Viking Mississippi river cruise ship evaluation: Viking’s first Huge Muddy vessel

What I beloved about Viking Mississippi

Sensible, elegant design

In case you’re hoping for a basic paddlewheel boat, be warned: That is not what you will get with Viking Mississippi. However what the ship lacks in turn-of-the-Twentieth-century aesthetics it greater than makes up for with its timeless, stylish decor and considerate, comfy design.

Fairly than the over-the-top decadence that was fashionable within the late 1800s and early 1900s, Viking Mississippi employs understated, impartial designs and hues which are a trademark of the Viking model. The ship’s decor options gentle woods; white or tan upholstery, bedding and lighting fixtures; and blue or orange carpet or pillow accents so as to add some shade.

Take, for instance, The Dwelling Room — a gathering area with loads of comfortable sofas and chairs with delicate pillows. It serves as a serene but centrally positioned area for passengers to hearken to music, play board video games or learn. (If you have not introduced books of your individual, there is a well-stocked library that is bigger than many of the ones you will discover on oceangoing vessels.)

The Dwelling Room additionally hosts day by day briefings given by the cruise director with regard to the subsequent day’s schedule.

In the meantime, the two-deck Explorers’ Lounge affords a presentation area with seating and a podium (used for trivia and destination-focused lectures) on its higher stage and lounge area with seating and Paps Bar on the decrease stage, full with outside entry to The Bow, a spot for alfresco eating and nice views. In these areas, passengers are prone to recognize giant glass home windows and a constellation design harking back to Norse ties to astronomy.

Different nods to Scandinavian tradition embody divider slats in The Restaurant, the ship’s important eating room, made to resemble the oars from Viking ships of yore. In The Dwelling Room, ornamental picket ceiling components are supposed to be guitar frets that, when performed, flip into Norse music, and the close by library is stocked with titles related to Norwegian tradition. Scandinavian artwork adorns hallways and lounges, and in a nook of Deck 1, midship, stands a pair of Norwegian folks costumes.

Nonetheless, the heavy give attention to Norse design would not blur the truth that the ship sails on the Mississippi. Simply look to the vessel’s stairwells for proof. What you will discover are large maps of the river, together with excerpts from the pages of Mark Twain’s famed novels about legendary characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Along with the ornamental components that add to cruiser consolation on Viking Mississippi, structural and mechanical issues embody a redesigned bow form and energy-efficient propulsion system, each of which reduce down on vibrations throughout river sailings.

Wonderful service

What I did not love about Viking Mississippi

Waits and lag instances

Though many of the cruise expertise was terrific and transitions from shore to ship and again have been largely seamless, I skilled some lengthy wait instances value noting.

Throughout check-in, which takes place on the ship, the road snaked from the desk on board the vessel across the visitor companies desk, out the door, alongside the deck and onto the shore. It was related after I checked in at each the precruise and postcruise motels. I waited about 20 to half-hour every time.

It is a minor niggle, however given how upscale the remainder of the expertise felt, lengthy traces appeared incongruous. I additionally surprise what would have occurred if passengers needed to stand outdoors in inclement climate. It looks as if the check-in points might be simply resolved by higher staggering passenger arrival instances or through the use of smaller autos for transportation as a substitute of constitution buses.

Moreover, I needed to wait a very long time between after I checked in and when cabins have been out there. I boarded the ship slightly after 11 a.m.; at check-in, I used to be advised my room would not be prepared till round 4 p.m. That is a very long time for passengers who need to nap, clean up or unpack their baggage earlier than dinner.

At my postcruise resort, I used to be fortunate sufficient to snag a room that was prepared instantly, however a good friend who was additionally on the journey wasn’t so fortunate. She needed to wait a few hours for entry to hers and ended up storing a few of her belongings in my room. (Despite the fact that the ship’s crew transported our giant luggage to the resort for us, many passengers nonetheless introduced carry-ons with them.) Seven hours after I arrived on the resort, my bigger suitcase nonetheless hadn’t arrived at my room. I known as the entrance desk and was advised I might need to go downstairs to ask somebody on the Viking desk. They took me to a again room the place a few of the baggage was nonetheless ready, and I grabbed it and took it as much as my room myself.

