Why a Viking River Cruise is a great way to explore Mississippi
No river in the United States has more layers or symbolism Mississippi Riverand for good reason. Etched into its history are stories of rowboats and life on and along the river, promising an escape for many who had never ventured beyond its small-town borders. themselves.
These autonomous cities dot the banks of the Big Muddy, clinging to its waters as if their survival depended on it – because it did. With its rushing streams and impressive lock system, the Mighty Mississippi brought life to businesses and provided a shipping route to transport goods that locals wanted to buy and sell.
Today, river cruises along the Mississippi River offer the chance to experience some of the same promise and steadfast appeal in bustling big cities and small towns that have been forgotten since the dawn of time. invention of air travel.
Is the newest cruise line offering great itineraries on the Upper and Lower Mississippi on Viking Mississippi ship, Viking offers a glimpse of life along this fascinating waterway. The brand also has great pre- and post-cruise extensions that allow you to continue your trip in the amazing locations the ship visits.
My recent Viking Mississippi trip began with a two-night trip in St. Louis before moving to Alton, Illinois, where I boarded a train to head north. After Alton, my itinerary took me to visit six different riverside towns. They include Hannibal, Missouri; Burlington, Iowa; Quad City, Iowa; Dubuque, Iowa; La Crosse, Wis.; and Red Wing, Minnesota. Then a bus took me to St. Paul to stay two nights after the cruise – a total of 12 days exploring the Midwest.
What I experienced was a healthy dose of small-town Americana on a journey I didn’t even know I wanted. If, like me, you’ve always been intrigued by the Mississippi, here’s why a Viking river cruise is a great way to experience this part of the United States
Journey about small towns you didn’t know you wanted to visit
The legend of the mighty Mississippi is great for history buffs. When I first looked at the harbors between the starting point and the finishing point, my first thought was “I’ve never heard of these places”. But after investigating shore excursion options, I felt excited. I realized that many of the cruise destinations were made famous by iconic names, from agriculture (John Deere in Moline, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities) and literature (Mark Twain’s Tom). Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in Hannibal) to cinema (Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, near Dubuque).
Viking’s list of shore excursions is impressive, with a free tour in each port. I tried two free tours and three paid tours. While the paid ones are great and of higher quality than the free ones, the free ones are still pretty great.
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My favorites include the $89 visit to the Anheuser-Busch brewery and museum in St. Louis, where I saw some famous Clydesdale horses; a $99 outing to see the real Field of Dreams, where the movie was filmed; and a free tour of the John Deere family mansions. All tours offer a glimpse of life in America’s heartland.
In places where I don’t book tours or where excursions are shorter, I spend time wandering around town alone. What I found was interesting: a historic candy store and soda fountain in Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal; delicious cheese curds in La Crosse; and a quaint bookstore in Red Wing, where salespeople choose a book to give you on your first visit.
Lovely people — ashore and on board
What surprised me most about my Viking Mississippi trip was that the people conquered me as much as the towns themselves. Nothing can compare to the kindness I found at Alton, the port where I first set foot on a ship. During my two-night stay before my flight, I ran out of dental floss and planned to get some the next day in Alton. Turns out, no stores in the downtown area carry it. You need to travel several miles to find larger stores and good luck finding an Uber or taxi in a town this size.
When I walked into a thrift store and asked the woman working if she knew where I could find one, she said she didn’t know but offered to give me some of her own dental flossers. . (I declined.) I walked about 15 minutes to a convenience store I found on Google, but when the girl at the checkout told me they didn’t carry dental floss, she also gave gave me some dental floss, pointed to her braces, and explained that she always had it with her. Hospitality and the charm of helping your neighbors are qualities you don’t often see in big cities.
And then there’s Paul Sherman, a professional baseball player and Dyersville native who was cast as one of the ghost players in “Field of Dreams.” He used his role to raise money for charities and today still wears his uniform at the field, where you’ll find him available to give tours, chat with visitors, create posing for photos in a nearby cornfield and chatting about all things baseball, Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta (who, as Sherman will tell you, had never played baseball in his life before filming the movie).
