Whats Next For Viking
This past January 2020, Viking introduced the construction of the 378-passenger Viking Octantis scheduled to launch in January 2022. The new Viking Expeditions, will offer voyages to Antarctica and then up to North Americas Great Lakes.
Viking Polaris, the second expedition ship, will debut in August 2022. Itineraries will include Antarctica and the Arctic.
Im the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world on waves and wheels, collecting recipes along the way. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breathstop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.
Viking Mississippi Aquavit Terrace
Viking Mississippi Aquavit Terrace
According to Viking, its boat will be the largest and most modern cruise ship on the river, sailing between New Orleans and St. Paul. The international cruise company is making a major commitment to tourism along the river, with the new cruises expected to bring more than 5,800 guests to the region in 2022 and 17,600-plus during the first full sailing season in 2023.
Cruises start at $3,999. Scheduled ports of call currently include seven states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. vikingrivercruises.com
Whats Included On Your Mississippi River Cruise
Every Mississippi River cruise fare includes one complimentary shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes.
Guests also receive complimentary beer and wine with lunch and dinner, one complimentary specialty dining experience, self-service launderettes, 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi.
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Cutting Edge Design Historic Surroundings
Viking Mississippi will host 386 guests in 193 all-outside staterooms, its five decks featuring a combination of spacious outside staterooms with balcony and some of the largest true suites on the river. With king-size beds, heated bathroom floors and a well-stocked mini bar, theyll be the perfect place for some post-exploring R& R.
Viking Cruise Lines To Make Stop In The Quad Cities Wednesday
DAVENPORT, Iowa – Viking Cruise Lines will make a stop in the Quad Cities Wednesday at River Heritage Park in Davenport.
Viking Cruise Lines are launching new destination-focused travel experiences on the Mississippi River, with its first 386-guests custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, according to a media release from Visit Quad Cities. Its maiden voyage for passengers begins in St. Paul Saturday.
The public is invited to welcome the first Viking passengers to the Quad Cities at an opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting at noon before passengers disembark on the red carpet to board the buses for their shore excursions.
Visit Quad Cities, the regions official destination management and marketing organization, assists the national river cruise companies to develop shore excursion tours for passengers.
Viking passengers will have the opportunity to visit the John Deere Pavilion & Store, Deere-Wiman House and Butterworth Center, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum and Science Center, and Cinnamon Ridge Farms, in addition to biking and kayaking guided tours.
Almost 50 stops from national cruise lines will be welcomed to the Quad Cities this year. Cruise lines have scheduled visits in the QC until early November, according to the release.
The cruise schedule is subject to change at any time and no public tours will be given of the vessels, according to the release.
Copyright 2022 KWQC. All rights reserved.
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Life Onboard A River Cruise: Viking Mississippi
Save up to $1000 per couple on the 2021 Inaugural Season of the Viking Mississippi! Includes a $150 on board credit and a FREE pre night hotel!
Youve been curious. Of course, who wouldnt be? Those big boats floating down the river conjure up images of Mark Twain and grand adventures on the Mississippi. The happy passengers waving from their lounge chairs on what looks like their own private balcony, and if you happen to be where the boats dock, seeing the guest go off on excursions unknown. Where are they going? What do they do on the boat? Well, lets take a look!
You can have all the experiences in the new Viking Mississippiwhich was inspired by the award-winning Viking Longships® and includes their clean Scandinavian design. Everything has been planned down to the simplest detail including the boats public spaces, dining areas, the sun terrace and pool and a 360-degree view from the promenade deck to catch the amazing scenic views.
Shipboard Facilities And Amenities
MS Viking Mississippi riverboat represents a new design inland passenger vessel that is totally different from all currently available on the US market cruise ships. The boat is traditionally large-sized but with a 90% glass-enclosed superstructure. All staterooms and public venues are with floor-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows.
Of all the 5 passenger-accessible decks, 4 are with staterooms. Each cabin deck has a launderette . Of the riverboat’s three Lifts , two are in the Atrium and one is located forward-portside. The elevators access all decks . All decks are also interlinked via stairs .
Signature venues on Viking Mississippi include the trademarked and available on all Viking cruise ships Explorers’ Lounge with Bow Terrace , The Living Room , The Restaurant with Galley , River Cafe , Aquavit Terrace , Sun Terrace , Promenade Deck .
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Viking Mississippi Cruise Ship Touches Water For First Time
HOUMA, La. A Swiss companys plan to offer tourists cruises along the length of the Mississippi River drew a step closer to reality this week as its new 386-passenger ship was floated out of a south Louisiana shipyard.
Viking River Cruises of Basel, which in 2015 announced the plans for Mississippi River cruises, toasted the completion of the Viking Mississippi in a celebration Monday at a Houma shipyard.
Two U.S. companies already offer cruises up and down the river, which flows 2,350 miles from its source at Minnesotas Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. American Queen Voyages, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and American Cruise Lines, based in Guilford, Connecticut, expect to carry a total of 50,000 people on the Mississippi this year, spokespeople said.
