Viking Rivers Cruises – America’s Great River (United States) 15 Days

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, St. Paul welcomed its first settler in 1838. And little more than a decade later, the thriving settlement was named the capital of the Minnesota Territory. By 1858, some 1,000 steamboats frequented this “Last City of the East” on the frontier. Today, St. Paul is a modern metropolis and the capital of Minnesota. The city’s historic residential districts invite long strolls, particularly around Irvine Park near the Mississippi, where late 19th- and early 20th-century mansions grace tree-lined streets.

Red Wing, Minnesota, United States
Red Wing is known for its Red Wing Shoes, which produced footwear for soldiers in both world wars. The city was named after a Sioux chief whose red-dyed swan wing indicated his rank. The first settlers—many from New England—arrived in the mid-1800s. German, Irish and Scandinavian immigrants followed, bringing skills in tanning, shoemaking, pottery and more. The city boasts a diversity of legacies including Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery, founded in 1877 as the nation’s first commercial potter. Today, Red Wing enjoys a place in the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Shore Excursions – Downtown Red Wing & the National Eagle Center
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes      
Get acquainted with Red Wing and learn about America’s national symbol at the National Eagle Center. Red Wing is set among scenic bluffs and a majestic harbor, which you will see en route to the eagle interpretive center in Wabasha. Your guide will point out the many sites you may wish to visit on your own during your free time. There are 26 museums and many eye-catching, historic and architectural gems. The waterfront features three parks: Colvill, Bay Point and Levee Parks. And the downtown area abounds in art and craft galleries, cafés and shops. Arriving at the National Eagle Center, you will see majestic American bald eagles and golden eagles up close, and learn about the ecology, biology and natural history of these magnificent raptors.

La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
La Crosse has a deep connection to the towering bluffs and rolling farmland of the Norskedalen, or “Norwegian Valley.” Here, a Norwegian immigrant population has created a unique culture over generations. Historic immigrant villages dot the valley still, a collection of preserved homesteads reflecting a frontier way of life. Today, La Crosse boasts numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Its important architectural landmarks, along with an array of engaging statues along the riverfront, make La Crosse feel like a vast open air museum.

Shore Excursions – La Crosse by Foot
Duration: 2 hours     
Discover the history of La Crosse during an informative stroll with visits to important downtown businesses. At the pier, meet your guide and set out on an approximately 1-mile roundtrip walk along the city’s well-maintained sidewalks, passing landmark buildings dating from the 1860s to the 1940s. Gain insight into La Crosse’s socio-economic history, including the legacies of its lumber and brewing industries. Learn about the drive for historic preservation and adaptive reuse, as well as the important role of family-owned small businesses. Your route will take you to several of these foundational businesses, where you will meet the respective owners and listen to their stories. Depending on the timing of your excursion, you will either enjoy a morning coffee and pastry at a bakery or an afternoon flight of locally crafted beers at brew pub before returning to your ship.

Dubuque, Iowa, United States
One of Iowa’s few cities laid out among rolling bluffs, Dubuque is called the “Masterpiece on the Mississippi” for its 19th-century ingenuity and modern-day cultural evolution. Timber and boatbuilding were central to the city’s growth, with wood harvested in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The spirit of this river town lives on in the Cathedral Historic District, dotted with well-preserved buildings and authentic period lampposts. Today, the city is praised for its livability and for its riverside developments, including a museum and aquarium dedicated to the Mississippi River.

Shore Excursions – National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Duration: 3 hours     
Explore the culture and wildlife along the Mississippi at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. A Smithsonian-affiliated institution and one of only a handful in the nation to be accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums, the facility showcases the cultural and natural history of the Mississippi, from its headwaters at Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. Acclaimed for its interactive displays, it has five aquariums and numerous exhibits. Upon arrival, you will receive a map, then set out to explore at your leisure. You may choose to see a working wetland and the restored dredge boat that William M. Black built in 1934 for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Or investigate the animal exhibits that include North American river otters, an American alligator and more. Afterward, you will walk back to your ship.

Quad Cities, Iowa, United States
Straddling the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, the Quad Cities area comprises Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois. As the only section of the Mississippi that flows from east to west, it is geographically unique. Its tightly knit riverside towns thrived due to thoughtful planning and effective leadership. Today, the Quad Cities rest amid the fertile farmland known as “America’s Breadbasket”—the nation’s most expansive and scenic agricultural region—and is home to agribusiness giants including John Deere.