However, it’s not just the locals who are amazing. The crew aboard the Viking Mississippi has its own cast of interesting characters. Tim, the cruise director, always has dad jokes in the daily quizzes, and Richard is an absolute wizard behind Paps Bar in the Explorers’ Lounge.
If you smell something amazing in the hallway near your cabin, it might be Michael, a room manager obsessed with Bath & Body Works scents. And don’t miss the chance to chat with staff members Darrell, who’s always a breath of fresh air in the morning, and Kindra, who can make great recommendations on what you should watch next on Netflix .
The benefits of a road trip – but without the road
Because some of these towns are so small, they don’t have major airports, making access difficult. In addition to a number of annual festivals – such as Hannibal’s Twain on Main, which celebrates author Mark Twain – which tend to attract tourists as part of a town getaway, these cities This riverside is often best suited for road trips.
But what if you don’t own a car, don’t like driving, or don’t want the hassle of planning trip logistics like where to stay and how many days it will take you to get where you want to go?
That’s when a trip comes. You won’t have to worry about gas prices, finding the nearest stop to restock snacks, or finding the right music playlist for everyone in the car. On Viking Mississippi, you can settle in and enjoy while others do the driving. Viking handles all the logistics, including pre- and post-cruise stays, helping to extend the trip by a few days for those with vacation time to spare. Plus, each cabin has a balcony so you won’t have to miss out on relaxing views of the road.
A nicely put together vibe on board
If you have cruised on one of Viking’s ocean liners or one of its European river ships, you will know that the atmosphere on board is distinctly Scandinavian, a nod to its Norwegian heritage. Prestige of this train line. The same thing happened with Viking Mississippi. However, it offers a bit of a change.
Mixed in with Viking memorabilia, displays of traditional Norwegian clothing and a ship’s shop selling Norwegian wool sweaters are all reminiscent of the Mississippi. Huge maps of the river adorn the staircase walls, along with authentic excerpts from Mark Twain’s novels featuring Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
While it may seem like an odd combination, it’s a way for passengers to enjoy the line’s signature Scandinavian luxury while being reminded of the local elements they’ll experience on board. edge.
The Viking Mississippi flies the American flag and has an American crew, but you can still expect premium, sophisticated Viking elements – what sets this line apart from the competition. its competition in the US market.
Great service on board
After experiencing questionable service with another US river cruise line several years ago when sailing with Viking Mississippi, I was elated to discover that Viking’s staff was excellent. Except for some minor issues with the timing between dishes in the dining room, I was impressed with the professionalism of the staff.
Service staff and room managers are always friendly and always try to anticipate passengers’ needs. They handle special requests with ease and grace, and they seem genuinely happy to be doing their job – something that’s not always the case on other lines.
When I went on another train, I received uncooked buns that still had water in them, and when I asked for a banana, the waiter rushed back 15 minutes later to announce that he couldn’t find any. see them. By contrast, on the Viking Mississippi, the flight attendant left me extra facial towels because she noticed I used at least two a day, and one of the servers at the River Cafe buffet saw me glowing. up at the mention of coconut cream and bring me a towel. dessert before I even had a chance to ask.
When you return from a busy day exploring ashore, you can expect a level of service that will leave you feeling pampered and ready to take on the adventures ahead.
Bottom line
Something special happens when you take in the calm waters from your cabin balcony and watch the world go by, but a river cruise on the Mississippi River is never just an onboard experience.
Viking Mississippi’s journey begins and ends in cities, but it’s the small towns along the way that truly make the experience memorable. From antique shops, local art and incredibly friendly people to brands like John Deere and Red Wing Shoes that are synonymous with hard work, you’ll find plenty of surprises when sailing in the area. However, with Viking, you can also expect great service, comfortable accommodations and opportunities to relax.
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