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Viking Mississippi Deck Plans & Reviews

Viking Mississippi

Activities & entertainment.

• The Living Room
• Guest Services
• Cruise Director
• Explorers' Lounge
• Aquavit Terrace
• Self-Service Laundry
• Live Entertainment
• In-Room Entertainment
• Guest Speakers
• The Restaurant - Main
• Explorers' Lounge - Panoramic Bar *
• River Cafe - American
• River Cafe - Scenic Bar *
• Mamsen's - Norwegian Deli
• Aquavit Terrace - Al Fresco

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7 best Mississippi River cruises

Mississippi River cruises have surged in popularity in recent decades. They are especially appealing to mature travelers looking to enjoy guided tours of top cities and small towns in several Southern and Midwestern states.

Add in regionally inspired cuisine enjoyed aboard a luxurious river ship, plus the camaraderie of other culturally curious travelers, and cruising the most celebrated river in the United States promises satisfaction on multiple levels.

Two major cruise lines sail the Mississippi, which stretches 2,340 miles from New Orleans to Minneapolis-St. Paul: American Cruise Lines and Viking . Each line offers several similar itineraries ranging from eight to 23 days, but the ships themselves differ. Some are retro-inspired paddlewheelers, others sleek modern riverboats. The onboard dining and entertainment, as well as the excursions in port, also vary across the lines.

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We've rounded up the best Mississippi River cruises for seniors, history buffs and Americana lovers, so you can find your perfect U.S. river cruise itinerary based on your interests and travel preferences.

Best cruise for Civil War history: Lower Mississippi (round trip from New Orleans)

The Deep South attracts history buffs with its Civil War battlefields and cemeteries and 18th- and 19th-century mansions guarded by regiments of live oaks. Both cruise lines offer a Lower Mississippi river cruise, sailing round-trip from New Orleans, but only one features multiple excursions geared to those with a keen interest in the 19th-century conflict.

On American Cruise Lines' eight-day New Orleans to New Orleans itinerary , cruisers can visit Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the National Military Park commemorates the campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg in 1863. In Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge, a guided excursion explores critical locations in the Civil War's Battle of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson.

Other ports bring to life the pre-war South. In Oak Alley, Louisiana, guests can tour a Greek Revival mansion on a sugar plantation built and maintained by slaves. While no Civil War fighting took place in Natchez, Mississippi, the city is home to hundreds of lavish mansions from the era and the Historic Natchez Cemetery, which dates to 1822.

This itinerary is offered in 2024 and 2025 on four American Cruise Lines ships, ranging from the 150-passenger classic paddlewheeler American Heritage to the 180-passenger modern riverboat American Serenade. American Cruise Lines is known for its regionally inspired cuisine, served with complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, plus complimentary cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and hosted entertainment in the main lounges.

Some excursions and a pre-cruise hotel stay in the Big Easy are included in the cruise fare. You can book additional day tours for an extra cost.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

If you're especially passionate about Civil War history, look for American Cruise Lines' special Civil War-themed cruises on limited dates, which allow a deeper dive into the period. These include a nine-day Lower Mississippi itinerary from Memphis to New Orleans (or vice versa).

In addition to visiting monuments and museums, you'll enjoy onboard lectures and presentations and interaction with other Civil War buffs. These sailings are aboard 150-passenger American Heritage and 180-guest American Melody, American Serenade, American Splendor and American Symphony.

Best cruise for music: Lower Mississippi (New Orleans to Memphis)

If you love the musical genres of the South, a Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to Memphis (or vice versa) should be your choice.

From Crescent City, the birthplace of American jazz, to Memphis, known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll, this itinerary celebrates the region's homegrown rhythms. Both cruise lines offer itineraries between New Orleans and Memphis, but Viking features more excursions and onboard experiences tailored to music lovers.

Viking's 12-day Heart of the Delta itinerary includes a two-night pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans. This allows ample time to enjoy the city's street musicians and jazz clubs.

In Baton Rouge, you can visit the Capitol Park Museum, which showcases exhibits dedicated to Louisiana's musical heritage and Mardi Gras traditions. While in Natchez, Mississippi, classical music (played on a 1903 Steinway piano) and Southern cuisine are the stars of the excursion to Lansdowne and Joseph Stone House.

The port call in Greenville, Mississippi, is steeped in the blues with a chance to visit a museum dedicated to hometown legend B.B. King. The grand finale of the cruise is two nights in Memphis, where you can enjoy all things blues, barbecue and Elvis Presley.

Viking is a newcomer to the Mississippi River, and all sailings are aboard the 386-guest Viking Mississippi. The riverboat debuted in 2022 and features a modern Scandinavian design. Itinerary departures are available in 2024 and 2025.

Passengers can enjoy a sun terrace with an aft infinity pool and an Explorer's Lounge with panoramic forward views of the Mississippi. The Restaurant serves both Southern regional cuisine and global favorites, and the ship welcomes local musicians onboard for evening entertainment.

Related: Meet the only line that cruises from Washington, DC. Here's where it'll take you

Best cruise for art and architecture: Upper Mississippi

An Upper Mississippi cruise between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota, provides access to some of the top architectural landmarks and artistic treasures of the American Heartland — from Eero Saarinen's soaring Gateway Arch to Frank Lloyd Wright's inimitable Taliesin.

Both cruise lines offer Upper Mississippi sailings from July through September. Viking and American Cruise Lines' itineraries and excursions are our picks for fans of American art and architecture.

Viking River Cruises' American Heartland itinerary sails from St. Louis to St. Paul (or vice versa) and runs 12 days with pre- and post-cruise stays in 2024 and 2025. You'll explore architectural gems aboard Viking Mississippi, itself an example of sleek, Scandinavian-inspired nautical architecture.

Highlights include St. Louis, where you'll admire Saarinen's circa-1965 Gateway Arch, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis featuring a 41-million-piece mosaic and the Renaissance Revival-style City Hall. From Dubuque, Iowa, you can head to Spring Green, Wisconsin, to visit Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's private home, studio and school from 1911 to 1959.

