Why a Viking River Cruise is a great way to explore the Mississippi

Route through small towns you didn’t know you wanted to visit

The story of the Mighty Mississippi is great for history buffs. When I first looked at the ports between the start and end points, my first thought was, “I’ve never heard of these places.” But after exploring the options for shore excursions, the excitement began. I realized that many of the destinations along the route were made famous by iconic names that ranged from agricultural (John Deere in Moline, IL, one of the Quad Cities) and literary (Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in Hannibal) to cinematic ( “Field of Dreams” in Dyersville, Iowa, near Dubuque).

Viking’s list of shore excursions is impressive, with one complimentary tour to each port. I tried two free tours and three for an extra fee. While the paid ones were great and higher quality than the free ones, the free ones were still pretty great.

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My favorites include an $89 visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Museum in St. Louis, where I saw some of the famous Clydesdale horses; a $99 tour to see the actual Field of Dreams where the movie was filmed; and a free trip to see the mansions of the John Deere family. All the tours gave a good insight into life in the middle of America.

In places where I didn’t book tours or where the tours were shorter, I spent some time wandering around the city on my own. What I found was wonderful: an old candy store and soda fountain in Hannibal, Mark Twain’s home; delicious cheeses in La Crosse; and a quirky bookstore in Red Wing, where the shop owners choose a book to give you as a gift on your first visit.

Nice people on shore and on board

What surprised me most about my Viking Mississippi trip was that the people won me over as much as the cities themselves. Nothing could surpass the kindness I found at Alton, the port where I first embarked. I ran out of dental floss during my two day stay before the cruise and planned to pick it up the next day in Alton. As it turned out, there is not a single store in the city center that sells it. You have to drive a few miles to find larger stores and you’ll be lucky to find an Uber or taxi in a town this size.

When I went into the boutique and asked the lady working if she knew where I could find them, she said no, but offered to give me some of her own yarn. (I declined.) I walked about 15 minutes to the store I found on Google, but when the girl working the register told me they didn’t have dental floss, she offered me some of hers too, pointing to her braces and explaining that she always carries it with her. This kind of helpfulness, hospitality and charm are qualities that you rarely find in big cities.

And then there’s Paul Sherman, a Dyersville native and former professional baseball player who was cast as one of the ghost players in Field of Dreams. He uses his role to raise money for charities and still dons his uniform on the field, where you’ll find him ready to give tours, chat with visitors, pose for pictures in a nearby cornfield and talk about baseball, Kevin Costner and Ray Liott (who, as (Sherman will tell you, he had never played baseball before filming the movie).

But it’s not just the locals who are great. The crew aboard the Viking Mississippi has its own cast of wonderful characters. Tim, the cruise director, is full of dad jokes during the daily trivia, and Richard is an absolute charmer behind the Paps Bar in the Explorers Lounge.

If you smell something strange in the hallway outside your stateroom, it’s probably Michael, the steward who’s obsessed with Bath & Body Works fragrances. And don’t miss the opportunity to chat with waiters Darrell, who is a breath of fresh air in the morning, and Kindra, who can offer great recommendations for what to watch next on Netflix.

The benefits of travel — but without the road

Because some of these cities are very small, they don’t have major airports, making them difficult to get to. Aside from a few annual festivals, such as Hannibal Twain on Maine, in honor of author Mark Twain, which tend to attract tourists as part of a city break, these riverside municipalities are often best suited for road trips.

But what if you don’t have a car, don’t like to drive, or don’t want the hassle of planning travel logistics like where to stay and how many days it will take you to get where you’re going?

This is where the cruise comes in. You don’t have to worry about the price of gas, find the nearest stop to stock up on snacks, or put together a playlist that fits everyone in the car. On the Viking Mississippi, you can settle in and enjoy while someone else drives. Viking handles all logistics, including pre- and post-cruise accommodations, extending the trip by a few days for those with free time on vacation. Plus, every cabin has a balcony, so you don’t have to miss the soothing views to keep your eyes on the road.

A unique hybrid atmosphere on board

If you’ve sailed on one of Viking’s ocean-going ships or one of its Europe river vessels, you’ll know that the atmosphere on board is very Scandinavian, hinting at the line’s Norwegian heritage. Same with Viking Mississippi. However, it offers a bit of a twist.

Along with Viking memorabilia, a display of traditional Norwegian clothing and an onboard store selling Norwegian woolen sweaters are links to the Mississippi. Huge maps of the river adorn the stairwell walls, along with larger-than-life excerpts from Mark Twain’s novels featuring Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

While this may seem like an odd combination, it’s a way for passengers to enjoy the line’s signature Scandinavian elegance, while at the same time reminding them of the local elements they’ll experience ashore.

Viking Mississippi is American-flagged and crewed by Americans, but you can still expect the refined, upscale features that are Viking signatures—what sets the line apart from the competition in the US market.

Excellent service on board

Having experienced questionable service from another US river cruise company a couple of years prior to sailing with Viking Mississippi, I was delighted to find the staff at Viking to be excellent. Apart from some minor issues with timing between meals in the dining room, I was impressed with the professionalism of the team.

Waiters and stewards are always friendly and do their best to anticipate passengers’ needs. They handle special requests with ease and grace, and seem genuinely happy to do their jobs – something that isn’t always the case on other lines.

When I sailed with another cruise line, I got undercooked pancakes that were still runny inside, and when I asked for a banana, the grumpy waiter came back 15 minutes later and said he couldn’t find them. In contrast, on Viking Mississippi, my flight attendant left me extra washcloths because she noticed I used at least two a day, and one of the waiters at the River Cafe buffet saw me light up at the mention of coconut ice cream and brought me a dish of dessert before I could even ask.

When you return from a busy day exploring the shore, you can expect a level of service that will leave you feeling pampered and ready for the adventures that come next.

Result

There’s something special about enjoying the gentle trickle of the water from your cabin balcony and watching the world go by, but a Mississippi river cruise is never just about the onboard experience.

Viking Mississippi routes start and end in cities, but it’s the small towns along the way that really make the experience memorable. From antique shops and local art and extremely friendly people to brands like John Deere and Red Wing Shoes that are synonymous with hard work, you’ll find plenty of surprises while cruising this region. But from Viking you can also count on excellent service, comfortable accommodation and the opportunity to relax.

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