Viking Rivers Cruises – Mississippi Delta Explorer (United States) 8 Days

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. The birthplace of American jazz, New Orleans exudes a festive atmosphere along the balcony-lined Bourbon Street. Here, in the heart of the French Quarter, soulful rhythms lift the spirit, especially during the city’s Mardi Gras celebration. Founded by French colonists in 1718, New Orleans served as a territorial capital before the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Its distinctive St. Louis Cathedral—named for King Louis IX of France—is the oldest cathedral in the country. The city’s French, African and other influences flavor its vibrant culture and tantalizing Creole cuisine.

Darrow, Louisiana, United States
The Lower Mississippi region is dotted with historic mansions; Darrow is the gateway to these grand homes, meticulously kept to preserve the memory of early Southern American history. Here, imposing houses share the riverscape with moss-draped oak trees and farm fields. It is easy to imagine steamboats and other vessels delivering supplies and materials to these stately front doors. Today, several properties are designated National Historic Landmarks for their architecture, their landscaping, and the contributions of those who maintained the houses and the lands.

St. Francisville, Louisiana, United States
Boasting more than 140 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, St. Francisville is set along one of the most historic bluffs of the Mississippi. The town is said to be “two miles long and two yards wide” because it was originally built on a narrow ridge overlooking the river. Founded in 1809, it is the oldest town in Louisiana’s Florida Parishes. Remarkably, many of St. Francisville’s structures are not its own; rather, they were moved upriver from Bayou Sara in the 1920s after the small settlement was destroyed by years of flooding.

Shore Excursions – Rosedown Plantation
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes     
Explore one of the South’s most intact manor homes, the Rosedown Plantation, and stroll its exemplary gardens. Encompassing 374 acres that once sustained cotton, pastureland, stables and orchards, the Rosedown’s prosperity depended on the economic contributions and handiwork of the 450 enslaved Africans who lived on the land. The main house was built in the Greek Revival style with exquisite furnishings from Europe and the North. It is approached by a grand alley of towering oak trees that leads to ornamental gardens—18 acres of paths winding through bowers of azaleas, camellias, roses and many other indigenous and exotic species. The gardens are designed in both the baroque geometric and less formal English styles—accented with beautiful sculptures and latticed gazebos.

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.

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.

Shore Excursions – Vicksburg National Military Park
Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes      
Visit the Civil War site where the Battle of Vicksburg ended, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Union. Visit the Civil War site where the Battle of Vicksburg ended, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Union. Vicksburg had been the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. When it finally surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863, the Union gained control of the entire Mississippi—effectively splitting the South in half. With a Licensed Battlefield Guide narrating your tour, you will see the historic trenches, markers and monuments. Learn about the battle’s impact on the lives of civilians and troops on both sides, including the many African Americans who served in the campaign. Also included is a visit to USS Cairo, an ironclad gunboat that prowled the Mississippi as part of the Union’s brown-water navy.

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.

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