No river in the US is extra storied or iconic than the Mississippi, and for good cause. Etched into its historical past are tales of paddlewheel boats and life on and alongside the river, which promised a manner out for a lot of who had by no means ventured past the borders of their very own small cities.
These municipalities dot the banks of the Large Muddy, latching onto its waters as if their very survival depends upon it — as a result of it does. With its dashing currents and spectacular lock system, the Mighty Mississippi pulses life into companies and supplies a transportation route for the transport of products that the locals wish to each purchase and promote.
At the moment, river cruises alongside the Mississippi provide an opportunity to expertise a few of that very same steadfast promise and attract in bustling massive cities and smaller cities which have been all however forgotten for the reason that daybreak of air journey.
As the latest cruise line to supply improbable itineraries on the Higher and Decrease Mississippi on its Viking Mississippi vessel, Viking supplies a glimpse into life alongside this fascinating waterway. The model additionally options fabulous pre- and post-cruise extensions that mean you can proceed your journey within the fantastic locations the ship visits.
My current Viking Mississippi voyage started with a two-night precruise keep in St. Louis earlier than a switch to Alton, Illinois, the place I boarded the vessel for a visit north. After Alton, the schedule had me visiting six totally different riverside cities. They included Hannibal, Missouri; Burlington, Iowa; Quad Cities, Iowa; Dubuque, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Crimson Wing, Minnesota. Then a switch took me to St. Paul for a two-night postcruise keep — a complete of 12 days of exploring within the Midwest.
What I skilled was a wholesome dose of small-town Americana on an itinerary I did not even know I wished. If, like me, you’ve got at all times been intrigued by the Mississippi, this is why a Viking river cruise is a wonderful strategy to expertise this a part of the U.S.
An itinerary of tiny cities you did not know you wished to go to
The lore of the Mighty Mississippi is nice for historical past buffs. Once I initially appeared on the ports between the beginning and ending factors, my first thought was “I’ve by no means heard of those locations.” However after investigating shore tour choices, pleasure set in. I noticed lots of the locations on the itinerary have been made well-known by iconic names that vary from agricultural (John Deere in Moline, Illinois, one of many Quad Cities) and literary (Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in Hannibal) to cinematic (the Area of Goals in Dyersville, Iowa, close to Dubuque).
Viking’s listing of shore excursions is spectacular, with one free tour included in every port. I attempted two free excursions and three added-fee ones. Though those for an additional price have been glorious and of a better high quality than the free ones, the complimentary ones have been nonetheless fairly nice.
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My favorites included an $89 go to to the Anheuser-Busch brewery and museum in St. Louis, the place I noticed a number of the well-known Clydesdale horses; a $99 outing to see the precise Area of Goals, the place the film was filmed; and a free journey to tour the John Deere household mansions. The entire excursions offered a pleasant glimpse of life in America’s heartland.
In locations the place I did not guide excursions or the place the excursions have been shorter, I spent a while meandering round city alone. What I discovered was pleasant: an old-timey sweet retailer and soda fountain in Hannibal, dwelling of Mark Twain; tasty cheese curds in La Crosse; and a quaint bookstore in Crimson Wing, the place the shopkeepers choose a guide to present you in your first go to.
Pretty individuals — ashore and on board
What shocked me most about my Viking Mississippi journey was that the individuals gained me over as a lot because the cities themselves did. Nothing tops the kindness I discovered in Alton, the port the place I first boarded the ship. Throughout my two-night precruise keep, I ran out of dental floss and deliberate to choose some up the subsequent day in Alton. Because it seems, there are not any shops within the downtown space that promote it. You have to journey a number of miles away to seek out bigger shops, and good luck discovering an Uber or taxi in a city that measurement.
Once I went right into a boutique thrift store and requested the lady working if she knew the place I might discover some, she stated she did not however provided to offer me a few of her personal flossers. (I declined.) I walked about quarter-hour to a comfort retailer I discovered on Google, however when the lady working the register informed me they did not carry floss, she too provided me a few of her personal, pointing to her braces and explaining that she carries it along with her always. That kind of help-your-neighbor hospitality and attraction are qualities you do not typically discover in main cities.
After which there’s Paul Sherman, a Dyersville native and former skilled baseballer who was solid as one of many ghost gamers in “Area of Goals.” He makes use of his function to boost funds for charities and nonetheless dons the uniform on the subject in the present day, the place you may discover him prepared to offer excursions, chat with guests, pose for photographs within the close by cornfield and discuss all issues baseball, Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta (who, as Sherman will inform you, by no means performed baseball in his life earlier than filming the film).
