Viking Rivers Cruises – New Orleans & Southern Charms (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.

Shore Excursions – Houmas House & Gardens
Duration: 1 hour      
Explore a stunning historic mansion—one of the finest in the South—and its spectacular gardens. The former Burnside estate was established in the late 18th century and became known as the “Sugar Palace,” producing 20 million pounds of sugar each year at its peak. Completed in 1828, the Greek Revival–style main house is filled with elegant period furnishings. Among its most striking architectural elements are the 14 Doric columns lining three sides, the spiraling main staircase and two rare octagonal bachelor’s quarters known as garçonnières. The gardens sprawl over 38 acres and teem with both indigenous and exotic plants, bridges, sculptures, courtyards and water features. They are renewed seasonally, so there is always a burst of color and fragrance to enchant you.

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.

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.

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.

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
Often referred to as “The Big Easy,” the city of New Orleans radiates charm and is renowned for its Southern hospitality. Steeped in a proud musical tradition, some of the finest jazz and blues musicians can be seen performing each night at the many historic venues found throughout the city. New Orleans is also home to the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, and its four classic lines offer a convenient way to explore the city’s historic homes, parks and museums, which include the New Orleans Museum of Art and the National WWII Museum.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic New Orleans
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes 
Get acquainted with New Orleans and see some of its most vibrant neighborhoods. Explore the historic sights of the Uptown district, including the campuses of Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans. Discover the leafy streets and stately homes of the Garden District, so named because of the expansive gardens that once surrounded its houses. Pass by Jackson Square, admiring the eclectic architecture of the facade of the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously used cathedral in the US, and the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans and future seventh US president. You will also view landmarks like the Superdome, National WWII Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. Learn about the cultural significance of New Orleans’ unique cemeteries during your guided tour.

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.