The Viking Mississippi is billed by the Swiss competitor as the largest and most modern ship in the region. It is to make its first voyage in June between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota a trip that would take about 1,200 miles by car but is about 1,700 miles on the twisting river.
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It is a proud moment that this new ship has met an American waterway for the first time, Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said in a news release. Our guests have long wanted to sail the Mississippi River with Viking, and we very much look forward to welcoming them on board this summer.
Viking Mississippi Inaugural Voyages For 2022 And 2023
Heres the list of itineraries that are now open for reservations. Most cruises are seven-night northbound, southbound or 14-night round-trip from New Orleans. But its the nearly full-length river cruise that really gets my attention. Once your river ship journeys north of Memphis, youre in Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer territory. Not to mention the dairyland of Wisconsin.
- Americas Heartland Cruise the Upper Mississippi and experience something totally different from the southern half of the Mississippi. Between St. Louis and St. Paul, past locks and dams, American history turns toward the early expansion to the west and the belief in Manifest Destiny.
- Heart of the Delta Journey the Lower Mississippi and see first-hand remnants of the old south in architecture, music and culture.
- Southern Celebration Again on the Lower Mississippi, theres time to visit several historic homes in Louisiana and Mississippi. Civil War history abounds especially when spending the day in Vicksburg.
- Americas Great River Going as far north as Viking Mississippi can go, youll cruise nearly the entire length of the Mississippi River. From the sleepy Gulf Coast, past forest and farmland until the metropolitan cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, this is a very special itinerary.
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The New Viking Mississippi Cruise Ship Gives Qc A Closer Look
Ellie Sowick had never been to the Midwest until she boarded the new Viking Mississippi cruise ship this past weekend, for an eight-day journey from St. Louis to St. Paul.
The 66-year-old Massachusetts woman and her twin sister Sue Spingler docked in Davenport Tuesday morning, for Viking River Cruises second only four-hour stop in the Quad Cities so far. They had been on a European Viking cruise on the Danube in 2019 and love everything about the luxury line.
They really have great staff they have great boats, as you can see, Sowick said. You make friends with people on board.
They first heard about Vikings Mississippi River plans while on the Danube, and the sisters booked the trip two years ago, before the new five-level boat was even built. It accommodates 386 passengers and 148 crew members. The European Viking ships can take 190 passengers each.
The boats are beautiful, the staff is beautiful, Sowick said. Theyre very accommodating. We had a great experience on our first Viking trip up the Danube in Germany, so I wanted to do another.
Spingler lives in Fargo, N.D., and they enjoy traveling together. Theres an outdoor walking track on the ship, and six times around equals a mile. Sowick said the ship ride is very smooth.
Spingler, who works as a freelance writer, said the ship is luxurious and first-class.
After 25 years, first time on the Mighty Mississippi
Viking Mississippi Float Out
February 2022. The 386-guest Viking Mississippi® was floated out in Louisiana, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in summer 2022, the Viking Mississippi will sail Vikings highly anticipated voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul.
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Take A Tour Aboard The Mississippi Viking
The Viking Mississippi sits docked in Davenport, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.
Shown is one of the 193 staterooms aboard the Viking Mississippi on Tuesday in Davenport.
A look at the living room aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the deck aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the deck aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look inside a stateroom aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the living room aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the living room aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the Paps Explorers’ Bar aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the living room aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look inside a stateroom aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at the living room aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look inside Mamsen’s, a restaurant dedicated to Viking founder Torstein Hagen’s mother, aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A look at Mamsen’s, a restaurant dedicated to Viking founder Torstein Hagen’s mother, aboard the Viking Mississippi, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Davenport.
A Look Inside The Viking Mississippi During The Ship’s Second Hannibal Stop
The top-deck lounge inside the Viking Mississippi river cruise ship, looking out over Hannibal during the ship’s stop on Sunday.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The cruise ship Viking Mississippi docked in Hannibal Sunday during Viking’s first full run of their “America’s Heartland” cruise from St. Louis, Mo. to St. Paul, Minn.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The 450-foot long Viking Mississippi, with room for 386 passengers, docked in Hannibal for the second time on Sunday. The ship is part of Viking cruise lines inaugural season offering cruises along the Mississippi River.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The first deck of the Explorers’ Lounge aboard the Viking Mississippi river cruise ship, docked in Hannibal on Sunday.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The common room of the Viking Mississippi cruise ship, called the Living Room, features seating, space for live music performances, and a curated library assembled just for the use of the ship’s passengers.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The port-side dining area of the Restaurant, the main dining facility aboard Viking cruise lines first ever U.S. river cruise ship, the Viking Mississippi.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
The upper level of the Viking Mississippi’s Explorers’ Lounge, looking out at the Mark Twain riverboat docket directly to the north.
