This Cruise Ship Sails the Mississippi River — With Spacious Suites, Great Restaurants, and Visits to Charming U.S. Small Towns

On an outdoor deck at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, a telescope rests with its lens facing toward a sandbar along the Mississippi River. I peek through the eyepiece and two bald eagles appear, resting on a tree branch nearly a mile away.

“They’ve been there for about 5 hours, just like that,” a staff member tells me. Bald eagles are known to be lazy, only flying while looking for food and conserving their energy most of the day. But this is the first time I’ve ever seen one in the wild. Just then, another bald eagle soars overhead, its wide wingspan casting a shadow. It’s perhaps one of the most American moments I’ve ever had, a thematic culmination of a 12-day “America’s Heartland” cruise up the Mississippi River that’s been full of Americana.

The trip, which departs St. Louis and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota, is one of several itineraries offered by Viking, which launched the Viking Mississippi in 2022. Other voyages run from New Orleans to Memphis or travel almost the full length of the river between New Orleans and St. Paul. My own journey had a focus on the Upper Mississippi, and as we ping-ponged from both sides of the river — Missouri and Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin — I had the chance to visit working dairy farms and plenty of charming small towns, where mom-and-pop shops still thrive and the American dream is alive and well.

On an excursion in Spring Green, Wisconsin, I toured Taliesin, iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home for almost 50 years. Set amid 800 acres of rolling hills, the 37,000-square-foot home was also his studio and a laboratory for experimental architecture, where Wright toyed with form and design, tearing down sections and rebuilding again. Walking through the rooms, I saw a space ahead of its time, with designs from almost every decade of Wright’s career from the 1890s to 1950s, complete with prints, artifacts, trees, and flowers that Wright brought back from his many trips to Japan. Today, the grounds are both a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Hannibal, Missouri, where author Mark Twain grew up, I walked through his boyhood home, with its iconic white-picket fence — one said to be the inspiration for a pivotal scene in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” I also wandered through the home of Laura Hawkins, Twain’s childhood sweetheart, who inspired his character Becky Thatcher.

And in Alton, Illinois, I got an education at the National Great Rivers Museum and Melvin Price Locks and Dam #26, where visitors can learn about the infrastructure that keeps the Upper Mississippi navigable for not only cruise ships but cargo vessels.

All of which explains why the average Viking passenger — the kind of person who could easily travel on the Danube or another storied European river — would want to skip the castles and vineyards in favor of the Mississippi.

“Our guests are interested in the history of the river, its locks, and the towns that sprouted up along its banks to support the U.S. economy,” a Viking spokesperson told me. “On board, you meet fans of Mark Twain literature who are excited to see some of the places described in his books, and Frank Lloyd Wright admirers who want to see some of the homes he designed. You also can’t sail the Mississippi without seeing the role agriculture has played” in the history of America.

My fellow travelers were indeed there for the history, and many told me this was the first time they were seeing these parts of the country’s heartland. I was one of the youngest people on board; most guests were older, ranging from mid-50s to 90 and up. Everyone, though, was eager to socialize and explore, and I often shared meals with new friends I’d made on board.

Here, a closer look at the Viking Mississippi cruise ship, including its stateroom amenities, dining, entertainment, excursions, and other offerings.

Viking Mississippi

• The top-deck infinity pool, where I lounged while watching boaters below admire our grand ship.

• The Promenade Deck, another open-air space that allowed me to get in my daily walks while taking in the Mississippi River.

• The cuisine was a highlight, with ever-changing specials that offered plenty of variety.

• Interesting excursions that ranged from easy bus tours to adventurous walks, providing a variety of activity levels for guests.

The Staterooms

Built in 2022, the Viking Mississippi accommodates up to 386 guests in 193 staterooms, each of which has a veranda or balcony with river views. There are several categories to choose from, with 128 Veranda and Deluxe Veranda staterooms, 24 Penthouse Veranda staterooms, eight French Balcony staterooms, 16 Penthouse Junior Suites, seven Terrace Suites, and 10 Explorer Suites. Both the Veranda and Deluxe Veranda staterooms are 268 square feet, but the Deluxe Veranda rooms have additional amenities such as binoculars, a selection of coffee and tea, and a Norwegian Marius-weave blanket across the bed; the traditional Veranda stateroom doesn’t include these extras.

Stepping up in size, Penthouse Veranda staterooms are 336 square feet, while the French Balcony staterooms are 301 square feet. The Penthouse Junior Suites are 400 square feet with a living area, and the Terrace Suites are 425 square feet with a sitting area.