After a day in Redwing, Minnesota, known for its pottery studios, you'll end your journey in the Twin Cities, home to the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minneapolis and well-preserved Victorian buildings in St. Paul.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

American Cruise Line's nine-day Upper Mississippi river cruise covers much of the same ground, with a few differences. Sailings are available on the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage as well as on three sleek new 180-guest riverboats, American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony. They're offered between June and late September/early October in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Beyond the landmarks of St. Louis, highlights include Hannibal, Missouri, where you can visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, and Dubuque, Iowa, known for its colorful Victorian mansions. (An excursion to the Field of Dreams featured in the 1989 Kevin Costner movie is also available.)

Winona, Minnesota, boasts some of the state's most architecturally significant buildings, many featuring the beautiful stained glass for which the city is known. Then it's off to Red Wing, Minnesota, where you can explore the Pottery Museum before completing your journey in the Twin Cities.

Best extended cruise: Complete Mississippi

Want it all? You can visit 18 ports in six states on a 23-day Mississippi River journey from New Orleans to St. Paul. These itineraries are offered by both American Cruise Lines and Viking, and are perfect for seniors with plenty of time to explore.

American Cruise Lines offers the 23-day Complete Mississippi Cruise in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with sailings available on three 180-passenger modern river ships: American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony.

After a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, passengers journey through all aspects of American history. You'll visit ports known for ornate mansions (Oak Alley and St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi), Civil War battles (Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vicksburg, Mississippi), music (Memphis and Greenville, Tennessee) and architecture (St. Louis and Dubuque, Iowa). You'll also call on a historic Missouri trading post in Cape Girardeau (a French river port).

Viking River Cruises' 22-day Grand Mississippi Voyage , available in 2024 aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi, also embarks in New Orleans and visits 16 ports in nine states as it cruises north to St. Paul, Minnesota.

During this sailing, you'll overnight in Memphis, so there's time to fully savor barbecue, the blues and Elvis Presley's Graceland. A port call in Paducah, Kentucky, lets you explore the National Quilt Museum and colorful street murals.

You can enjoy excursions in Missouri's most famous big city (St. Louis) and small town (Hannibal) and then visit three ports in Iowa known for their historic architecture and agriculture (including a tour of the John Deere Pavilion). Learn about the Norwegian heritage of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and get to know the eagles and pottery of Red Wing, Minnesota, before disembarking in St. Paul.

Bottom line

History buffs and Americana lovers will find plenty to enjoy on a Mississippi River cruise. Your ship will stop in major cities and lesser-known towns, offering excursions to historic sites and evenings spent enjoying locally inspired cuisine and regional music.

The two cruise lines sailing America's most legendary river offer itineraries for every interest on ships designed with mature travelers in mind. Whether you want to visit Civil War sites, see top architectural landmarks or enjoy our country's best-loved musical genres, these two lines will offer a Mississippi River itinerary that will help you do it — in comfort and style as you make new friends on board.

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Cruising the Mississippi River on the Viking Mississippi

This is the first of a number of articles about the sights and cities along the Mississippi River from north to south. This whole area was a bit of a mystery to me – I had been to New Orleans a couple of times, but the rest of the area is too far to drive from my home and never very obvious what you would see if you flew to one of the cities. I know that sounds like I was dismissing a large swathe of the USA, but there are just some many other places to visit!

My Review of the Viking Mississippi Cruise

So, we decided to sign up for one of Viking’s first cruises down the navigable length of the river on their new ship designed for this trip – the Viking Mississippi. This first article sets the scene with my thoughts about the cruise itself, the boat, and some general pieces of information that could be useful if you are ever thinking of taking the cruise. You could call it my review of the Viking Mississippi cruise. Then, I’ll follow up with articles about each of the places visited as we sailed south from St Paul in Minnesota to New Orleans in Louisiana.

The ship itself is much closer to the design of the Viking ocean ships than a river boat. Holding 360 passengers, it is a state-of-the-art vessel specifically designed for this river and able to navigate all the locks between New Orleans and St Paul. It has 5 decks with deck 1 being the Living Room, Explorer’s bar and main restaurant. Decks 2-4 has passenger cabins that are identical to those found on ocean ships and each has a balcony. Laundry facilities can be found on each of these decks.

We had a cabin on deck 2 about 3/4 of the way towards the stern and I have to admit that we could feel the vibrations of the propulsion system at night. It woke my wife up numerous times as we presumably navigated into a dock. The ship uses electric propulsion (said to be a bit like the whisks of a mixer) on both the stern and the sides of the boat and it could have been that that we felt. When we booked, many cabins were already taken, so if you can, avoid this area!

Deck 2 also has a viewing area which is almost identical to what you would find on a ocean ship. Deck 5 is the World Cafe with outdoor dining and loungers and then the “Infinity Pool” right at the stern of the vessel. This is hardly a swimming pool, being about 4 feet wide, but it felt pretty warm!

The Living Room is a combination of a stage, relaxing sofas, the library, games tables and coffee machines, and again is similarly designed to the areas of an ocean ship:

As you can see, it is large, but certainly not large enough for all the passengers to be present at once. Folding plastic chairs are added each afternoon for the lectures, port talks and evening entertainment. As is an occasional issue on other river boats, there are difficulties in having enough light for games or jigsaws, when the overall lighting is reduced for the shows. Large TVs around the lounge show any slides being used, so you can sit in the comfortable sofas and still listen and watch the lectures,

There is a walking path around the ship on deck 1 for exercise and seating in the front area with large glass panels allowing protection from the wind and the spray. However, as this couple was about to find out, the wash from one of the large barges moving upstream could be pretty dramatic:

Overall Service

As you would expect from Viking, service levels are high, but they are different to what you will find on other ships. Being a US ship, it has to be registered in the USA and only employ (as far as I know), US citizens on board. So, there is much more of a feeling that the staff on board are just there to complete their specific contract and there were people leaving and joining the team at each major city port. I can imagine that it is harder to get people to spend such a long time on board when there are so many other opportunities in the USA. Let me be clear that there were no issues with service – it was just different!