Shore Excursions – John Deere Pavilion & the John Deere Homes
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes  
See the Deere family homes and discover the inventions that changed American farming at the John Deere Pavilion. Filled with a wide array of iconic green-and-yellow farm machinery, the John Deere Pavilion also includes a replica of John Deere’s original blacksmith shop, as well as simulators and equipment you can climb into and explore. Learn about the history of John Deere and view vintage equipment, as well as modern machinery, including lawn and farm tractors, sprayers, and construction hardware. After touring the Pavilion, visit one of the Deere family homes. Admire the array of antiques and memorabilia as you get a glimpse of the life of America’s Victorian-era gentry and discover how the Deere family built their beloved brand.

Burlington, Iowa, United States
The US flag was first raised over Iowa in Burlington—in 1805—by Lieutenant Zebulon Pike during his Mississippi explorations. Later, it became an outpost for the American Fur Company, a trading enterprise founded by John Jacob Astor. In 1834, it took its present name after the Vermont birthplace of its first settler, John Gray. During the steamboat era, it was a major port along the river. Today, the city is home to many magnificent buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the art deco Capitol Theater and the Gothic Revival St. Paul’s Church.

Shore Excursions – Historic Burlington
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes      
Experience small-town American life with a guided tour of this charming city. During your motor coach ride into town, listen as your onboard guide narrates the sites you will see. Call at the Des Moines County Heritage Center in the former Gothic Revival–style library—Iowa’s first free public library. Explore its exhibits and learn about the region’s agricultural history. Discover Burlington’s railroad heritage and its role today in one of North America’s largest railroads. Then, visit the Garrett-Phelps House Museum, an elegant Victorian home filled with antiques and textiles dating to 1774. Enroute back to your ship, stop at Snake Alley, named the world’s most crooked street by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. This fascinating road is made of limestone and blue clay, to keep the slant to the outside, and features five half curves and two quarter curves.

Hannibal, Missouri, United States
Hannibal is the childhood home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, or Mark Twain, and the inspiration for his beloved stories of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Prior to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and arrival of European settlers, a variety of indigenous Native American tribes called the area home. Hannibal grew into the primary port for steamboats and flatboats traveling the Upper Mississippi. “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” the early 20th-century socialite, philanthropist and survivor of the Titanic tragedy, was also born here.

St. Louis, Missouri, United States
During the 19th century, St. Louis was a gateway into the Louisiana Territory. In 1904, the city gained recognition as host of a world’s fair (officially called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), whereby some accounts the ice-cream cone was introduced. Today, it is home to rich architectural treasures—among them, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with its 41-million-piece mosaic; the Renaissance Revival City Hall; the 19th-century Old Courthouse; and the Gateway Arch, standing along the Mississippi as a monument to westward expansion.

Scenic Sailing: Lower Mississippi
Teeming with a wide variety of birdlife and a breathtaking array of picturesque landscapes—including deep-green forests, lush wetlands and a patchwork of fertile farmlands—the Lower Mississippi abounds with natural beauty. This portion of America’s great waterway is also rich in history and culture, as reflected in the classic literature and music that have drawn inspiration from it.

Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Situated on the Chickasaw bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Memphis is revered for its blues music and barbecue. Some of the most famed names in blues, including B.B. King, got their start in Memphis, and the city has a well-deserved reputation as the home of this classic American music genre. Memphis is also celebrated for its culinary heritage and is renowned for its traditional barbecue restaurants serving flavorful dry rub ribs. Rich in history and culture, Memphis’s many notable museums include the National Civil Rights Museum and Elvis Presley’s Graceland.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Memphis
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes 
Visit the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum and witness some of the city’s historic music-related landmarks. Travel by motor coach through the city, passing the Memphis Pyramid, the world’s sixth-largest pyramid, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Then, view legendary Beale Street, its nightclubs a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock ’n’ roll and R&B; and Sun Studio, the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll” where pioneers such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded their early records. Then, stop to explore the Smithsonian-affiliated Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, its array of exhibits tracing the development of Memphis, Mississippi Delta and Midsouth music. At the end of your tour, you will have free time to explore on your own, perhaps visiting the historic Peabody hotel to watch the duck march.

