Nile riverboats Viking Hathor, Viking Sobek named in Luxor

Twin Nile riverboats Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek were named at festivities in Luxor, Egypt.

The godfathers

Viking Hathor's godfather was Edward Herbert, whose great-great-grandfather, the 5th earl of Carnarvon, was Howard Carter’s benefactor and co-explorer; Carter's excavation uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen near Luxor almost exactly 102 years ago on Nov. 4, 1922.

Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and a member of the Egyptian Senate, served as Viking Sobek's godfather.

The 82-passenger vessels, built at Cairo's Massara Shipyard, are identical sisters of Viking Aton and Viking Osiris, and will operate Viking's 12-day 'Pharaohs & Pyramids' itinerary.

Welcoming the new riverboats, Viking Chairman/CEO Torstein Hagen expressed gratitude for 'our continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family and that Eddie has honored us by serving as godfather of the Viking Hathor.'

Edward's father and mother were Viking’s first 'godparents.' In 2022, Lord Carnarvon became Viking’s first godfather, for Viking Osiris. Lady Carnarvon is the godmother of a Viking Longship, Viking Skadi, and an ocean ship, Viking Mars.

Hagen continued: 'For more than 15 years, Mohamed El Banna has been a part of the extended Viking family, helping to take good care of our guests in Egypt, and it is a great honor that he is serving as godfather of the Viking Sobek.'

As Viking’s exclusive tour operator in Egypt, Cosmos Egypt handles all ground operations and transportation for shore excursions and helps source English-speaking tour guides and Egyptologists. El Banna also helped Viking create its operational division in Egypt, which now includes more than 500 employees that work in the country.

Hagen added: 'As our award-winning fleet on the Nile continues to grow, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to this phenomenal destination.'

Singer Sissel Kyrkjebø, left, performed at the Karnak Temple dinner, along with a harpist PHOTOS: VIKING

Karnak Temple dinner

The naming ceremony took place at Viking’s exclusive docking location in Luxor and was followed by a celebratory dinner inside the nearby Karnak Temple.

Viking’s guests were also treated to a performance by Sissel Kyrkjebø, a world-famous soprano and godmother of Viking Jupiter, who sang the Egyptian, Norwegian and UK national anthems in their native languages.

Fleet of 10

Viking plans to welcome four additional vessels to its Nile fleet in the next two years — Viking Amun and Viking Thoth in 2025 and Viking Skhmet and Viking Ptha in 2026. These will bring its Egypt presence to 10 vessels.