquities. This rings as true today as it did a century ago and is what we continue to hear from the guests who are currently sailing with us on the Nile, as well as the many we have hosted in the last year,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman, Viking. “We are proud to be the only western company to build, own and operate ships on the Nile — and we will always maintain our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that are focused on the destination. Particularly during this milestone year for Egypt, we look forward to welcoming guests on board Viking Osiris and introducing them to the country’s many cultural treasures.”

The float out ceremony was held at Massara shipyard in Cairo, signaling that the ship is entering the final stage of its construction.