Meals were excellent in general, although pretty busy in both the Restaurant and the World Cafe. Tables for two are not as available as on the ships, and as my wife was having a hip replacement as soon as we returned home, we were very careful to avoid potential infection and so we ate at 7:30 each evening to be sure of getting a table on our own. Not very sociable, I know, but we did manage to avoid even a sniffle over the entire trip. Both the Restaurant and World Cafe were pretty (or very) noisy due to low ceiling height and the restricted size. It did get quite quiet around 8pm if you didn’t mind being the last ones in the Restaurant! I did find normal chatting to be difficult when the surrounding tables were occupied.

Diet options were not handled very well – food was sometimes marked as being gluten-free, but asking the kitchen staff didn’t often get much of a response. You also don’t provide your room number as you go to the Restaurant and so each meal required a new explanation to the waiter, which we eventually solved by trying to sit in the same area each evening.

The menu is very similar to a ship – the standard items every day – steak, salmon etc., a set of locally based choices and then a broader range of new dishes to choose from for each meal. Breakfast and lunch are self-service in the Restaurant as well as the World Cafe for all meals. As usual, wine and beer are included for all meals, and in whatever quantity you can handle!

Entertainment

There are enrichment presentations, mainly in the afternoons, the port and excursion talks, future cruise opportunities, talks by the staff – the pilot was particularly interesting about the trials and tribulations of sailing the Mississippi. For many locations, a local speaker or entertainer joined the ship for the evening and then departed the next day. These ranged for experts in local history or geography to comedy entertainers, local musicians and one man who seemed to have memorized major sections of the books of Mark Twain and was able to tell his stories exactly as the author would have narrated them if audio books had been available at the time!

Overall, all of these were great – you could watch live from your room (no recordings available though) if you couldn’t find a seat in the Living Room or just wanted to relax after a long day ashore.

The overall journey down the Mississippi

We were traveling from North to South during a period of historic low water levels on the Mississippi River, particularly in the Lower Mississippi region below St Louis. The Upper Mississippi has numerous locks and so the water level can be controlled by how much water is allowed to flow south. But as soon as we passed St Louis, there were enormous sandbanks at the sides of the river with a much narrower and shallower navigable passage.

The ships and barges need 9 feet of water and so sometimes passing each other was problematic. Ships traveling downstream have the right of way, which meant that we kept good time on the journey, but I believe the cruise prior to us was delayed by a day because of having to wait to allow the downstream barges to pass through. On the final days, I understand from the Pilot that barges moving upstream were being grouped into a convoy and then the downstream barges stopped to allow at least some movement.

Docking here by the side of the river had one big advantage though – I was able to get off and walk along the sand by the river and capture a great sunset illuminating the ship before we departed that night:

One thing to be aware of – there is relatively little to see as you sail down the river. Especially in the lower areas, the river is wide and with the banks built up into levees to avoid flooding, you basically see the river and the banks. If you are lucky, you see wildlife as well – I saw two large flocks of American White Pelicans sitting on the sand:

It has to be said that a lot of the sailing takes place at night, although there is one day at “sea”, but during the daytime sailing there were barges to be seen but little else.

The other thing to mention here which surprised me – Viking uses their own branded coaches for everything from airport transfers, shuttles to the downtown areas of some cities, and, of course, the various excursions. The coaches and their drivers basically follow the ship – driving down to the next port so that they are ready for that day’s excursions. The drivers were excellent, and some could tell a pretty good story themselves!

Overall Impressions of the Cruise

I think I will wait until I complete my set of articles before finally answering the question – was it worth it? It is an expensive cruise and some of the towns don’t have very much to see. In that sense, it is nothing like a European river cruise. Having said that, there were many interesting places that I had never visited before, and probably would never have traveled to see them.

Daily Itinerary

As I write each article about the places visited, I’ll add the links here.

Day 1-2: St Paul and Red Wing, Minnesota

Day 3: La Crosse, Wisconsin

Day 4: Dubuque, Iowa

Day 5: Davenport, Iowa

Day 6: Burlington, Iowa

Day 7: Hannibal, Missouri

Day 8: St Louis, Missouri

Day 9: A day “at sea”

Day 10: Memphis, Tennessee

Day 11: Greenville, Mississippi

Day 12: Vicksburg, Mississippi

Day 13: Natchez, Mississippi

Day 14: Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Atchafalaya Basin Airboat tour

Day 15: New Orleans, Louisiana and Final Thoughts

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This post has 4 comments.

Rudi Schult

I appreciate the information on the Viking river cruise We have cruised on Viking in Europe and totally loved it We canceled Viking from Memphis to New Orleans due to late reservations and low water We live by the Mississippi and used our cruiser to travel many area’s of the river plus the gulf Thank you for the information

Thanks for taking the trouble to comment. We did find the cruise interesting (and I was keeping my overall thoughts until I have finished these articles as they sort of help put the whole thing in perspective), but the low water levels did mean that we visited each place, but didn’t dock in the most interesting places! We had never really visited any of these places before and so I am sure that made it a different experience.

MARION BROOKS

I.ve done the Rhine twice, Danube, Portugal I am contemplating doing the Mississippi soon and will be interested in your reviews.

I hope you find them useful! We have done the Portugal cruise that I have written about on this site as well, but the Mississippi cruise was very different to that one.

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Viking Mississippi

Cruise line Viking Cruises

• New Orleans (Port NOLA Louisiana)
• Memphis TN (Tennessee)
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul (Minnesota)

Viking Mississippi current position

Viking Mississippi current location is at Gulf of Mexico (coordinates 29.91593 N / -90.07984 W) cruising en route to NEW ORLEANS. The AIS position was reported 5 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Viking Mississippi

Viking Mississippi current cruise is 7 days, one-way from Memphis TN to New Orleans . The itinerary starts on 01 Jun, 2024 and ends on 08 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Viking Mississippi

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Viking Mississippi Itineraries

Viking mississippi review, review of 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.

Viking Mississippi - user reviews and comments

Photos of viking mississippi.

