NEW SHIPS coming soon

Rebecca Bradbury selects the latest stylish, state-of-the-art river ships designed for destination immersion

- Rebecca Bradbury

VIKING OSIRIS

Egypt is one of the hottest cruise destinations of the moment and, with its finger on the pulse, Viking is launching a new river ship at the end of 2020 designed for the Nile. Viking Osiris will host 82 guests, and feature the clean, elegant Scandinavian design the line is renowned for.

In true Viking Longship fashion, the sumptuous ship will boast a Pool & Sun Deck with 360-degree views and a shaded seating area, a Viking Lounge and Bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, and an Aquavit Terrace – the revolutionary indoor-outdoor viewing area built for al fresco dining.

All these social areas place prime importance on panoramic vistas, and this continues into the 41 luxurious staterooms. All have their very own balcony, with the two explorer suites equipped with highlights such as a veranda off the bedroom and a bathtub in the spacious bathroom.

Joining Viking Ra, which launched on the Nile in 2018, Osiris will sail the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids voyage, taking guests between Luxor and Aswan with Viking’s expert Egyptologists on hand to provide insights into one of history’s greatest civilisations. The journey also includes a stop at the fascinating city of Cairo for a visit to the world-famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.

There’s also a new pre-cruise extension (the four-night British Collections of Ancient Egypt) which enables guests to retrace the steps of renowed Egyptologist Howard Carter and his benefactor, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Travellers can immerse themselves in private viewings and out-of-hours tours of archives as well as exhibits at the British Museum and Petrie Museum in London, and the Griffith Institute and Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. There’s also the chance to view the Earl’s collection at Highclere Castle, the stately home that stars in Downton Abbey.