Viking Mississippi River Cruise Review: Is It Worth It?

Viking Mississippi Ship Experience

• 🚀 The Viking Mississippi is a modern, luxury river ship built specifically for the Mississippi River, offering a first-class experience with a capacity of 386 passengers and 148 crew, ensuring no feeling of being crowded.
• 💡 The ship features five decks with stateooms on decks two through five, and comfortable public spaces including the "Living Room" (main gathering space), library, and dining venues.
• 🌊 Public spaces include the "Promenade" for walking (six laps equal one mile), "Pap's Bar," and the "Explorer's Lounge" for lectures and games.
• 🍽️ Dining options include "The Restaurant" (formal) with locally inspired destination menus and "River Cafe" (casual) with a buffet and outdoor seating, plus a grill and raw bar at the "Aquave Terrace."
• ☀️ The top deck (Deck 5) offers the "River Cafe," "Aquave Terrace" for al fresco dining, a grill, raw bar, and the "Sun Terrace" with an infinity plunge pool.

Onboard Amenities and Inclusions

• ☕ Complimentary coffee and cookies are available in the Living Room, which also serves as the venue for music from the Viking Trio and destination briefings.
• 📚 The library provides books for guests, and an onboard shop offers souvenirs.
• 🍺 A drinks package is available for $27/day, but house beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are included during meals and generally available.
• 🧺 Laundry facilities are available on board at no additional cost.
• 🚫 Notably, there is no gym on board the Viking Mississippi.

Stateroom and Comfort

• 🛏️ The video features a tour of a Junior Penthouse Suite, highlighting its extra living room space and a balcony accessible from every room on the ship.
• 📺 Suites include a television with live TV and trip information, a desk area, and a vanity for getting ready.
• ⚠️ A minor critique mentioned is that the mattresses may need updating, as one guest experienced back pain.
• 🧼 Bathrooms are well-appointed with double sinks and a spacious shower with good water pressure.
• 👗 An "elegant casual" dress code is recommended for evenings: slacks, dresses, or skirts with sweaters/blouses for ladies, and collared shirts with pants for gentlemen.

Itinerary and Excursions

• 🚢 The featured itinerary is a seven-day, seven-night cruise from New Orleans to Memphis, covering 640 miles.
• 🏛️ Viking includes excursions at each port, such as a guided tour of the historic Homus House (dating back to 1803) and exploration of the Vicksburg battlefield.
• 🚶 Guests have the freedom to explore towns like Natchez independently, which is highly walkable with over 1,000 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 🗣️ Destination specialists and guest lecturers provide insightful talks about the regions visited, which were a major highlight for the passengers.
• ⚠️ A correction is noted regarding the location of Natchez, Mississippi, not Louisiana.

Food and Dining Experience

• 🌟 The food onboard is consistently highlighted as a major highlight, described as high-end yet approachable fine dining.
• 🍲 Destination-inspired menus, featuring dishes like gumbo and crab beignets, are offered nightly, alongside other fine dining options such as rack of lamb and duck l'orange.
• ⏰ Breakfast hours are noted as potentially limiting for late sleepers, with the restaurant open 7:00-8:30 AM and the River Cafe buffet from 6:00-9:30 AM.
• 🚢 The ship's propulsion system (Voy Schneider) allows for precise control at slow speeds, and the ship intentionally grounds itself onto levees at ports instead of using docks.

Cost and Overall Value

• 💰 The cost of a US-built river cruise with a US crew is higher than European counterparts, with base rooms starting around $5,000 per person for a week.
• 💸 The Junior Penthouse Suite cost approximately $6,500 per person for the week-long cruise.
• 👍 Despite the cost, the experience is considered fantastic, with a well-designed ship and enjoyable scenery, recommended for all generations (minimum age 18).
• 🎶 Live music, often featuring local musicians, is a regular part of the onboard experience, enhancing the atmosphere.
• 🌅 Catching the sunset on the river each night is described as a calm and peaceful favorite activity.