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First look at Viking’s new Mississippi River cruisers

It's not like the Mississippi passes through some dramatic countryside. You get forests, cities, and farms. But, I guess they would know if there's a market for it or not.
 
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Okay I’ll ask: what kind of charming towns and/or scenery would passengers see? The prices are not bargain basement.
 
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Viking’s first Mississippi River vessel, the "Viking Mississippi" being floated out Monday March 7th 2022 in Houma, Louisiana... The company says Viking’s arrival to the Mississippi River will represent their major commitment to tourism and economic development in many communities along the Mississippi River... New voyages are scheduled to begin sailing in June 2022 and expected to bring more than 7,500 guests to the region in 2022 and 17,600 plus guests during the first full sailing season in 2023... Viking’s Mississippi River itinerary will encompass Seven U.S. States with Ports of Call being, New Orleans, Darrow, Baton Rouge, and St. Francisville in Louisiana; Natchez and Vicksburg in Mississippi; Memphis, in Tennessee; Hannibal and St. Louis in Missouri; Burlington, Dubuque and Davenport in Iowa; La Crosse in Wisconsin; and Red Wing and St. Paul in Minnesota... For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-284-5464 or visit
 
There are 7 states and 14 cities for Viking cruises.
Top Tier Cities: New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis,
and St. Paul. Second Tier Cities: Baton Rouge,
Natchez, Vicksburg, Davenport, La Crosse.

It will be interesting to see how much this venture
is able invigorate these nine cities. Best of Luck to
Viking cruises.
 
It's not like the Mississippi passes through some dramatic countryside. You get forests, cities, and farms. But, I guess they would know if there's a market for it or not.
Have you ever cruised the mighty Mississippi? There are some things to see ,tho we don't know yet how far north the tours will be. Where the stops will be etc. BTW, I', m baffled by this bunch on here why it is so prone to belittle Iowa towns . No a don't think you're just having a little fun. Isn't there already a co. with a Mississippi tour boat?. Guess there is list of cities., my bad.
 
I thought this would be fun until I priced them….

St Paul to NOLA, 15 days and 20k for two people…
 
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Rather do a Great Lakes cruise.

River Towns have some neat history but too expensive IMO.

done some two day bike rides along River. Very pretty and stopping in a couple bars is fun.
 
So, how do prices compare to trips down European rivers on a Viking cruise line? I mean I have to buy a plane ticket to GET to Europe to cruise the Rhine, the Rhone, the Danube. Are they comparable?
 
There are 7 states and 14 cities for Viking cruises.
Top Tier Cities: New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis,
and St. Paul. Second Tier Cities: Baton Rouge,
Natchez, Vicksburg, Davenport, La Crosse.

It will be interesting to see how much this venture
is able invigorate these nine cities. Best of Luck to
Viking cruises.
I’d take one. The Mississippi is beautiful.
 
Have you ever cruised the mighty Mississippi? There are some things to see ,tho we don't know yet how far north the tours will be. Where the stops will be etc. BTW, I', m baffled by this bunch on here why it is so prone to belittle Iowa towns . No a don't think you're just having a little fun. Isn't there already a co. with a Mississippi tour boat?. Guess there is list of cities., my bad.
I've been on some of the steamboat tours. I don't know, I guess it's because I live in the region and it doesn't appeal to me. It's probably different for people who aren't from the region I guess.
 
I wonder what the foreigners who fall prey to this will think as they travel the mighty banks of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota? Aside from St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, Minneapolis, and the Quad Cities are there any other places to see? Hell, you might get shot going through any of those places.
 
It could be interesting to Europeans and Chinese, perhaps.
Europeans, Asians and Australians will flock to this. Many already have with other tours.
there were already cruises up and down the river that were 10K and the trips would sell out. River cruises are massive in Europe with all their waterways. US is limited but Viking will do just fine.
 
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It could be interesting to Europeans and Chinese, perhaps.
I live in Las Vegas and the Europeans flock to this place with their entire families. They come to see the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Death Valley, Zion and Brian Head national parks. The Europeans bring their families and ooh and ah over this stuff. Remember that they have been watching Western Movies since they were 4-5 years old and the scale of this stuff is indeed breathtaking.

My guess is the biggest river in North America, along with the French Quarter, the St. Louis Arch, Graceland, and Old-Town in Davenport (and the Bison Bridge, if that ever gets built) will ultimately hold a similar appeal.

Throw in some old River Boat saloon and dance hall experiences, and any number of day trip excursions, and this will become a winner.

I hope they name one of the boats "The Robert E. Lee."



 
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I will hopefully be able to time it where I can view these going by my cabin up close and queue up to lock through lock and dams from the river itself.

450 feet long evidently...it'll be interesting to see how these things handle certain parts of my pool (11, Dubuque to Guttenberg). Things get pretty narrow/shallow down by the Mud Lake and Cassville to Guttenberg patches. I haven't seen any dredging occur on that pool in a LONG time...hell, seeing full sized barges thread those needles sometimes, they definitely get squeezed.

My bet is this first year, we're going to see boating rubberneckers follow them along boaters' pools, taking pics etc. And days they lock through, cities at those locks will be pretty busy.
 
I see no way how these large boats will be able to get anywhere close to St. Paul. I'm no expert, when I lived up there...I can't see the waters being deep enough or wide enough for other traffic.
 
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Okay I’ll ask: what kind of charming towns and/or scenery would passengers see? The prices are not bargain basement.
I will not be rushing anywhere to book this... I imagine there are people who don't like to fly so they're not going to do a European river cruise and they can drive to this...
 
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I see no way how these large boats will be able to get anywhere close to St. Paul. I'm no expert, when I lived up there...I can't see the waters being deep enough or wide enough for other traffic.

The channel is supposed to be at the very least 9 feet deep for barge traffic. In reality most everywhere on the pools I travel (LaCrosse to Bellevue) I rarely see my depth finder get below 10 feet in channel.

The wing dam placements and shore riprap for the most part enable this to occur naturally. But you get an especially dry spring and summer...fall boating season the water can get really low.

But the things to remember are Viking knows all this and must have designed the ship to be no deeper than your average barge pusher. Therefore if barges are making it to St. Paul, this thing should too.

Upper Mississippi locks are 600 feet by 110 feet. Shouldn't be a problem there too. I'm more curious how they handle in wind and current than anything else.
 
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