Viking Mississippi ship related cruise news

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Viking Mississippi Wiki

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)

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.

The 7 Best Mississippi River Cruises for 2024

T he more than 2,300-mile Mississippi River invites travelers to discover its multifaceted heritage, with a vast range of deeply rooted culture, music and history. A cruise is a fantastic way to discover many of the riverfront cities on a single trip, from the comfort of your modern riverboat or traditional paddle-wheeler.

The following Mississippi River cruise itineraries can help you choose from cruises of various lengths and options for the Lower and Upper Mississippi. Note that all fares are listed as double occupancy (based on two people per cabin), and that they might not reflect taxes, port fees or gratuities. The itinerary availability listed is also subject to change.

American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines operates small ships accommodating between 90 and 180 passengers that are built, flagged and crewed in the U.S. – and it's the only company in the world operating a 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and cruise ships. ACL's itineraries traverse waterways across 35 states, with 11 itineraries dedicated to the Mississippi River. Cruisers can choose to sail on modern riverboats with a sleek interior design or while away their time aboard classic paddle-wheelers reminiscent of days gone by.

ACL offers variety as well as versatility: This line boasts both the longest and shortest sailings on this list with cruises ranging from eight to 60 days in length, including The Great United States. This inaugural 60-day voyage spans four major rivers and 20 states, making it the longest U.S. river cruise in history.

Complimentary hotel and transportation packages are available from every departure city before your cruise. You can book certain premium packages for added perks, such as two nights spent next door to Graceland in Memphis – with VIP tickets and a city tour included in the price.

Music Cities Cruise

Length: Eight days

Price: Starts at $3,610 per person

Spend a week getting lost in the sounds of the Memphis blues, rock 'n' roll and country music legends on the seven-night Music Cities Cruise. A hotel stay the night before your sailing is included, but embarking in Memphis means you also have the chance to splurge on a two-night pre-cruise package near Elvis' former home Graceland .

Ports of call include Paducah, Kentucky; Dover, Tennessee; and Clarksville, Tennessee, with an overnight in Nashville and an included excursion to a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Two scenic sailing days feature picturesque views of America's Heartland along the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers as well as Lake Barkley.

2024 dates: In 2024, there are two available itineraries in September and November.

Grand Heartland Cruise: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days

Price: Starts at $9,455 per person

This 15-day voyage allows you to explore America's rich history in towns along the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. The immersive voyage covers six states and 12 cities including St. Paul, Minnesota ; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri ; Memphis, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; and more.

Take a step back in time while visiting Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, exploring stately historic estates in Natchez and Civil War sites in Vicksburg. At the end of a busy day ashore, you'll have plenty to chat about with fellow passengers during the evening cocktail hour.

2024 dates: American Heritage – ACL's traditional paddle-wheeler – and three modern riverboats set off on this journey from August to October in 2024.

Complete Mississippi River Cruise: New Orleans to St. Paul

Length: 22 days

Price: Starts at $14,935 per person

If you want to see the entire Mississippi in one shot, check out this multiweek sailing that begins in New Orleans and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota. Along the way, you'll sail 1,393 miles, visit 10 states and experience a staggering 20 ports of call as you tour Louisiana and then head northbound to Minnesota.

In the South, walk the battlefields of the Civil War and sample delicious Southern barbecue before listening to the rhythms of jazz, the blues and rock 'n' roll. Then, explore the small and larger cities along the upper parts of the river. Remember to take time to gaze out at the picturesque scenery and the rolling farmlands of America's Midwest before disembarking in St. Paul.

2024 dates: Three of ACL's modern riverboats sail this itinerary in May, June and August in 2024.

The Great United States

Length: 60 days

Price: Starts at $51,000

This two-month long journey – the longest domestic itinerary ever created – will check all the boxes for U.S. history and Civil War buffs, music and nature lovers, culinary enthusiasts, and beer and distilled spirits aficionados alike as the ship traverses America's iconic waterways through 20 states and 50 ports of call.

This epic journey showcases the natural beauty and living history of the U.S. from sea to shining sea. The sailing embarks in Portland, Oregon , on the Pacific Coast before traveling east to the Atlantic shore along four major rivers that highlight some of the country's most stunning coastlines. Upon arrival in New York Harbor, guests will have an unforgettable view of one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S.: the Statue of Liberty .

Passengers can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Snake and Columbia rivers; cruise along Ol' Man River in search of Mark Twain and Elvis; see the vibrant colors of fall during peak season on the Hudson River; and take in the coastal breezes (and fresh seafood) along New England's rocky coastline.

This curated adventure also includes two flights: Jackson, Wyoming , to New Orleans as well as St. Paul to Portland, Maine , plus a land package through Glacier , Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All-inclusive pricing covers the pre-cruise hotel stay, all flights and hotels between cruise segments, an ACL jacket and gear pack, daily excursions, all meals and beverages, gratuities and port charges, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

2024 dates: The inaugural cruise sets sail on August 16, 2024.

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Viking River Cruises

Viking is no stranger to sailing Europe's rivers; the brand is synonymous with river cruising worldwide aboard its dozens of ships. However, Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to U.S. rivers, with its purpose-built ship: the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Looking to carve out its own niche in the American river cruising category, Viking claims it has the region's "first truly modern cruise ship" with its distinct Scandinavian design and expansive top sun deck with an infinity plunge pool.

Viking's mostly all-inclusive fares include a complimentary excursion in each port, destination lectures and performances, beer and wine at meals, free Wi-Fi, specialty coffees and teas, and more. The line offers five itineraries ranging in length from eight to 22 days along the Mighty Mississippi. Pre- and post-cruise extensions can be added to all voyages for an additional expense.

New Orleans & Southern Charms: Round-trip from New Orleans

Price: Starts at $3,999 per person

If you don't know which Viking Mississippi itinerary to choose, start here. A round-trip voyage from New Orleans is convenient for booking flights and offers an excellent opportunity to extend your stay in NOLA. Six guided tours are included across eight days, from the historic estates of Natchez to Vicksburg National Military Park. A stop in St. Francisville gives you the chance to marvel at some of the 140-plus buildings it has on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you extend your stay in New Orleans, plan to sample the local Creole cuisine and take in some of the city's nightly jazz entertainment. In the morning, grab a beignet and a steaming cup of chicory coffee au lait at the original Café du Monde in the French Market.

