Viking’s long-awaited and developing move toward river cruises in North America has already begun.
The river cruise giant quietly unveiled its first sailing on the Mississippi River on Saturday: seven nights from St. Mississippi River. Paul, Minnesota, in St. Louis, which will come with stops in riverside cities in 4 states.
He takes up position on the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi, a new five-story ship the company has custom built to run on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
The date of the shipment’s first voyage had fluctuated in recent months due to delays in its construction, with several initial departures cancelled, and the line did not take into account an announcement about its commissioning over the weekend. The shipment was originally scheduled to debut in June. .
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Built for more than two years in a shipyard in Louisiana, the Viking Mississippi is a modern-style ship, featuring the same sleek Scandinavian design found on Viking ships in other parts of the world. This sets it apart from many river cruises on the Mississippi River. , which have a classic steamboat design with giant paddle wheels, fluted docks and helmsmen adorned with gingerbread.
Cruise ships on the Mississippi have had a big comeback in the last decade after years of decline. Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines entered the Mississippi cruise market in 2012 with one shipment and now has five on the river. Three are design and two are classic. paddle wheels. The company is in the process of adding more.
Florida-based American Queen Voyages has added two classic Mississippi River rowing boats to its fleet since 2017, tripling the number of boats it owns on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The company has long operated the Mississippi River’s best-known ship, the 436-passenger American Queen.
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Viking has been contemplating an expansion of cruise ships on the Mississippi River for many years. The company has recently dominated the river cruise market in Europe for North Americans. It is also a vital player in river cruises in Asia and on the Nile in Egypt (where it only has significant expansion with a new sublime ship). But he never presented river trips to North America, the homeland of most of his clients.
Viking Mississippi is one of 16 new ships that have recently signed up or will soon be enrolled in the Viking fleet. Unlike some cruise brands, Viking has continued to expand its fleet during the industry’s COVID-19 recession.
Viking now operates 80 river vessels worldwide, including seven classic ocean vessels and a recently introduced expedition-style ocean vessel.
Viking CEO Torstein Hagen founded the company in 1997 with four riverboats. As recently as 2012, it operated 29 vessels. The personal label, which now has 10,000 employees, has been one of the fastest-developing cruise operators in history.
Many of the features of Viking’s new Mississippi ship will prove familiar to Viking fans. The ship has a two-deck explorer living room on the bow that provides amazing perspectives through the glass walls. It is a signature of Viking’s ocean ships.
Viking Mississippi also has one of Viking’s exclusive dining rooms, Aquavit Terrace, which serves food in a casual setting. Another restaurant, River Cafe, serves the same Norwegian specialties discovered on Mamsen’s Viking ships, as well as other cuisines.
Other notable features include a seating domain at the bow called The Bow and a sundeck at the stern of the ship with an infinity pool (also discovered on Viking ocean-going ships).
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Additional public areas include The Living Room, an indoor living room, and an entertainment area that is the central hub for passengers. It is close to the place to eat, the main place to eat that serves regional cuisine and old dishes.
Seven cabin categories in Viking Mississippi’s diversity from 268 square feet to 1,024 square feet, the latter among the largest cabins of any Mississippi ship. All rooms have perspectives and a French balcony or balcony.
In addition to the crossings between St. Paul and St. Louis, Viking Mississippi will feature 3 other routes in its first year: seven nights between New Orleans and Memphis, seven nights round trip from New Orleans and a 14-night itinerary. which runs from New Orleans to St. Paul.
Port stops come with Mississippi River destinations such as Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Natchez and Vicksburg, Mississippi; Hannibal, Missouri; and Dubuque, Iowa.
Fares start at $3,999 according to the user for a seven-night trip.
In keeping with the loose nickel Viking philosophy, rates include a loose shore excursion to the port, as well as all food on board, port fees and taxes, beer and wine at lunch and dinner, and Wi-Fi access on board.
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