ESExplorer Suite
829 sq ft with a separate sitting room and French balconies facing both sides of the ship.
Decks: 4
MS Antares
Sails from Luxor, Egypt · Fly into LXR
Page updated
About MS Antares
MS Antares is a Viking River Cruises cruise ship. She carries 62 guests with a crew of 75. She sails Nile itineraries. We rate her 3.8 out of 5.
MS Antares is a classic-style Nile ship for 62 guests, owned and operated by Viking and last refurbished in 2018. The star Antares, its namesake, was linked with the Egyptian scorpion goddess Serket. Through 2027 it sails chiefly on Pharaohs & Pyramids, which pairs hotel nights in Cairo with an eight-day Nile round trip from Luxor to Aswan. Its staterooms range from 290 to 829 square feet, all with French balconies, and the ship has a sun-deck pool, a fitness center and a massage room.
Ship facts
- Guests
- 62
- Crew 75 · 1:0.8
- Length
- 72 m
- Shorter than 95% of 575 ships
- Decks
- 5
Ratings
- Cabins
- 4/5, fleet average 4.3
- Dining
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
- Entertainment
- 3/5, fleet average 3.0
- Service
- 5/5, fleet average 5.0
- Pools & decks
- 3/5+0.8, fleet average 2.2
- Value
- 4/5, fleet average 4.0
Editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; the overall is their average, not an average of reader reviews. Ticks mark the Viking River Cruises fleet average across 86 rated ships in service.
More from Viking River Cruises
The ships in the fleet closest to her in size.
3.8 ★Viking Ra52 guests · NileViking Ra is a small all-suite Nile ship for 52 guests that Viking owns and operates; the line dates its refurbishment to 2017, and it began sailing for Viking in 2018. Ra, the…4.0 ★Viking Saigon2022 · 80 guests · MekongViking Saigon is an 80-guest ship designed for the Mekong, added to Viking's fleet in 2022 as a sister to the Viking Tonle. It takes its name from Saigon, the former name of Ho…4.0 ★Viking Tonle2025 · 80 guests · MekongViking Tonle is an 80-guest ship designed for the Mekong, added to Viking's fleet in 2025 as a sister to the Viking Saigon. Its name is the Khmer word for fresh water. For 2026…Deck plans & cabin locations
Publisher-linked Antares layout · Published edition. Confirm the edition for your departure with the cruise line.
Explore the deck plans
What’s above your ceiling matters as much as the view. Compare the decks around your cabin, then use the location notes to build your shortlist.
Confirm cabin details, vessel-specific differences and any sailing-date changes with Viking. No exact validity window is supplied. Cabin notes describe published spatial relationships, not measured noise or guaranteed quiet.
All decks
Publisher-linked Antares layout · bow to the right
31 cabins mapped in this edition. Hover, focus or tap a cabin for its grade and details.
No specific location note for this deck yet. Compare the exact cabin footprint on the plans.
On this deck: Sun Deck · pool and seating
On this deck: Upper Deck · accommodation, bar, fitness center and spa
On this deck: Middle Deck · accommodation, library and shop
On this deck: Main Deck · accommodation, Guest Services and lounge
On this deck: Lower Deck · kitchen and restaurant
Use Zoom plan to enlarge a diagram.Full ship PDF
Cabin grades
Compare every grade in this plan edition. Cabins within a grade can differ in layout and balcony size.
AAVeranda Suite
592 sq ft including a veranda off the bedroom; separate sitting room has a French balcony.
Decks: 3
ADeluxe French Balcony
430 sq ft with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door.
Decks: 4
BDeluxe French Balcony
430 sq ft with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door.
Decks: 3
CDeluxe French Balcony
430 sq ft with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door.
Decks: 2
DFrench Balcony
290 sq ft with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door.
Decks: 2, 3, 4
Cabins to avoid & quieter candidates
Middle Deck (Deck 3) where cabin blocks overlap above and below
Start with a vertically overlapping cabin stack
Compare the exact cabin with accommodation immediately above and below, away from stairs, lifts and public entrances. The overlapping section can be limited on these smaller ships.
Why we flag this
The Antares-specific plan shows cabins on Main, Middle and Upper decks, with a Lower Deck kitchen/restaurant. Its room layout is distinct from the Osiris and Ra designs. This is a layout-based preference, not measured noise data. Check the source plan.