It is not simply the locals who’re nice, although. The crew on board Viking Mississippi has its personal solid of pleasant characters. Tim, the cruise director, is filled with dad jokes throughout every day trivia, and Richard is an absolute wiz behind Paps Bar within the Explorers’ Lounge.
In the event you odor one thing superb within the hallway close to your cabin, it is in all probability Michael, a room steward who’s obsessive about Bathtub & Physique Works scents. And do not miss an opportunity to talk with waitstaff members Darrell, who’s an absolute breath of recent air very first thing within the morning, and Kindra, who can provide stellar suggestions for what you need to binge-watch subsequent on Netflix.
The perks of a highway journey — however with out the highway
As a result of a few of these cities are so small, they do not have main airports, making them troublesome to succeed in. Other than a handful of annual festivals — equivalent to Hannibal’s Twain on Important, in celebration of writer Mark Twain — that have a tendency to attract vacationers as a part of one-town getaways, these riverside municipalities are sometimes finest suited to highway journeys.
However what when you do not personal a automotive, do not like driving or don’t need the trouble of planning highway journey logistics like the place to remain and what number of days it’ll take you to get the place you are going?
That is the place a cruise is available in. You will not have to fret concerning the worth of fuel, finding the closest relaxation cease to restock your snacks or determining a playlist that may go well with everybody within the automotive. On Viking Mississippi, you possibly can settle in and luxuriate in whereas another person does the driving. Viking handles all the logistics, together with the pre- and postcruise stays, which prolong the journey by a number of days for these with trip time to spare. Plus, each cabin has a balcony, so you will not need to miss out on enjoyable views to maintain your eyes on the highway.
A novel hybrid onboard vibe
In the event you’ve cruised on certainly one of Viking’s ocean ships or certainly one of its Europe river vessels, you may know that the atmosphere on board is significantly Scandinavian, a nod to the road’s Norwegian heritage. It is the identical with Viking Mississippi. Nevertheless, it presents a little bit of a twist.
Combined in with Viking memorabilia, a standard Norwegian gown show and an onboard store that sells Norwegian wool sweaters are references to the Mississippi. Large maps of the river adorn stairwell partitions, together with larger-than-life excerpts from Mark Twain novels that includes Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Though it’d look like an odd combine, it is a manner for passengers to benefit from the line’s hallmark Scandinavian class whereas nonetheless being reminded of the native parts they’re going to expertise ashore.
Viking Mississippi flies an American flag and is crewed by People, however you possibly can nonetheless count on the refined, upscale parts which are Viking signatures — one thing that units the road aside from its competitors within the U.S. market.
Incredible onboard service
After experiencing questionable service with a distinct U.S. river cruise line a few years earlier than crusing with Viking Mississippi, I used to be elated to find that Viking’s employees is superb. Aside from some minor points with the timing between meals programs within the eating room, I used to be impressed with the crew’s professionalism.
Waitstaff and room stewards are persistently pleasant and exit of their strategy to anticipate passengers’ wants. They deal with particular requests with ease and style, they usually appear genuinely pleased to be doing their jobs — one thing that is not at all times the case on different traces.
Once I sailed with the opposite cruise line, I acquired undercooked pancakes that have been nonetheless runny inside, and after I requested for a banana, the harried waiter returned quarter-hour later to announce he could not discover them. In distinction, on Viking Mississippi, my cabin attendant left me additional washcloths as a result of she observed I take advantage of not less than two a day, and one of many waiters within the River Cafe buffet noticed me mild up on the point out of coconut ice cream and introduced me a dish for dessert earlier than I even had an opportunity to ask.
Once you come again from a busy day of exploring ashore, you possibly can count on a stage of service that may have you ever feeling pampered and able to tackle the adventures that come subsequent.
Backside line
One thing particular occurs as you’re taking within the quiet rush of water out of your cabin balcony and watch because the world slides previous, however a river cruise on the Mississippi is rarely solely concerning the onboard expertise.
Viking Mississippi’s itineraries begin and finish in cities, but it surely’s the small cities alongside the way in which that really make the expertise memorable. From vintage shops and native artwork and ultra-friendly individuals to manufacturers like John Deere and Crimson Wing Sneakers which are synonymous with laborious work, you may discover many surprises throughout a crusing within the area. However, with Viking, it’s also possible to count on terrific service, snug lodging and an opportunity to calm down.
Wish to be taught extra about Viking and Mississippi river cruises? We have you lined with these tales.
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