2024 dates: This itinerary is available on select dates in February, November and December.

Heart of the Delta: New Orleans to Memphis

Length: Nine days

Price: Starts at $4,299 per person

Similar to its round-trip New Orleans Southern Charms itinerary, the Heart of the Delta cruise begins in New Orleans and calls on the same five ports, before sailing through the Lower Mississippi and disembarking in Memphis. Enjoy scenic views of the serpentine river route – perhaps with expert commentary or a local cooking demonstration – and then take time to explore the birthplace of the Memphis blues, which is also a center of civil rights history.

2024 dates: In 2024, this cruise is available in February, March, April, May, June and November.

America's Great River: St. Paul to New Orleans

Price: Starts at $12,999 per person

This Viking voyage sails from St. Paul to New Orleans on a two-week trip that calls on 13 ports with one day of scenic sailing. This itinerary combines the best of Viking's other Mississippi sailings for an all-encompassing Midwestern and Southern experience with 12 guided tours.

Included in the fare is a tour of Graceland; a stroll through small-town Burlington, Iowa, to see Snake Alley, deemed the most crooked street in the world; and a visit to the National Eagle Center of Red Wing, among others. For an additional fee, hop on an airboat ride through the Atchafalaya Swamp in Baton Rouge or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery of St. Louis.

2024 dates: Viking has availability for this itinerary in July, September and October.

Want to cruise the Mississippi River? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

FAQ Module : Travel - Top Mississippi River Cruises FAQs

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, paddle-wheelers on America's waterways, and an 18-stateroom river ship on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Most recently, she traveled on a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica and crossed the notorious Drake Passage twice. She covers the travel and culinary industries, specializing in cruises, for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

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Celebrity ascent: the best dining, amenities and more on celebrity cruises' newest ship.

Top-notch eateries, adults-only areas and entertainment options stand out.

Celebrity Ascent Review

Megan duBois

Key Takeaways

• There are 32 different dining and drinking venues on board, from Le Voyage by celebrity chef Daniel Boulud to the line's iconic Martini Bar.
• The onboard entertainment is incredible. The "Awaken" show combines popular music with acrobatics and lasers, while Ascent After Dark: Shine the Night invites cruisers to don metallic or sequin outfits for a deck party under the stars. 
• The Solarium adults-only pool area is a relaxing spot with comfortable lounge chairs, a pool and hot tubs; head to Eden for delightful cocktails and optimal sunset views.

You can think of Celebrity Cruises as the more adult cousin of Royal Caribbean International – which makes sense, considering both cruise lines are owned by Royal Caribbean Group. With all of the recent buzz around both brands, I was excited to sail on Celebrity Cruises' newest ship, Celebrity Ascent, in its debut month. I embarked out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in December 2023.

The 17-deck, 141,420-ton ship has 1,646 staterooms and can carry 3,260 guests at double occupancy. At 1,073 feet long and 128 feet wide, the ship has plenty of space for upscale amenities, edgy entertainment and incredible dining venues. The Edge Series ship also has more than 1,400 crew members who hail from 60 different countries around the world.

As an avid cruiser who has taken more than 50 ocean and river voyages on almost a dozen cruise lines, I found Celebrity Ascent lived up to the hype. The ship itself is stunning, and each area has a distinct vibe. I loved the ample amount of food and drink opportunities – there are 32 different venues – and the standout onboard entertainment was like nothing I had seen before on a cruise ship.

Find your perfect cruise

Celebrity Ascent itineraries

Celebrity Ascent sails around the Mediterranean and the Caribbean over the next few years. Summer 2024 brings Ascent to Mediterranean ports of call in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. The Mediterranean season ends in October 2024, with a 13-night transatlantic sailing departing from Barcelona, Spain.

Late fall and winter sailings depart from Fort Lauderdale. The Caribbean season runs between November 2024 and April 2025. It includes seven- to nine-night voyages calling on ports like Aruba , Bonaire and Curacao ; Bimini, Bahamas ; Labadee, Haiti; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands ; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic ; and St. Maarten and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In late April 2025, it's back to the Mediterranean for the 2025 season between May and October. Ascent then returns to the Caribbean for sailings in late 2025; destinations include southern Caribbean locales, plus the Panama Canal and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Similar Caribbean sailings are also on sale for early 2026.

Who should sail on Celebrity Ascent?

Celebrity Ascent, like its Edge Series sister ships, caters to adults traveling together. The overall vibe of the ship is upscale and modern, with plenty of places to grab a drink, enjoy a meal and watch a show. Couples can enjoy an elevated date night in Le Grand Bistro, while the aptly named Sunset Bar – which overlooks the rear of the ship – is the spot to be with a cocktail in hand as the sun sets into the horizon. This bar was easily my favorite spot on board; I spent most afternoons here enjoying a cocktail.

The deck parties, of which Ascent After Dark: Shine the Night is the premier event, are a fun time – but they aren't so loud that guests can hear the bass thumping in the staterooms below. Shows at The Theatre are fully immersive, with incredible technology and great music that had me dancing in my seat.

If you are traveling with children, know that there aren't many places on board for kids to just hang out and be kids. The Camp at Sea kids club is crammed into a small area on Deck 3, away from the main Grand Plaza and The Martini Bar.

Cruises on Ascent can be expensive, but Celebrity often runs deals on sailings. Without any promotions, sailings around the Mediterranean in 2024 and 2025 may run between about $1,000 and $5,600 per person. In comparison, 2024 and 2025 Caribbean voyages may cost between about $2,000 and $4,400 per person before discounts. (Note: Cruise rates can change frequently, based on demand and availability.)