Lastly, I typically skilled an inexplicable lag in timing between meal programs in The Restaurant. The waitstaff was conscious of it and apologized a number of instances. Nonetheless, the meals supply points hadn’t improved by the top of my crusing.

Congestion

Seemingly associated to the problems of lengthy wait instances and contours was congestion. Passengers confused the visitor companies desk with the check-in desk, which led to queues in odd locations. Nightly blissful hour hors d’oeuvres have been arrange within the foyer as a substitute of within the close by Explorers’ Lounge, which might have been a greater spot. The outcome was a crowded gangway space.

The Dwelling Room lounge space, the place the cruise director gave nightly briefings, did not have sufficient area for everybody. A number of the briefings grew to become standing-room-only occasions. The addition of even a dozen extra chairs would go a protracted strategy to make the talks extra comfy for the numerous passengers with mobility issues who couldn’t stand for your complete briefing.

Viking Mississippi cabins and suites

Viking’s ships — each river and ocean — function a balcony in each cabin, which units the road aside from its competitors when it comes to lodging. On Viking Mississippi, some rooms have French balconies with home windows that open however with none outside area for sitting. They nonetheless supply passengers entry to recent air.

A step up from the French balcony-style cabins (301 sq. ft) are commonplace balcony cabins, known as Penthouse Verandas (336 sq. ft) and Deluxe Verandas (268 sq. ft). These kinds of rooms have full balconies. There are additionally three forms of true two-room suites — Penthouse Junior Suites (400 sq. ft), Terrace Suites (425 sq. ft) and Explorer Suites (657 to 1,024 sq. ft) — that are uncommon within the river cruise sector.

No matter the kind of balcony passengers have, they will need to train warning in the summertime months on the Mississippi when mayflies and different creepy crawlies — which love the ship’s vibrant white exterior — are rampant. If you wish to sit outdoors at evening, flip off your inside cabin lights or shut the curtain while you’re on the market in order not to attract them to the sunshine.

Beginning with the Penthouse Veranda class, passengers obtain extra perks like complimentary shoeshines, laundry service and minibar alcohol. Explorer Suites, which have essentially the most facilities, are the one cabin class to incorporate a beverage bundle in its fares. These are additionally the one cabins which have entry to room service eating, which is free.

All lodging include a king-size mattress that may be transformed to 2 twins, in addition to luxurious linens. I slept higher on Viking Mississippi than I had in a very long time.

Moreover, rooms are outfitted with safes, hair dryers, telephones, QuietVox audio system with earpieces for passengers to tackle excursions, lint brushes, life jackets, espresso makers, robes and slippers, minifridges with free soda and snacks refilled as wanted, filtered water replenished day by day, umbrellas, binoculars and particular person local weather controls.

Every cabin’s 42-inch TV is provided with complimentary on-demand motion pictures, ship data, music channels and extra.

All lodging obtain twice-daily room cleansing. All rooms are outfitted with doorbells, which is a pleasant contact so room stewards can ring earlier than they arrive in to tidy up.

I used to be booked in a Deluxe Veranda, which provided the above facilities, in addition to a desk/vainness with a chair and a big mirror, two small bedside tables with essentially the most shallow drawers I’ve ever seen, two studying lamps on both facet of the mattress, a dresser constructed into the wall with drawers for garments, a espresso desk and two plush sitting chairs as a substitute of a settee.

General, the room had nice storage capability. I did not even use half of the drawers. I didn’t look after the closet design, although, which is the type the place you’ll be able to solely entry one facet at a time through doorways that slide from left to proper, reasonably than opening outward. Inside, the closets had room for hanging each quick and lengthy objects, plus shelving and drawers.

Whereas my cabin possessed ample lighting and loads of each 110-volt North American and USB/USB-C retailers, it wasn’t very soundproof. I additionally would have appreciated some extra hooks for hanging objects to dry. The one two out there have been on the again of the lavatory door.

I actually appreciated the lavatory setup in my cabin. It was spacious, with a large vainness and an enclosed bathe with nice water stress. Freyja merchandise that odor pretty are in each cabin and embody shampoo, conditioner, lotion and bathe gel. My lavatory additionally had a bathe cap and an arrogance package. Carry any toiletries you want; most of the small cities the ship visits do not have shops the place you should purchase even primary requirements with out entry to a automotive.