The largest rooms are the Explorer Suites, which range from 657 to 1,024 square feet, with a wraparound balcony, private veranda, living room, dining area, and a bathroom that features a bathtub in addition to a shower. (All other rooms on board have only a shower.) These suites also include Viking’s Silver Spirits beverage package, which typically costs $25 per day for the length of the cruise.

My Deluxe Veranda stateroom felt large enough for me, as I had it set up with two beds instead of a king-size bed, which I prefer while traveling solo. It also had a desk, couch, and coffee table, which worked well for both lounging and work time. The private veranda was a nice touch, with its small table and chairs. I found it a lovely, quiet spot to watch the world float by.

Bars and Restaurants

The River Café and The Restaurant are the only two dining venues on this ship — but I was pleasantly surprised by the ever-changing menus that often incorporated regional dishes.

The River Café serves everything buffet style, with American classics and destination specialties highlighting daily menus. Breakfasts include eggs in numerous ways (the shakshuka was a highlight), fresh fruits, waffles, biscuits and gravy, yogurt, cereal, and so on. Lunch and dinner saw salad items, grilled salmon, pizzas, brisket, turkey and dressing, mac and cheese, various pastas, and so much more. The Aquavit Terrace, an alfresco space just beyond the River Café, has a grill as well, with cheeseburgers, steaks, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, and other rotating items not offered at the buffet.

The staff often went above and beyond. I was probably the only passenger who would request an iced coffee every morning instead of hot coffee from the pot, and every morning, somebody was eager to help, fetching me iced coffee with almond milk and sweeteners. (Eventually, the team remembered I was the “iced coffee girl.”)

The Restaurant is the other dining option, where everything is served a la carte and you order from a set menu at each meal. Here, the vibe is a bit elevated from the casual River Café; it was the more popular option for dinner for most guests. Menus included items such as crab beignets; blackened redfish with clams; risotto and orange butter sauce; fried soft shell crab; seafood chowder; and seared duck breast. Pours of house wine and beer are included during meals on Viking.

For cocktails, the Explorers’ Lounge is a staple on all Viking ships. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for views of the occasional lightning storm or tranquil sunsets; there’s also access to a small open-air area at the bow. In addition to traditional cocktails like Manhattans and martinis, there’s a selection of destination-specific drinks on offer: mint julep, Wisconsin old fashioned, Hurricane, sazerac, Mississippi punch, or Ramos gin fizz. The lounge also offers excellent mocktails, including a coconut lavender lemonade that I enjoyed from time to time.

Where Viking Mississippi Sails

The ship cruises up and down the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul, year round. Some trips are shorter, only doing a portion of the river: New Orleans to Memphis; New Orleans to St. Louis; St. Louis to St. Paul. Certain segments are only available seasonally, such as the Heartland of America cruise I took. It runs from June to October, while others, such as the Mississippi Delta Explorer that goes from New Orleans to Memphis, are offered in both summer and winter.

Shore Excursions

Aside from the aforementioned excursions, there are numerous options daily for travelers. In St. Louis, I toured the Gateway Arch, while others chose a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery or the National Blues Museum. In Burlington, Iowa, some chose to learn about the town’s railroad history while others journeyed to nearby Nauvoo, an early settlement for Mormons. After my bike tour in Quad Cities was canceled due to a heat advisory, I opted for the John Deere Pavilion tour; a visit to the Figge Art Museum was another option.

I splurged on a trek to Taliesin when in Dubuque, Iowa, while others quickly sold out all of the “Field of Dreams” tours, which went to the filming site. There were also Norwegian heritage excursions in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where guests learned about early immigrant life in the Midwest and made folk art pieces. In Red Wing, Minnesota, those who didn’t check out the National Eagle Center went to pottery presentations or a cidery and winery.

Amenities and Entertainment

In addition to shore excursions, Viking offers a daily program of talks in the afternoons and evenings, often focusing on elements of American history: Indigenous stories, bald eagles, European influence on the Midwest, steamboats, the list goes on. There were also daily trivia sessions with the cruise director, plus evening music from various artists playing folk, river, and blues tunes in The Living Room, a large common area on the ship.

On some nights, there were whiskey tastings or cocktail demonstrations in the Explorers’ Lounge, or afternoon appetizers and Champagne with the ship’s senior officers. Viking Mississippi does not have a spa or even a gym, but the wraparound Promenade Deck does offer a place for walking laps.

Family-friendly Offerings

There aren’t any kid-friendly options on Viking cruises. Travelers must be 18 years old on the day they are scheduled to embark. As such, this ship has no services or facilities for kids.

Accessibility

All the French Balcony staterooms on Viking Mississippi are ADA accessible, as is one Explorer Suite and one Penthouse Veranda stateroom. There is elevator access to all decks. Some shore excursions are explicitly wheelchair accessible.

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