The stateroom

There are over two dozen different stateroom styles on Celebrity Ascent. The smallest (and usually cheapest) rooms are the Inside Staterooms, which offer between 181 and 202 square feet of space. For solo travelers, the Single Inside Staterooms offer the same amenities as a double occupancy room, but with a smaller 103-square-foot layout and no single supplement fee at booking.

Ocean View Staterooms are slightly larger, at 200 to 242 square feet. There are three different room styles; the main difference among them is the size of the window. Options range from small windows in the middle of the wall to large, floor-to-ceiling picture windows.

Ascent's balcony cabins are quite varied, but the majority are Infinite Veranda Staterooms, where the balcony is actually a uniquely designed window that can be opened to let the ocean breeze in. There is a set of glass doors that can be drawn to make this space more private, as well.

Concierge Staterooms allow guests access to a dedicated concierge staff and exclusive onboard events. AquaClass cabins all feature the infinite balcony design, plus unlimited access to the SEA Thermal Suite, complimentary dining at Blu restaurant, fitness classes and a spa concierge.

Celebrity Ascent's suites are all part of The Retreat, the line's ship-within-a-ship concept where cruisers have access to an exclusive restaurant, a sun deck with a pool, a lounge and a dedicated crew. Suites range in size and style, from smaller 319-square-foot studios to massive two-bedroom suites offering more than 2,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.

When I sailed on Celebrity Ascent, I stayed in an AquaClass stateroom. The main living space had a king-size bed, which was cozy after long days of exploring the ship and nights spent on the dance floor. I found the cabin's couch a bit uncomfortable, but there was plenty of storage space in the large closet and drawers. Conveniently, the bed was high enough to fit my suitcases under.

Because this was my first time in an Infinite Veranda room, I was interested to see how the balcony actually worked. After pressing a button for the window to roll down, my room instantly filled with humid air – not the sea breeze I was expecting. The air conditioner also turns off when the window is down, so it takes a long time for the room to cool off again. I only opened the window once because of this. For me, the extra veranda space served as more of a sitting area to take in the views than a spot to enjoy the ocean breeze.

My stateroom's bathroom was spacious, with a larger-than-usual standup rain shower. I also loved the eco-friendly bath amenities, which smelled divine. I used the in-room bathrobes and slippers every day of the cruise.

I loved that my AquaClass stateroom came with some amenities that are not included in other Infinite Veranda rooms. There were two yoga mats, two bottles of water that were refreshed daily, a welcome bottle of sparkling wine, an umbrella, binoculars, complimentary shoeshine service and a pillow menu. AquaClass guests also have unlimited access to the spa's thermal suite, complimentary fitness classes and a dedicated spa concierge. I went to the thermal suite daily to enjoy the heated loungers and steam rooms.

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Best amenities on Celebrity Ascent

On Celebrity Ascent, you'll never be bored. Over just a few days, I was able to participate in game shows and dance parties, sit back and enjoy live music, and spend some time by the pool. While I don't gamble, the casino always seemed to be full when I walked by, and someone was always cheering about hitting the jackpot.

For live entertainment, be sure to catch Flash Flair Fusion, the nightly bartending performance at the Martini Bar. Meanwhile, the Theatre hosted three main shows during my sailing: "Residency," "Awaken" and "Bridges." (Based on my experience, "Awaken" is the production to prioritize.)

Additionally, The Club hosts most of the ship's game shows and some smaller live music events. I loved hanging out at this venue; it was never overly packed with people, and the games were pure fun. I even got called up on stage to participate in one of the games and ended up winning a Celebrity Cruises-branded hat.

For some outdoor fun, hit the onboard pickleball court. Or, head to the Rooftop Garden, where float pools face the ocean and plenty of comfy seating awaits. I loved how lush this space felt, thanks to all of the live plants surrounding the seating areas. This is also the spot to catch movies at night.

If you're looking for an even more unique place to hang out, head to The Magic Carpet. This bright orange, glass-encased bar hangs out over the side of the ship and is the perfect spot for an after-dinner drink. The Magic Carpet can move up and down the side of the ship, docking at select decks for a set amount of time. I loved hanging here at night as the ship was pulling out of port to see the islands light up and watch other ships pass by.

When planning out your evenings, keep in mind that it can be a trek to get from one onboard activity to the next – especially when there is very little time between many of the major scheduled events. One night, I started in The Club to watch a game show, then immediately had to get to the Theatre. After the theater performance, I had to walk the entire length of the ship and take the stairs to get to the night show in Eden. Then, after Eden, it was time for the Shine the Night deck party. By the time I got back to my stateroom, I was exhausted.

Best dining venues on Celebrity Ascent

There are 32 different spots for food and drinks on Celebrity Ascent, including four main dining rooms; four casual complimentary eateries; eight specialty restaurants; 14 cafes, lounges and bars; and two exclusive venues.

Included with the base fare are meals at the four main dining rooms, all of which serve the same menus every day, plus a small exclusive menu that's tailored to the theme of each restaurant. (For example, if you're dining in Cyprus, there is a small list of Cyprus-exclusive dishes that highlight Mediterranean cuisine, while the Normandie restaurant serves up French favorites.)

Other restaurants included in the cruise rate are Eden Cafe & Bar, which serves light bites and sweets; Mast Grill, offering burgers and salads; and Oceanview Cafe, a buffet open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For an additional cost, head to specialty dining venues like the stunning Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, which is great for date night; Le Grand Bistro, a fun take on a classic French Bistro; or Eden Restaurant, which features an entirely plant-based menu.

My favorite specialty dining option – and overall favorite restaurant on the ship – was Raw on 5. It features stunning chilled seafood towers, fresh sashimi and hot dishes like fresh lobster and shrimp wontons. Each dish was prepared beautifully, the service was top-notch and our table next to the window offered great views.

However, one restaurant I would skip is Fine Cut Steakhouse. It is a pretty standard steakhouse, and nothing on the menu really stood out to me. The upscale ambiance was also diminished by music floating in from the nearby Grand Plaza and Martini Bar (think: everything from One Direction to Cher). While both artists are great to hear while sipping a martini in a public space, I don't want to hear them while dining at an expensive restaurant.

