Viking and Travelmarvel Bet Big on the Nile's Comeback
Egypt logged a record 19 million international arrivals in 2025, up 21%, and river-cruise operators are responding with real capacity. Viking is expanding its Nile fleet to 12 ships by 2027, a significant build-out that puts Egypt on par with its European river ambitions. Separately, APT's value-tier brand Travelmarvel is returning to the Nile after a decade-long absence, relaunching on the newly refurbished Travelmarvel Sirius — a 124-guest vessel sailing the classic Luxor-Aswan route. Bookings are already open into 2028.
For advisors, this is worth flagging now: Travelmarvel's return introduces a lower-priced entrant into a Nile market that has skewed luxury (Uniworld, Oberoi, Viking's premium positioning), while Viking's capacity growth signals confidence in sustained demand. With Egypt arrivals climbing and European river itineraries facing recurring water-level disruption, the Nile is shaping up as a credible growth alternative for clients open to redirecting river-cruise budget away from the Rhine and Danube.
- Egypt: record 19M international arrivals in 2025 (+21%)
- Viking: scaling Nile fleet to 12 ships by 2027
- Travelmarvel: relaunching Nile program on Travelmarvel Sirius (124 guests, Luxor-Aswan), bookings open into 2028