Viking Mississippi

The 2022-built Viking Mississippi cruise ship is the first of all 6 (planned) boats built and registered in the USA (flag-state). The vessels are also all American crewed. The boat Viking Mississippi operates on the Lower and Upper Mississippi, with departures from homeports NOLA-New Orleans, Memphis TN, St Louis MO, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul MN.

The shipbuilder (and shipowner) is ECO Shipyards - a fully-owned subsidiary of Edison Chouest Offshore (1960-founded as "Edison Chouest Boat Rentals" marine corporation). The ship is operated under charter by the subsidiary company Viking USA LLC via the new brand Viking River Cruises USA.

The vessel is currently USA-flagged (MMSI number 368261120).

Officially inaugurated in September 2022, Viking Mississippi has max passenger capacity 386. Each of the Viking's USA riverboats is a large-sized newbuild vessel (building cost ~USD 90-100 million per unit), each with 5 decks (4 with cabins), all-balcony staterooms (193), Lido Deck (with an aft-located Sundeck and infinity pool), bow ramp (for passenger landings).

Viking's competitors on the US river cruising market are the companies American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company (AQSC).

Decks and Cabins

Viking Mississippi staterooms (193 total) are on 4 decks (out of 5 total), all with balconies and grouped in 13 cabin grades. All staterooms (except 8x handicap cabins with French Balconies) are with Outside Balconies (step-out verandas). French Balcony staterooms are ADA cabins (wheelchair-accessible), with larger bathrooms and convenient midship location (near the Atrium's lifts). All cabin balconies are fitted with 2 deckchairs and 1 low table. Balcony access is via side-sliding, floor-ceiling glass doors. French Balcony cabins are with floor-ceiling windows, slide-opening to a railing.

Standard (complimentary) cabin amenities include King-size double bed (Viking Explorer Bed, convertible to twins), premium quality linens, luxury pillows, 42-inch smart HDTV with infotainment system (interactive LCDTV with satellite reception, intuitive remote, Internet, complimentary on-demand movies, ship info channel, real-time bow camera "View From the Bridge"), 110/120 V power outlets (USA-standard) with USB charging ports, dimmer lighting (LED), phone (direct-dial), minibar (refrigerator with complimentary soft drinks, bottled water, snacks / stocked once per cruise), spacious wardrobe (slide-opening, with hangers and drawers), mirrored dressing table with chair, 1 coffee table with 2 armchairs, electronic safe box (in the closet), purified water (refilled daily), free Wi-Fi, en-suite bathroom (WC-toilet, single-sink vanity, glass shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror, hairdryer, plush bathrobes and slippers, premium toiletries - by Freyja), individually-controlled air-conditioning, 24-hour room service, dedicated cabin steward, twice-daily housekeeping service.

All categories above V-Veranda Stateroom additionally receive as perks binoculars (in-cabin use only), coffee making machine, MARIUS (traditional Norwegian) wool blankets. PV-Penthouse Veranda and all suites additionally receive once-daily replenished minibar (complimentary alcoholic drinks, sodas, bottled water, snacks). PV cabins get complimentary pressing and shoeshine services, while all suites also get complimentary laundry service and Welcome Gift (bottle of champagne upon boarding). All Suites are with two TVs (1x in the living room, 1x in the bedroom) and large bathrooms (with double-sink vanities).

ES-Explorer Suite (the ship's largest accommodation) is a 2-room suite with the separate bedroom-living room, walk-in closet (mirrored dressing table with chair), dining area (2-seat table), lounge area (3-seater sofa, 2 armchairs, low table), large bathroom (with spa bathtub), wraparound aft-facing balcony with outdoor seating (2 deckchairs with low table) and a double daybed. Explorer Suite cruise prices are also inclusive of "Silver Spirits Beverage Package" (Viking Cruises' alcohol-inclusive unlimited drink package). TS-Terrace Suite is also a 2-room cabin. PV-PS-TS staterooms have 2-seater couches in their lounge areas.

Viking Mississippi riverboat's boarding/embarkation time is fixed (at 11 AM) but cabin access times (room entry) differ by stateroom grade.

• PV-Veranda (3 PM)
• FB-French Balcony and DV-Deluxe Veranda (2 PM)
• PV-Penthouse Veranda (1 PM)
• PS-Penthouse Junior Suite, TS-Terrace Suite and ES-Explorer Suite (11 AM) - which means cabin access is immediately after boarding).

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 (laundry room with self-service laundromats). Of the riverboat's three Lifts (glass-door elevators), two are in the Atrium (midship) and one is located forward-portside. The elevators access all decks (1-5). All decks are also interlinked via stairs (forward, midship and aft).

Signature venues on Viking Mississippi include the trademarked and available on all Viking cruise ships (Longships and ocean liners) Explorers' Lounge (2-deck Bar Lounge) with Bow Terrace (outdoor seating), The Living Room (indoor Lounge with Library), The Restaurant (Dining Room) with Galley (Kitchen), River Cafe (indoor-outdoor Lido restaurant and bar lounge), Aquavit Terrace (indoor-outdoor lounge with BBQ area), Sun Terrace (outdoor lounge with sundeck and swimming pool / Infinity Plunge Pool), Promenade Deck (full-circling Deck 1).

Viking USA river cruise itineraries

Viking River Cruises USA officially started operations with MS Viking Mississippi with the maiden voyage in 2022 (8-day "America’s Heartland" itinerary from St Paul MN to St Louis MO/departing from Saint Paul on September 3rd).

Viking USA's bookings opened in 2020 - on March 31st (for past customers) and on April 16th (for the general public).

Currently, the company offers 4 itineraries.

The above-listed prices are only indicative and based on double occupancy. The following video highlights Viking Cruises' Mississippi River shore excursion experiences.

The next itinerary map shows all visited river ports and in which US state.are they located.

The Viking Mississippi itinerary program offers to visit seven US states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

In 2015 was officially announced Viking's plan to enter USA's river cruising market by chartering newbuild ships for year-round operations on Mississippi River. However, the process was slowed due to issues regarding the so-called "Jones Act" (Merchant Marine Act from 1920). It imposes restrictions on where USA-based ships can navigate and how to be staffed.

In October 2018 was announced as a potential start-up (with Mississippi-based boats) the year 2021. By 2027, Viking plans to increase its annual passenger river shipping capacity to 100,000+ (compared to 2018's 50,600) by deploying six Viking riverboats in the USA. The 7-night/8-day itineraries include roundtrips from New Orleans, as well as one-ways between New Orleans and Memphis TN, and between St Louis MO and Minneapolis-Saint Paul MN.

Viking Mississippi was constructed at the Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) Shipyards-owned company LaShip Shipyard (Houma, Louisiana USA). Due to strong demand, bookings for Viking's 2023-2024 itinerary program opened on July 2, 2020. Viking's Mississippi River year-round deployment is expected to bring 7500+ passengers in 2022 and 17600+ tourists during the full 2023 season.

Viking Mississippi was launched/floated out from drydock on March 7, 2022. The ceremony was led by godmother/madrina Dionne Chouest (Edison Chouest Offshore's General Counsel).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

Next tables show the riverboat's inaugural itineraries (by theme) as call ports and USD pricing per person (double-occupancy balcony cabin rates).

(MAIDEN VOYAGE/2022) 7-day St Louis to St Paul - priced from USD 4790 pp

14-day from St Paul to Port NOLA (New Orleans)

7-day from New Orleans to Memphis (USD 6990 pp)

(Southern Celebration) 7-day roundtrip from New Orleans (USD 4290 pp)

Godspeed!

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.