I used to be initially irritated to see that the shelving on both facet of the lavatory vainness did not maintain a lot, however that was solely till I found two giant drawers for storing toiletries. I appreciated that they stored my stuff tidy and out of sight. The mattress has loads of room beneath to retailer baggage.

Normally, river cruises aren’t best for passengers who use wheelchairs, and Viking states that wheelchairs introduced on board can not exceed 22 inches in width. Nonetheless, 9 of Viking Mississippi’s 193 cabins — together with eight French Balcony cabins and one Explorer Suite — are accessible. Configurations range. Elevators, most corridors and public areas are additionally wheelchair accessible. Name the road for extra particulars: 1-855-884-5464.

Viking Mississippi eating places and bars

With simply 5 decks, Viking Mississippi is just too small to supply an abundance of meals choices on board. Which means those that exist should be fairly nice — and on this ship, they’re.

Eating places and meals

Cruisers can select to dine at no cost for breakfast, lunch and dinner at both the informal River Cafe buffet on Deck 5 or at The Restaurant, the principle waiter-served eating room on Deck 1. Each are vibrant, ethereal and welcoming with loads of seating. The latter is a bit dressier for dinner and would not permit shorts, denims, sleeveless shirts for males or baseball caps. Passengers don’t want reservations to dine at both place.

Hours for mealtimes are restricted, with hours for breakfast and lunch various primarily based on the day’s schedule.

Typically, the River Cafe can be open from 6 or 6:30 a.m. for continental breakfast, which runs for 3 1/2 hours. Common sizzling breakfast — which normally consists of eggs, bacon, hash browns and different dishes — begins a half-hour later.

Lunch usually begins between 11 and 11:30 a.m. within the River Cafe and lasts about three hours. Dinner is all the time from 5:30 to eight:30 p.m. Throughout each meals, you’ll be able to anticipate finding a wide range of self-serve objects, similar to salad elements, sushi, rooster, fish, greens, meat and cheese slices. A dessert counter sweetens your meal with cake, pie, cookies and ice cream. (No matter you do, do not miss the selfmade coconut ice cream. Including a scoop of chocolate will make it style like a Mounds bar.)

Feeling like a burger, sizzling canine or some pulled pork? You will not need to miss The Grill, an open-air counter that is a part of the Aquavit Terrace, the River Cafe’s outside seating space. Place your order, and seize a desk to take pleasure in your meal alfresco.

On the River Cafe, Viking Mississippi used to have an outpost for Mamsen’s, a counter discovered on Viking’s ocean ships that serves up dishes with a Norwegian aptitude, similar to pea soup and waffles with brown cheese. Though it is nonetheless listed on a few of the onboard signage, I used to be unhappy to be taught it was eliminated to make more room for added seating.

The service contained in the River Cafe was pleasant and attentive. Waitstaff stopped by all tables to take drink orders, and so they have been fast to clear away soiled dishes. That wasn’t the case on the Aquavit Terrace. One morning, as I walked round in search of an outside place to take a seat for breakfast, I observed a number of tables with soiled dishes. I ended up sitting at a unclean desk however in a clear spot the place the place setting hadn’t but been used.

By way of meals high quality, The Restaurant was my favourite of the eating venues. It opens at 7 a.m. every morning and serves breakfast for 90 minutes to 2 hours, relying on the day’s schedule. The meals weren’t excessively prolonged, however on a couple of event, I needed to await an inexplicably very long time between programs.

In The Restaurant, the left facet of the menu options objects that change day by day, whereas the appropriate facet affords always-available picks, similar to shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, salmon, New York strip steak, rooster and creme brulee. I appreciated the Indian chickpea curry that was served one evening, in addition to the crab beignets they whipped up as an appetizer on one other. For breakfast, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with one of many freshly made omelets.

Meals may be exhausting to seek out throughout off-hours, however snacks can be found between meals. Each afternoon from about 3 to five p.m., scrumptious pizza is offered within the River Cafe. From 4:30 to five:30 p.m. day by day, the eating employees put out predinner appetizers close to the doorway to the Explorers’ Lounge. Choices would possibly embody fruit, finger sandwiches and bruschetta. Cookies can be found between mealtimes within the River Cafe close to the espresso machines.

Room service eating is barely out there for passengers booked in Explorer Suites.