Upper Deck (Deck 4) below occupied areas of Deck 5
Check the highest cabins below outdoor and lounge areas
Compare the suite with the Sun Deck seating and the pool footprint overhead. Check the exact overlap and likely hours of activity before booking.
Why we flag this
The Antares diagram identifies these public areas above the highest accommodation deck. Pool and lounge footprints vary, so this does not apply equally to every room. Check the source plan.
Main Deck lounge / Guest Services and Upper Deck bar / fitness / spa
Check public and service-area adjacency
Check cabin distance from the restaurant/kitchen, reception, lounge or bar, and compare the neighbouring deck’s footprint. Convenience can come with more passing traffic.
Why we flag this
The Antares-specific plan shows cabins on Main, Middle and Upper decks, with a Lower Deck kitchen/restaurant. Its room layout is distinct from the Osiris and Ra designs. Public and service venues are labelled separately from cabins; no specific noise complaint is asserted. Check the source plan.
Location-based guidance, not measured noise or a guarantee of quiet. Flags identify areas to investigate, not every cabin on a deck. Check the exact room, connecting doors, accessibility and the plan for your sailing date. Publisher PDF linked by this ship’s official page, individually verified on 21 October 2026. Design: Antares. Named decks are numbered from the lowest illustrated deck upward in this viewer; see the deck labels and original PDF.. Reviewed 2026-10-21.
Where she sails
Home port: Luxor, Egypt.
Quick answers
Which cruise line operates MS Antares?
MS Antares is operated by Viking River Cruises.
How big is MS Antares?
MS Antares measures 72 metres in length, with 5 decks.
How many passengers does MS Antares carry?
MS Antares carries 62 guests at double occupancy, with a crew of 75 (about 0.8 guests per crew member).
Where does MS Antares sail?
MS Antares sails Nile itineraries. Her home port is Luxor, Egypt.
Which airport should I fly into for MS Antares?
MS Antares sails from Luxor, Egypt. Fly into Luxor International Airport (LXR).
Where can I find the deck plans for MS Antares?
Viking River Cruises publishes the deck plans for MS Antares; this page links to Deck plans.
How is MS Antares rated?
Cruises Frog rates MS Antares 3.8 out of 5 overall, the average of 6 editorial scores. She scores best on service (5/5) and lowest on pools & decks (3/5).
Which cabins are good choices on MS Antares?
For the “Publisher-linked Antares layout” plan, start with these quieter-location candidates: Middle Deck (Deck 3) where cabin blocks overlap above and below: Compare the exact cabin with accommodation immediately above and below, away from stairs, lifts and public entrances. The overlapping section can be limited on these smaller ships. Compare the exact cabin with the decks above and below, nearby lifts and connecting doors. These are layout-based suggestions, not a guarantee of quiet.
Which cabins should I avoid or check carefully on MS Antares?
For the “Publisher-linked Antares layout” plan, review these flagged locations before booking: Upper Deck (Deck 4) below occupied areas of Deck 5: Compare the suite with the Sun Deck seating and the pool footprint overhead. Check the exact overlap and likely hours of activity before booking. Main Deck lounge / Guest Services and Upper Deck bar / fitness / spa: Check cabin distance from the restaurant/kitchen, reception, lounge or bar, and compare the neighbouring deck’s footprint. Convenience can come with more passing traffic. These flags are not measured noise reports or a warning about every room on a deck. Read the sourced cabin advice for the evidence and any explicit operator warnings.
How can I check whether a cabin is under a pool, nightclub or theatre?
Find the cabin on the selected plan, then compare the same fore-and-aft position on the deck above and below. Check the full venue footprint, including outdoor seating, stages, service areas and entrances. Nearby activity can be a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove a cabin is noisy. Use the cabin advice and its sources to distinguish layout cautions from operator warnings.
Where can I find MS Antares deck plans?
Use this guide’s deck selector to compare the decks around your cabin and open available diagrams in the zoom viewer. The full ship PDF and source links are listed for each plan edition.
Which deck-plan edition applies to my sailing?
Select your sailing date before comparing cabin locations. Editions can change after a refit. These answers use “Publisher-linked Antares layout”, reviewed 2026-10-21. Confirm cabin details, vessel-specific differences and any sailing-date changes with Viking. No exact validity window is supplied. Cabin notes describe published spatial relationships, not measured noise or guaranteed quiet.
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