Greenville, Mississippi, United States
Greenville is Mississippi’s largest river port, set atop the highest point along the Mississippi River between Vicksburg and Memphis. Its rural setting belies a diverse artistic heritage. The Muppets creator Jim Henson was born here, and the city has been home to numerous authors, including noted historian Shelby Foote. Greenville is also steeped in the blues; famed songwriter W.C. Handy was inspired to popularize the genre after seeing pioneering musician Prince McCoy perform at a nearby dancehall and neighboring Indianola was the hometown of the legendary B.B. King.

Shore Excursions – Steve Azar’s Mississippi
Duration: 3 hours 
Delve into the rich character of the Delta through songs, stories and cuisine during this Privileged Access event. Hosted by Greenville-born and award-winning singer-songwriter Steve Azar, this colorful Privileged Access outing will offer a unique and unforgettable introduction to life in the Mississippi Delta. Upon arrival at your venue, enjoy a Bloody Mary, regional beer or moonshine cocktail, then take a seat and savor a delicious lunch of regional favorites, such as fried catfish, pulled pork, tamales, hush puppies and more. While you dine, watch a spirited musical performance by Azar and his band, as well as other Mississippi artists, that will showcase the blues, rock ’n’ roll, soul and gospel. A noted Greenville native will also regale you with tales of life in the Delta and on the Mississippi. At the conclusion of the show, you will return to your ship.

Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States
Located on a high bluff where the Yazoo River flows into the Mississippi, Vicksburg is the epitome of Southern heritage and charm. It was incorporated in 1825 and, with its prime locale on the Mississippi, grew into an important port. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called it “the key to the South.” And it indeed proved to be the site of the conflict’s most pivotal battle, the Battle of Vicksburg, after which the Confederates surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. The Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the battle site’s rolling green fields and grand monuments.

Natchez, Mississippi, United States
Natchez has one of the highest concentrations of historic Southern estates in the country. More than 200 perfectly preserved homes line its avenues. It is the oldest city on the Mississippi, established in 1716 by French colonists and named for the Natchez tribe who once called it home. With its ideal locale, the city became a crossroads among Native American and European cultures. Famously, Natchez was the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace, the overland route to Nashville that allowed traders to bypass the strong upriver currents. Today, it evokes small-town America.

Shore Excursions – The Best of Natchez
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes 
Learn about local history during a tour of Natchez that visits the city’s top sights. Admire panoramic vistas from your motor coach on your way to view the Rosalie Mansion and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark. Continue to the Stratton Chapel, stopping to view its collection of photographs documenting the early days of Natchez, before arriving at Magnolia Hall, where you will enjoy a guided tour of this opulent Greek Revival-style mansion. After time to explore, journey past the King’s Tavern—the oldest building on the Natchez Trace—and Natchez’s Main Street on your way to the “Proud to Take A Stand” monument. Built in 2019, this new memorial is dedicated to the Natchez citizens who were wrongfully incarcerated during the Civil Rights Movement. Gain insight into its history and then return to your ship.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Baton Rouge paints a historic picture on the eastern bank of the Mississippi. Its early success was due to its flood-free location upon the first natural bluff north of The Delta. French explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville, named the city after a red-hued pole that marked the area’s tribal hunting grounds. Its cultural diversity—from its Cajun and Creole music and cuisine to its art offerings—reflects the influences of those who settled and lived here throughout Baton Rouge’s history. The city boasts the tallest capitol building in the United States.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Baton Rouge
Duration: 4 hours
See Baton Rouge’s most important sights during a panoramic drive and visit the Capitol Park Museum. Crowned with a soaring skyscraper, the 450-foot-tall New State Capitol reflects the modern architectural designs of the 1930s. In contrast, the Old State Capitol boasts a neo-Gothic facade reminiscent of a medieval castle. Drive past the Tiger Stadium; home to the LSU Tigers; the venue can house more than 100,000 fans and is the eighth largest stadium in the world. Learn about the state’s historic university, founded in 1860, before stopping at the Capitol Park Museum. Here you will pause to view informative exhibits that provide insight into Louisiana’s industry and culture, from its musical heritage to the world-famous annual Mardi Gras event. After your tour, return to your awaiting ship.

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.