Viking Aton

The 2023-built MS Viking Aton is a Nile River cruise ship bought by Viking Cruises for cruisetours in Egypt. The riverboat's itinerary program was initially planned to start in September 2022, but was eventually postponed for a year (August 23, 2023/Maiden Voyage). This top-luxury Nile cruiser is named after the ancient Egyptian god of fertility, agriculture, alcohol, life, vegetation, the dead, the afterlife, and resurrection.

Viking Aton's fleetmates in Egypt are Antares (2007), Ra (2018) and the sisterships Osiris (2022), Hathor (2024), the 2025-built Sobek, Amun and Thoth, and the 2026-built Sekhmet and Ptah.

Unlike Viking Ra (a fully reconstructed old vessel), the sisterships are newbuilds, with deck designs and venues similar to the ones on Viking OCEAN liners.

The Nile cruiser Viking Aton was launched/floated out from drydock on April 4, 2023, at Massara Shipyard in Cairo. The ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking Cruises' Chairman) and Sayed Farouk (Chairman of The Arab Contractors/Osman Ahmed Osman & Co).

The boat was officially christened on August 19th (2023) in Aswan. The naming ceremony was led by the godfather Richard Riveire (1960-born architect and designer, founder of the NYC New York-based architecture and design firm Rottet Studio). Rottet Studio's biggest projects include The Beverly Hills Hotel (Beverly Hills CA), Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, The Ritz-Carlton LA Residences (LA LIVE/Los Angeles CA).

Decks and Cabins

Viking Aton staterooms (41 total) are in 4 types/categories, including 12x B-Standard Staterooms (22 m2 / 230 ft2), 21x A-Veranda Staterooms (22 m2 / 240 ft2), 6x AA-Veranda Suites (38 m2 / 410 ft2) and 2x ES-Explorer Suites (49 m2 / 525 ft2). The riverboat has max passenger capacity 82 (all staterooms are with double occupancy).

Veranda Suites and Explorer Suites are with full-size, step-out balconies (off the living room) plus French Balcony (in the bedroom).

The boat has 5 decks, of which 3 are with cabins.

All Viking Aton cabins offer (as standard) the following complimentary amenities and services:

Panoramic riverviews (large windows), most of which are floor-ceiling and opening to a French Balcony. Hotel-style double beds (79x63 inches / 200x160 cm, with under-bed storage for suitcases), luxury Egyptian bedding sets (linens, sheets, duvets), deluxe pillows, bedside tables/cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps. Optional twin-beds (2 separate lower beds) configurations (plus 1 sofabed) are also available. Each cabin has a large lounge area (furnished with a low table, comfortable sofa/not sofabed, comfortable club chairs, mirrored vanity (writing desk) with a chair, wardrobe (wooden hangers). The en-suite bathrooms are with glass-enclosed shower cubicle, double-sink vanity, anti-fog LED mirror, WC-toilet, undersink storage, premium brand bath toiletries (Freyja), luxury bathrobes. Slippers are provided complimentary upon request.

Other complimentary in-cabin amenities include daily-replenished bottled water, dedicated cabin steward, twice-daily housekeeping service, 40-inch smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite reception, on-demand movies), multiple USB ports, refrigerator / mini-bar, electronic safe box (in the closet), phone, hairdryer, 110/220 V power outlets, individual air-conditioning.

The riverboat's largest passenger accommodations (both Explorer Suites) additionally offer/as bonus amenities two HDTVs, binoculars, coffee machine, complimentary beverage package (Silver Spirits), Viking Air Plus (VIP services), private airport transfers, free laundry, room service (Breakfast-only), shoeshine service, free replenished daily in-cabin/minibar drinks (Sparkling wine; wines, beers, soft drinks), fruit basket (delivered daily).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking's cruise ship Aton has an indoor Bar Lounge, Aquavit Terrace/outdoor lounge, Restaurant, wellness complex (spa, massage rooms, beauty salon with hairdresser-barber services).

The 3-story-high Atrium is a panoramic midship area (on decks 2-3-4) with an open-floor design and supported by eight columns. Floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (mounted portside and starboard on decks 2-3-4) as well as a SkyLight (glass roof cover on deck 5) allow natural light into the area.

Atrium's lower level (on Middle Deck) houses the Lobby Hall with the Reception/Guest Services Desk (24-hour assistance, cashier services, cruisetour information) and a small portside seating area with comfortable furniture.

Atrium's mid-level (on Upper Deck) houses a seating area (portside), the starboard Shop (selling mainly gifts and souvenirs, as well as Viking Cruises-logoed merchandise, clothing, jewelry, books) and Public Restrooms.

Atrium's upper level (on Pool Deck) houses the Library (a starboard seating area with shelved books and magazines) and the portside PC Corner (desks with Internet-connected computers).

Onboard public areas are spacious and generously sized. The new Viking Cruises Egypt ships' interiors are designed by the company's Longships designers. The interior blends Viking's traditional Scandinavian design with traditional Egyptian design elements, including Arabic geometric patterns and terrazzo flooring.

Middle Deck (2nd floor) is the boat's boarding deck, with two midship entrances (slide-opening glass doors positioned portside and starboard) facilitating passenger and crew embarkation/disembarkation process.