Best excursions on Celebrity Ascent

Travelers cruising to the Caribbean should book a beach outing. There are abundant excursion options in St. Maarten and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands . If you're into local brews, try the Small Group: Brewery & Beach Tour Philipsburg, St. Maarten .

On a past Mediterranean cruise, I explored both Florence and Pisa, Italy, while docked in the Italian city of Livorno. Celebrity offers a similar excursion aboard the Ascent. The day trip includes a scenic drive through the Tuscan countryside; exploring Florence and seeing the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo; and a trip to Pisa to see the iconic learning tower. In Rome , consider doing an all-day tour where you can see the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and St. Peter's Square.

Regardless of where your cruise is headed, you may choose to explore ports on your own instead. If that's the case, be sure to give yourself enough time to get back to the ship. I always try to return at least an hour before the scheduled sail away time.

Overall impressions of Celebrity Ascent

When it comes to ships that cater to a mostly adult audience, Celebrity Ascent really has it all. From stunning common areas to incredible dining and entertainment, I was never bored on this ship. What I loved most was the wide range of entertainment, from pop-up music around the ship to full-blown experiences that need to be seen to be believed. The food on the ship is a step above most other major cruise lines, and the number of dining options is great, especially for longer sailings.

While I loved my room's location and amenities as a whole, I found the Infinite Veranda design to be a bit of a waste. When I did use it, my room got hot quickly and took a while to cool back down. I would consider booking a traditional veranda cabin next time, or a stateroom with a large picture window to save some money without sacrificing the ocean views.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Megan duBois has been covering travel, cruising and theme parks for over five years. She has taken more than 50 cruises, has traveled to four continents and more than 25 countries, and has visited a dozen theme parks around the world. Her work appears online and in print in major publications like U.S. News & World Report, Travel + Leisure, The Points Guy, Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes and more.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• The Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• The Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean
• The Best Solo Cruises
• Cruise Packing List: The Essentials Chosen by Experts

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Stretching for 2,350 miles down the United States, from Minnesota's Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, our new cruises on the "Mighty Mississippi" offer a different type of cross-country journey for the curious explorer—one that allows you to be immersed in American history and culture.

Step on board the newest and most modern ship on the Mississippi with all outside staterooms, private verandas, spacious public areas and our signature, clean Scandinavian design, reimagined for the Mississippi River.

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A Mississippi River cruise offers the rare opportunity to sail through America's heartland on the world’s #1 river cruise line. Explore picturesque towns and boom cities; take in views of pastoral farms and towering bluffs; and immerse yourself in the region's rich history and culture with an included excursion in every port. Here are a few highlights Viking reveals to you:

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Yahoo Finance

Viking reports first quarter 2024 financial results.

LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2024 --( BUSINESS WIRE )--Viking Holdings Ltd (the "Company" or "Viking") (NYSE: VIK) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

Key Highlights

Adjusted Gross Margin for the first quarter of 2024 increased 19.1% compared to the same period in 2023, resulting in a Net Yield of $508.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $46.1 million compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Net Leverage declined from 3.8x as of December 31, 2023 to 3.4x as of March 31, 2024.

As of May 19, 2024, for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Viking had sold 91% and 39%, respectively, of its Capacity Passenger Cruise Days for its Core Products.

"We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter, during which we reported a Net Yield of $508, and our strong Advanced Bookings for 2024 and 2025 are equally encouraging," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. "At Viking, we remain committed to prioritizing our guests and treating our employees as integral members of our family. We embrace a contrarian approach and steadfastly maintain a long-term perspective when managing our business. Leveraging our momentum, we are dedicated to shaping Viking’s next era to deliver value for all of our stakeholders."

First Quarter 2024 Consolidated Results

During the first quarter of 2024, Capacity PCDs increased by 14.5% over the same period in 2023 and Occupancy was 94.0%, compared to 92.8% for the same period in 2023.

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $718.2 million, an increase of $89.2 million, or 14.2%, over the same period in 2023 mainly due to an increase in the size of the Company’s fleet and higher Occupancy in 2024 compared to 2023.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2024 was $160.1 million, an increase of $62.0 million, or 63.2%, over the same period in 2023 and Adjusted Gross Margin for the first quarter of 2024 was $495.3 million, an increase of $79.6 million, or 19.1%, over the first quarter of 2023. Net Yield was $508 for the first quarter.

Vessel operating expenses and vessel operating expenses excluding fuel for the first quarter of 2024 were $281.1 million and $239.0 million, respectively. Compared to the same period in 2023, vessel operating expenses increased $17.9 million, or 6.8%, and vessel operating expenses excluding fuel increased $17.2 million, or 7.8%.

Net loss was $493.9 million compared to $214.4 million for the same period in the prior year. The 2024 first quarter net loss includes a loss of $330.5 million and the 2023 first quarter includes a gain of $15.5 million related to the net impact of the Private Placement derivative (loss) gain and interest expense related to the Company’s Series C Preference Shares. The Company’s Series C Preference Shares converted into ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering ("IPO"), which was subsequent to the first quarter of 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $46.1 million over the first quarter of 2023. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was mainly due to higher Capacity PCDs and higher Net Yield.

Our first quarter results reflect the seasonality of our business. While our ocean, expedition and Mississippi products operate year-round, the primary cruising season for our river product is from April to October, although some of our river cruises run longer seasons. Additionally, our highest Occupancy occurs during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months. We recognize cruise-related revenue over the duration of the cruise and expense our marketing and employee costs when the related costs are incurred. As a result, the majority of our revenue and profits have historically been earned in the second and third quarters of each year.

Update on Operating Capacity and Bookings

For our Core Products, operating capacity is 5% higher for the 2024 season in comparison to the 2023 season and 12% higher for the 2025 season in comparison to the 2024 season.