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
- Courier-Post Photo/Mike Sorensen
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Beginning This Summer Viking Is Bringing Modern River Voyages To The Mississippi
Los Angeles Viking® celebrated today that the new 386-guest Viking Mississippi® was floated out in Louisiana, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in June 2022, the Viking Mississippi will sail Vikings highly-anticipated voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul.
It is a proud moment that this new ship has met an American waterway for the first time, said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. Our guests have long wanted to sail the Mississippi River with Viking, and we very much look forward to welcoming them on board this summer. We are grateful to our American partner, Edison Chouest Offshore, who has helped bring to life our vision of exploring the Mississippi in the Viking way.
The traditional float out took place at Edison Chouest Offshores LaShip shipyard in Houma, Louisiana and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. In keeping with maritime tradition, the ships ceremonial godmother, Dionne Chouest, General Counsel of Edison Chouest Offshore, assisted with the float out.
Media Assets
Viking Longships Naming Ceremony 2019
During a festive naming ceremony in Basel, Switzerland, Viking welcomed seven new Europe river ships to its award-winning fleet, including six innovative Viking Longships. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen is pictured with the ships honorary godmothers at the Picasso exhibition at Basels Foundation Beyeler museum.
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Explore The Best Parts Of The United States On A Mississippi River Cruise With Viking When You Reserve With Bon Voyage Travel Get Extra Perks You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
Viking’s Mississippi River Cruises allow you to explore beautiful towns and cities right here at home. Immerse yourself in rich history and culture discovering everything along the way like the French Quarter in New Orleans, Civil War history at Vicksburg National Military Park, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Graceland and the Delta Blues in Memphis and so much more! Plus, on a Viking river cruise, get so many inclusions like a free shore excursion in every port of call, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour coffees & teas, and beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner.
Search the sailings below or contact our experts at 1 439-7963 for more details on these new itineraries and reserve your stateroom today!
Cruise Ship Arrives Early: ‘it’s Very European Very Sleek’
Despite the delays, the Viking Mississippi arrived in Burlington slightly ahead of schedule. Initially expected to enter Burlington’s waters between 7:30 and 8 a.m., a horn announcing its arrival sounded at about 6 a.m.
“It threw me a bit,” said Vicky Krause, a New Zealand native and Burlington resident who came ready to greet Viking guests with a flag and chair. “We live up on the bluff and can see it from there. It’s exciting for Burlington, isn’t it? It’s brand new and it’s just beautiful.”
While non-passengers were not permitted on the ship while it was docked, Krause had viewed the interior via a virtual tour of the Viking Mississippi beforehand.
“It’s very European, very sleek, and lots of wood,” Krause said.
Toward the front of the ship, Christine Williamson posed for a photo, holding up a bright yellow shirt displaying the words: “Ask Me!”
Williamson was among a handful of volunteers who waited to greet guests outside, while others waited inside the Port of Burlington.
“I absolutely love Burlington and bragging about it to everybody around the world,” Williamson said, remarking on the art center, Snake Alley, downtown shops, restaurants and other Burlington attractions. “Our Jefferson Street shopping district is a fun place to visit. I love to shop there.”
Williamson also has been a Viking passenger, having enjoyed three of its cruises in Europe.
“Now I want to be a part of Viking from the land side,” she said.
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Viking Cruises Mississippi River Itineraries
There are four unique itineraries to choose from with options to start and finish along the entire river, from St. Paul, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana. Americas Great River is the longest of the four, with 15 days of cruising starting in St. Paul and sailing South along the rivers entire path.
A rendering of Viking Mississippi | Photo: Viking Cruises
Americas Heartland takes cruisers from St. Louis, Missouri North to St. Paul on an 8-day journey. Heart of the Delta explores the southern stretch of the Mississippi River, starting in New Orleans and cruising North to Memphis, Tennessee. The fourth itinerary, Southern Celebration, begins in New Orleans and takes a ride North to Vicksburg, Mississippi and back.
Have you cruised with Viking or on the Mississippi River? Let us know in the comments below!
What Can Guests Expect From The Viking Mississippi
The Viking Mississippi will sail itineraries on the Upper and Lower Mississippi River between St. Paul and New Orleans.
The ship has 193 staterooms, all of which are outside, and can accommodate up to 386 passengers, according to a news release. Across seven cabin categories, rooms range from 268 to more than 1,000 square feet, and each has a French balcony or private veranda, heated bathroom floor and king-size bed.
The ship boasts a 360-degree promenade deck that wraps around the ship, along with a sun terrace that has a glass-backed infinity pool and a library curated by Heywood Hill, a bookstore in London.
Dining options include The Restaurant, the ship’s primary eatery featuring classic dishes and regional offerings on rotating menus, and the indoor-outdoor River Café, which serves both American food such as Southern barbecue, and Norwegian cuisine from Mamsen’s, a flagship Viking’s offering that has a separate counter within the café.
As part of their cruises, guests can also take in lectures on topics such as the history, architecture and art of the region, and attend performances of local music, from Delta blues to New Orleans jazz.
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