Aft on Pool Deck (4th floor) is the swimming pool (aft-facing infinity pool) with a sunbathing area with premium garden furniture (padded sunloungers and low tables). The aft sundeck is adjacent to the Aquavit Terrace - an outdoor lounge/shaded seating area fitted with comfortable sofas, tables and chairs.

Forward on Pool Deck is the Salon/indoor Bar Lounge connected (via glass doors) with an open-air Promenade (outdoor bow-facing viewing area).

The Sun Deck (top deck/5th floor) features a large fore-located sunbathing area with deluxe sun loungers and a shaded seating area (covered with sail-like shades) furnished with sofas, chairs and tables.

One Lift (passenger elevator) connects all cabin decks.

All decks are interconnected via stairs (forward, midship, and aft stairways).

Viking Nile River cruise itineraries in Egypt

Previously, Viking Cruises Egypt operated Nile River and Lake Nasser cruisetour itineraries with chartered ships. Since 2020, the fleet consists of Viking-owned ships navigating the Nile portion only (roundtrip from Luxor) with fly-cruise packages inclusive of two domestic flights (Cairo-Luxor-Cairo).

Viking's Nile River cruisetour is themed "Pharaohs and Pyramids".

The 12-day itinerary incorporates 7-day cruising on Nile River and starts with a 3-night hotel stay in Cairo and tours to iconic attractions like Grand Egyptian Museum, Great Pyramids of Giza, Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Cruise tourists then fly to Luxor to visit Karnak and the Temples of Luxor before boarding the Viking cruise ship for a 7-night Nile cruise to Aswan and back. The next table shows the 7-day roundtrip itinerary as a ports sequence.

Tours include a private visit to Nefertari's tomb (Valley of the Queens) and excursions to Khnum Temple (Esna) and Dendera Temple complex (Qena). A visit to a Nubian village is also included.

Most Nile River cruise boats (from a total of ~200 vessels) are marketed as 5-star - but most of them are definitely not premium. The onboard food is buffet-style and far away from gourmet. The major advantage of the Egyptian river cruises are that they are way cheaper in comparison to the European inland cruises. Viking's Nile tours surely bring the luxurious style (generally associated with the Viking brand) to Egypt, along with higher cruise fares.

Viking Aton ship cruise deals are inclusive of:

• 11 Egypt excursions (led by a local professional guide) with headsets for guests being provided
• Complimentary onboard Internet and beverages (beers, wines, soft beverages) during lunches and dinners)
• All Government taxes and fees in ports of call
• Domestic flights (in Egypt) between Cairo and Luxor; and between Aswan and Cairo
• Airport transfers (on embarkation and disembarkation dates) - only if flights are purchased through Viking Cruises' "Viking Air" flight program.

Viking's Nile cruisetour features:

• 7-night Nile River cruising portion
• 12-day itinerary visiting 1 country, 6 ports, 1 city (by land, 3-night hotel stay (Nile Ritz-Carlton Cairo, 1-night hotel stay (InterContinental Cairo Hotel).
• The cruise tour visits 4 UNESCO sites in Egypt, as well as the Dendera Temple complex (Hathor).
• Onboard Culture Curriculum (enrichment program) with an expert Egyptologist (also leading all shore excursions). Lectures onboard are also themed on women's roles in Egypt and on the country's current political events.
• Passengers also visit a private home in an authentic Nubian village (from Aswan).
• Onboard and ashore dining/meals that are cruise price inclusive include 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners. Onboard meals include Egyptian specialties. but American classic dishes are always available.

Signature onboard (formal) events are the Welcome Cocktail Reception and the Farewell Dinner.

Viking Cruises Egypt tour packages (optional hotel+land travel)

In 2023-2024, Viking Cruises Egypt introduced pre- and post-cruise packages as optional extensions of the brand's premium Nile River voyages.

The 3-night Pre-Istanbul Package (priced from US$1400 pp) is inclusive of 3 hotel nights in Istanbul (at Westin Istanbul Nisantasi Hotel or similar), 3 meals (breakfasts), 2 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Istanbul Old City Tour, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace), flight from Istanbul to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Pre-Jerusalem Israel Package (priced from US$2400 pp) is inclusive of 4 hotel nights in Orient Jerusalem Hotel (or similar), 8 meals (4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner), 3 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Bethlehem Walking Tour, Jerusalem City Tour, Israel Museum Tour), a flight from Tel Aviv to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Pre-British Collections of Ancient Egypt package (priced from US$3700 pp) is inclusive of 2 hotel nights in London (Rosewood Hotel), 2 hotel nights in Oxford (Old Bank Hotel), 6 meals (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches), 4 Privileged Access visits (British Museum, Sir John Soane's Museum, Griffith Institute, Highclere Castle), 3 3 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Petrie Museum, Oxford Walking Tour, Ashmolean Museum), flight from London to Cairo, as well as all transfers.

The 4-night Post-Petra Jordan, Dead Sea and Amman Package (priced from US$2200 pp) is inclusive of 1 flight from Cairo to Amman, 4 nights (1x at Dead Sea, 2x in Petra, 1x in Amman), 8 meals (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners), 4 guided/Viking Host-escorted tours (Ancient Town of Madaba; Dead Sea Museum, Petra, Amman, Jerash), as well as all transfers. The home flight (from Amman) costs extra.