For our Core Products, as of May 19, 2024, for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, we had sold 91% and 39%, respectively, of our Capacity PCDs and had $4,573 million and $2,481 million, respectively, of Advance Bookings. Advance Bookings were 15% and 27% higher in comparison to the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively, at the same point in time. Advance Bookings per PCD for the 2024 season was $742, 9% higher than the 2023 season at the same point in time, and Advance Bookings per PCD for the 2025 season was $852, 12% higher than the 2024 season at the same point in time.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

On May 3, 2024, Viking closed its $1.8 billion initial public offering, with net proceeds of approximately $245.5 million to Viking and approximately $1.4 billion to certain selling shareholders.

As of March 31, 2024:

The Company had $1.7 billion in cash and cash equivalents, which does not include the proceeds of the IPO.

The scheduled principal payments for the remainder of 2024 and 2025 were $196.4 million and $489.0 million, respectively.

Deferred revenue was $4.1 billion.

In May 2024, S&P upgraded Viking Cruises Ltd’s corporate rating to BB- from B+.

"We are excited to share strong first-quarter financial results, which are a testament to the great demand for our products and brand," said Leah Talactac, CFO of Viking. "Also, strengthening our balance sheet continues to be a priority as evidenced by our cash balance and reduction in Net Leverage. We are also very pleased by the S&P credit rating upgrade. These achievements underscore our dedication to financial prudence and our pursuit of sustainable growth."

New Build Update

Based on the committed orderbook, the Company expects to take delivery of two river vessels and one ocean ship this year.

Conference Call Information

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 8 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss first quarter 2024 results and provide a business update. A link to the live webcast can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.viking.com/ . A replay of the conference call will also be available on the same website for 30 days after the call.

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. Viking is also rated at the top of its categories for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure . No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications. For additional information, visit www.viking.com .

Definitions

"Adjusted EBITDA" is EBITDA (consolidated net income (loss) adjusted for interest income, interest expense, income tax benefit (expense) and depreciation, amortization and impairment) as further adjusted for non-cash Private Placement derivative gains and losses, loss on Private Placement refinancing, currency gains or losses, stock-based compensation expense and other financial income (loss) (which includes forward gains and losses, gain or loss on disposition of assets, certain non-cash fair value adjustments, restructuring charges and non-recurring items).

"Adjusted Gross Margin" is gross margin adjusted for vessel operating expenses and ship depreciation and impairment. Gross margin is calculated pursuant to IFRS as total revenue less total cruise operating expenses and ship depreciation and impairment.

"Advance Bookings" is the aggregate ticketed amount for guest bookings for our voyages at a specific point in time, and include bookings for cruises, land extensions and air.

"Capacity PCDs" is, with respect to any given period, a measurement of capacity that represents, for each ship operating during the relevant period, the number of berths multiplied by the number of Ship Operating Days, determined on an aggregated basis for all ships in operation during the relevant period.

"Core Products" are Viking River, Viking Ocean, Viking Expedition and Viking Mississippi, which are marketed to North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

"Net Debt" is Total Debt plus lease liabilities net of cash and cash equivalents.

"Net Leverage" is Net Debt divided by trailing four quarter Adjusted EBITDA.

"Net Yield" is Adjusted Gross Margin divided by PCDs.

"Occupancy" is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of PCDs to Capacity PCDs with respect to any given period. We do not allow more than two passengers to occupy a two-berth stateroom. Additionally, we have guests who choose to travel alone and are willing to pay higher prices for single occupancy in a two-berth stateroom. As a result, our Occupancy cannot exceed 100%, and may be less than 100%, even if all our staterooms are booked.

"Passenger Cruise Days" or "PCDs" is the number of passengers carried for each cruise, with respect to any given period and for each ship operating during the relevant period, multiplied by the number of Ship Operating Days.

"Ship Operating Days" is the number of days within any given period that a ship is in service and carrying cruise passengers, determined on an aggregated basis for all ships in operation during the relevant period.

"Total Debt" is indebtedness outstanding, gross of loan fees, excluding lease liabilities, Private Placement liabilities and Private Placement derivatives.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We use certain non-IFRS financial measures, such as Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Yield and Adjusted EBITDA, to analyze our performance. We present Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure because we believe it facilitates a comparison of our consolidated operating performance on a consistent basis from period-to-period and provides for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than measures under IFRS can provide alone. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because it provides a means to evaluate the operating performance of our business on an ongoing basis using criteria that our management uses for evaluation and planning purposes. Because Adjusted EBITDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical financial position and consolidated operating performance on a more consistent basis, our management also uses Adjusted EBITDA in measuring our performance relative to that of our competitors, assessing our ability to incur and service our indebtedness and in communications with our board of directors concerning our operating performance. We utilize Adjusted Gross Margin and Net Yield to manage our business because these measures reflect revenue earned net of certain direct variable costs.

We also present certain non-IFRS financial measures because we believe that they are widely used by certain investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as supplemental measures of performance and liquidity. Our non-IFRS financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under IFRS.

See "Definitions" for additional information about our non-IFRS financial measures and "Non-IFRS Reconciling Information" for a reconciliation for each non-IFRS financial measure to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including among others, statements relating to our future financial performance, our business prospects and strategy, our expected fleet additions, our anticipated financial position, liquidity and capital needs and other similar matters. In some cases, we have identified forward-looking statements in this press release by using words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans" and "believes," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could." These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this press release or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by us, or on our behalf. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements included in this press release as a result of various factors, including the factors described in the sections titled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in our final prospectus filed on May 2, 2024 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to our Registration Statement on Form F-1.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

The following table sets forth selected statistical and operating data (1) on a consolidated basis, (2) for Viking River and (3) for Viking Ocean.

Non-IFRS Reconciling Information

The following tables reconcile gross margin, the most directly comparable IFRS measure, to Adjusted Gross Margin for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (1) on a consolidated basis, (2) for Viking River and (3) for Viking Ocean:

The following table reconciles vessel operating expenses excluding fuel to vessel operating expenses, the most directly comparable IFRS measure, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

The following table reconciles net loss, the most directly comparable IFRS measure, to Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

The following table calculates Net Leverage for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240529910842/en/

Investor Relations Email: [email protected]

Public Relations Email: [email protected]