Viking recently announced its two newest ships for the Nile River – the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet – have been floated out, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ships have touched water. Set to debut in September and November 2026, respectively, the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet will join the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships in Egypt and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

“Egypt is truly a phenomenal destination, distinguished by its remarkable history, enduring culture and the singular power of the Nile,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With the float out of our two newest ships, we look forward to further expanding our elegant fleet on the Nile and welcoming more curious travelers to experience this extraordinary region in the years to come.”

The traditional float out ceremonies for the Viking Ptah and the Viking Sekhmet took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo and are significant because they mark each ship’s transition into the final stage of construction. The ships will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

The state-of-the-art Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet are the newest sister ships in Viking’s Egypt fleet, which also includes the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton, the Viking Sobek, the Viking Hathor, the Viking Amun and the Viking Thoth. Owned and operated by Viking, each ship hosts 82 guests in 41 staterooms and features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a space-saving square bow, an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace and elegant Scandinavian design. Together, they represent the most modern sister ships sailing the Nile River.