In Luxor, Egypt, Viking christened two new Nile cruise ships this week. The Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek were inaugurated in the presence of prominent sponsors: Edward Herbert, a descendant of the man who helped discover Tutankhamun's tomb, and Mohamed El Banna, founder of Cosmos Egypt and Egyptian senator. The christening ceremony was celebrated with an exclusive dinner at the Karnak Temple for guests from the travel industry and media. The cruise ships can accommodate 82 passengers each and are designed for comfortable Nile cruises. In addition, American Cruise Lines (ACL) is continuing to expand its fleet in the USA and has signed contracts for four additional small ships with Chesapeake Shipbuilding. The first of these ships, the American Legend, will enter service at the end of November to primarily serve the American market. In Europe, AmaWaterways also announced a new ship christening for the Douro River: the AmaSintra will be christened in 2025, with Jenn Lee as sponsor. Crystal Cruises also announced that it has ordered a third 690-passenger ship from Fincantieri, to be completed by 2032. This ship will feature private suites and verandas for single travelers and represents the line's latest move toward high-quality, personalized travel options.

From Wednesday, November 13, 2024, culture enthusiasts in Lower Austria can look forward to numerous events. The book "Lower Austria in the 17th Century" will be presented at Spitz Castle from 18 p.m. Edited by Tobias E. Hämmerle, Josef Löffler, Elisabeth Rosner and Martin Scheutz, the work offers a comprehensive analysis of the political, social and cultural developments in the region in the 1.500th century on over 18 pages. Also on Wednesday, there will be a reading on the subject of "Erotic Bathing" with Gabi Hasmann and Christine Triebnig-Löffler at the Haus der Kunst in Baden. The event offers a historical foray from the Middle Ages to modern times. In Baden, the Center for Intercultural Encounters (ZIB) will show the film "A Boy's Life - Child Number B18" about the fate of a Holocaust survivor from 2826 p.m. At 18:30 p.m., Robert Meyer will appear as part of the Bösendorfer Festival cycle in Wiener Neustadt and will play all the roles in Johann Nestroy's play "Chief Abendwind" in the casemates. Alex Kristan will also be performing his cabaret program "50 Shades of Schmäh" at 19:30 p.m. in the VAZ St. Pölten. These and numerous other events such as readings, cabaret programs and plays will offer a wide range of cultural experiences in Lower Austria over the next few days.

In 2025, Vienna will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss Jr., known as the "Waltz King," with numerous celebrations and a major anniversary exhibition. As early as December 4, 2024, the Theatermuseum, together with the Vienna Library, will open a thematic exhibition in the City Hall about the famous composer, whose works shaped Viennese musical life in the 19th century. Under the title "Johann Strauss - The Exhibition," the show will shed light on the multifaceted life and work of Johann Strauss Jr. The highlights include original documents from the Vienna Strauss Collection, which is also listed in the UNESCO "Memory of Humanity" register. The exhibition will be complemented by loans from the Vienna Museum and other institutions that show the artistic and social context. Topics such as the family and business relationships of the "Strauss Company" and the composer's complex network of relationships will come into focus. In addition to Strauss' development as a musician, historical, political and economic backgrounds are also addressed. The exhibition runs until June 23, 2025 and is part of the "Johann Strauss 2025 Vienna" festival program.