In case you decide to ebook precruise and postcruise land stays on your crusing, know that the one meal included within the worth is breakfast, which is commonly a Sterno-style setup of eggs, sausage and cubed potatoes. You will be liable for discovering and paying on your personal lunch and dinner throughout these extensions.

Bars

Paps is a bar within the heart of the primary flooring of the Explorers’ Lounge. It is a terrific place for socializing or for postdinner drinks, and the bartenders are unbelievable.

The one different bar on board is the River Cafe bar, which is extra of a spot to seize a drink throughout a meal than a gathering place. It feels crowded and hectic throughout peak eating instances.

No bar exists in The Dwelling Room, however bar menus are on the tables, and the crew will cease by to take your order.

Each bars supply almost similar menus. The one distinction is that every venue has its personal small collection of regionally impressed cocktails combined in with the usual choices. Home wines and beer are free with meals. Different wines and cocktails as much as $14 are free with a Silver Spirits beverage bundle.

Viking Mississippi leisure

As a consequence of its dimension, Viking Mississippi’s leisure and actions are restricted. The main focus is on dwell leisure, in addition to demonstrations and lectures that concentrate on enrichment, typically tying into the places the ship is visiting.

Actions

On my crusing, the day by day schedule included actions like trivia, a drink demonstration the place passengers discovered in regards to the historical past of the mint julep cocktail, whiskey tastings and lectures by a resident vacation spot professional who talked about matters like bald eagles and the Nice American Steamboat Race. They have been nicely researched and delivered and sometimes drew small crowds to the Explorers’ Lounge.

The vessel has no spa, salon, health heart or on line casino, however there’s a strolling/jogging monitor across the outer deck. Six laps equal 1 mile. There may be additionally a stunning pool that faces out over the ship’s wake, aft on Deck 5. Truthful warning: Though the deck plans confer with it as a “plunge pool,” it is solely about 3 ft deep, so do not plan on leaping in. A built-in bench permits passengers to take a seat and soak as they take within the views.

A small Viking logowear present nook close to the visitor companies desk gives alternatives for onboard procuring. It sells primarily Helly Hansen-branded cold-weather gear like sweaters, jackets and backpacks. Purchases are charged to passengers’ onboard accounts. Every individual should hyperlink a bank card to their account to cowl their onboard invoice.

Exhibits

Viking Mississippi doesn’t have a theater. As an alternative, performances — which start within the night and run till later within the evening, following dinner — happen in the midst of The Dwelling Room. On my voyage, home band The Trio placed on nightly exhibits, and native performers got here on board in numerous ports to sing jazz and ragtime and to play classical harp.

Though the performances have been typically nicely attended, they not often felt crowded. The placement of the setup was awkward, although, as a result of it is inconceivable to stroll from one finish of the ship to the opposite on Deck 1 with out passing by The Dwelling Room. Which means you are strolling in entrance of anybody watching the exhibits.

Viking Mississippi itineraries and pricing

Viking Mississippi was constructed particularly for voyages alongside the Mississippi River, and that is the one place the ship sails. When reserving, cruisers can select from a collection of greater than 10 completely different itineraries that cowl each the Higher and Decrease Mississippi, in addition to combos of the 2.

Sailings begin at $3,499 per individual for an eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer itinerary that gives six free excursions and sails from New Orleans to Memphis. Fares begin from $19,999 per individual for a 22-day, 16-tour Grand Mississippi Voyage that mixes the Higher and Decrease Mississippi and sails from New Orleans to St. Paul.

Whatever the particular itinerary you choose, you will go to historic U.S. landmarks and tiny cities that home a few of the nation’s most iconic manufacturers. You will additionally sail by a number of of the river’s locks that the ship should clear as a way to make its manner.

Pricing consists of free Wi-Fi, beer and wine with meals, at the least one tour in every port and transfers from the airport to the resort if you happen to’re flying within the day your crusing departs. You’ll be able to add a precruise or postcruise land extension for an additional payment. The worth consists of transfers, resort lodging and free breakfast every morning.

You will pay additional for gratuities, cocktails (except you may have the Silver Spirits bundle), flights, extra excursions and lunch and dinner throughout any land-based stays you add on.

My itinerary included eight days on Viking Mississippi, two days precruise in St. Louis and two days postcruise in St. Paul. The transitions from the land-based tour to the cruise and vice versa want a bit of labor, notably with waits to examine in and baggage supply instances.

