Viking Mississippi

The 2022-built Viking Mississippi cruise ship is the first of six planned vessels built and registered in the USA (flag-state). All ships are also American-crewed.

MS Viking Mississippi operates on the Lower and Upper Mississippi rivers, with departures from homeports NOLA-New Orleans, Memphis TN, St Louis MO, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul MN.

The shipbuilder (and owner) is ECO Shipyards, a wholly owned subsidiary of Edison Chouest Offshore (founded in 1960 as “Edison Chouest Boat Rentals”). The vessel is operated under charter by Viking USA LLC through the brand Viking River Cruises USA.

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

Officially inaugurated in September 2022, Viking Mississippi has a maximum passenger capacity of 386. Each Viking USA riverboat is a large newbuild vessel (building cost approximately USD 90-100 million per unit), featuring 5 decks (4 with cabins), all-balcony staterooms (193), a Lido Deck (with aft-located Sun Deck and infinity plunge pool), and a bow ramp for passenger landings.

Viking’s competitors in the US river cruise market include American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company (AQSC).

Decks and Cabins

Viking Mississippi staterooms (193 total) are located on 4 decks (out of 5 total), all with balconies and grouped into 13 cabin categories. All staterooms (except 8 handicap-accessible cabins with French balconies) feature outside step-out verandas. French Balcony staterooms are ADA-compliant, with larger bathrooms and convenient midship locations (near the Atrium lifts). All cabin balconies are furnished with two deckchairs and one low table. Balcony access is via side-sliding, floor-to-ceiling glass doors. French Balcony cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open to a railing.

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

All categories above V-Veranda Stateroom also include binoculars (for in-cabin use), a coffee machine, and traditional Norwegian MARIUS wool blankets. PV-Penthouse Veranda cabins and all suites feature a minibar replenished daily with complimentary alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, and snacks. PV cabins receive complimentary pressing and shoeshine services, while all suites include complimentary laundry service and a welcome gift (a bottle of champagne upon embarkation). All suites are equipped with two TVs (one in the living room and one in the bedroom) and larger bathrooms with double-sink vanities.

ES-Explorer Suite (the ship’s largest accommodation) is a two-room suite with a separate bedroom and living room, a walk-in closet (with mirrored dressing table and chair), dining area (two-seat table), lounge area (three-seater sofa, two armchairs, low table), a large bathroom (with spa bathtub), and a wraparound aft-facing balcony with outdoor seating (two deckchairs with a low table) and a double daybed. Explorer Suite fares also include the “Silver Spirits Beverage Package” (Viking Cruises’ alcohol-inclusive unlimited drink package). The TS-Terrace Suite is also a two-room cabin. PV, PS, and TS staterooms feature two-seater couches in their lounge areas.

Viking Mississippi riverboat boarding (embarkation) time is fixed at 11:00 AM, while cabin access times vary by stateroom category.

• PV-Veranda – 3:00 PM
• FB-French Balcony and DV-Deluxe Veranda – 2:00 PM
• PV-Penthouse Veranda – 1:00 PM
• PS-Penthouse Junior Suite, TS-Terrace Suite, and ES-Explorer Suite – 11:00 AM (immediate cabin access upon boarding)

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS Viking Mississippi represents a new design concept for inland passenger vessels, distinct from other ships currently operating on the US market. The riverboat is large in size and features a superstructure that is approximately 90% glass-enclosed. Both staterooms and public areas are designed with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows.

Of the 5 passenger-accessible decks, 4 accommodate staterooms. Each cabin deck is equipped with a launderette (self-service laundry room). Of the vessel’s three elevators (glass-door lifts), two are located midship in the Atrium, and one is positioned forward on the port side. All elevators serve decks 1 through 5. In addition, all decks are interconnected by staircases located forward, midship, and aft.

Signature venues on Viking Mississippi include the trademark Explorer’s Lounge (two-deck bar lounge with Bow Terrace/outdoor seating), The Living Room (indoor lounge with Library), The Restaurant (main 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 Infinity Plunge Pool), and the Promenade Deck (full-circling Deck 1).

Viking USA river cruise itineraries

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

Bookings for Viking USA opened in 2020—on March 31 for past customers and on April 16 for the general public.

Currently, the company offers four itineraries.

The above-listed prices are 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 the US states in which they are located.

The Viking Mississippi itinerary program includes visits to seven US states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

In 2015, Viking officially announced its plan to enter the USA river cruising market by chartering newbuild vessels for year-round operations on the Mississippi River. However, the process was delayed due to regulatory challenges related to the "Jones Act" (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), which imposes restrictions on where US-based ships can operate and how they must be crewed.

In October 2018, 2021 was announced as the potential start-up year for Mississippi-based operations. By 2027, Viking plans to increase its annual passenger capacity on US rivers to over 100,000 (compared to 50,600 in 2018) by deploying six riverboats. The 7-night/8-day itineraries include roundtrips from New Orleans, as well as one-way cruises between New Orleans and Memphis TN, and between St Louis MO and Minneapolis-Saint Paul MN.

Viking Mississippi was constructed at LaShip Shipyard (Houma, Louisiana, USA), owned by Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO Shipyards). Due to strong demand, bookings for Viking's 2023-2024 itinerary program opened on July 2, 2020. The ship’s year-round Mississippi River deployment was expected to carry over 7,500 passengers in 2022 and more than 17,600 guests 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 (General Counsel of Edison Chouest Offshore).

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

The following tables show the riverboat’s inaugural itineraries (by theme), including ports of call and indicative USD pricing per person (based on double-occupancy balcony cabins).

(MAIDEN VOYAGE/2022) 7-day St Louis to St Paul - priced from USD 4,790 pp

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

7-day cruise from New Orleans to Memphis (priced from USD 6,990 pp)

(Southern Celebration) 7-day roundtrip from New Orleans (priced from USD 4,290 pp)

Godspeed!

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.