What to know earlier than you go

Required paperwork

As a result of Viking Mississippi travels solely alongside U.S. waterways, a passport is not required. Passengers are capable of sail with a sound government-issued photograph ID like a driver’s license (no delivery certificates is important).

Along with identification, you will must examine in on-line previous to your crusing and print out your boarding cross. It’s also possible to preregister a bank card for any onboard purchases. In case you’re unable to take action earlier than you embark, you’ll arrange your account when you’re on the vessel.

Viking will ship you another mandatory journey paperwork through commonplace mail, together with each printed baggage tags and leather-based baggage tags that it’s best to connect to your luggage to allow them to simply be dropped at you.

Gratuities

Passengers who don’t prepay gratuities will see a cost of $20 added to their onboard accounts every day. Shore tour employees and those that oversee precruise and postcruise land tour extensions usually are not included within the day by day or pay as you go gratuity quantities. For these folks, Viking recommends $2 per individual, per tour or switch for bus drivers and $5 per individual, per tour for guides.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is offered to all passengers on board free of charge. On my Higher Mississippi crusing, it was quick, dependable and free from connectivity issues.

As a result of your voyage can be fully within the U.S., you can too use your common mobile knowledge plan as ordinary with out having to fret about switching your telephone to airplane mode while you’re on the ship. Be aware, nevertheless, that some locations are distant and may not have constant cell service.

Carry-on drinks coverage

Passengers are allowed to convey each alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks on board in no matter portions they need. The drinks could also be consumed in any space of the ship with no corkage payment.

Smoking coverage

Smoking is just not allowed on Viking Mississippi, besides in a delegated outside space on Deck 1, aft. Smoking of any variety can be not allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies.

Laundry

Viking Mississippi has three complimentary self-service launderettes, discovered on decks 2, 3 and 4, midship. Every has two washers, two dryers, free cleaning soap packets and an ironing board.

Passengers may also select to ship clothes out for laundry and urgent for a per-item payment. Gadgets picked up earlier than 9 a.m. are returned by 7 p.m. the next day. Similar-day service (picked up by 9 a.m. and returned by 7 p.m. that night) is offered for a 50% surcharge.

Electrical retailers

If there’s one factor Viking Mississippi’s cabins have loads of, it is locations to plug in. My commonplace balcony cabin had 12 110-volt North American retailers — two within the lavatory, two by all sides of the mattress, two in an alcove within the entryway by the Nespresso machine and 4 on the desk/vainness. Two of the 12 are taken up by the Nespresso machine and the QuietVox packing containers.

There have been additionally 4 USB and 4 USB-C ports — one on all sides of the mattress and two within the base of the lamp on the vainness.

I could not discover any 220-volt European-style retailers in my cabin; if you happen to’re touring from overseas (apart from Canada), convey adapters and converters.

Foreign money

The foreign money used on board is the greenback. All onboard purchases, similar to alcohol, shore excursions and merchandise from the ship’s store, are accomplished electronically.

Ingesting age

As a result of it sails throughout the U.S., Viking Mississippi’s consuming age is 21. Passengers who’ve reached that age obtain complimentary beer, wine and delicate drinks with lunch and dinner. Cocktails may be bought a la carte, or passengers can decide to purchase a Silver Spirits bundle that covers all however essentially the most top-shelf liquors.

Juice, espresso, tea, sizzling chocolate and water can be found free of charge across the clock. Room stewards refill in-cabin water carafes as wanted.

Costume code

The costume code throughout the day is informal however not sloppy. Passengers ought to plan to decorate comfortably, notably if they are going on shore excursions that may contain strolling. Advised apparel consists of shorts or slacks with T-shirts or collared shirts and durable, comfy strolling sneakers.

At evening, passengers can put on no matter they wish to the River Cafe buffet. To eat in The Restaurant, cruisers are requested to chorus from sporting shorts, denims, clothes with holes, cutoff sleeves and baseball caps. Some girls would possibly want to put on skirts or attire, however you will discover most passengers sporting slacks with collared or button-down shirts.

Backside line

The Viking Mississippi expertise gives a stunning mixture of the Americana that springs from the sleepy cities alongside the Mississippi and the onboard magnificence of a Europe river cruise. The vessel is trendy and nicely appointed, providing luxurious comforts as passengers sail alongside the nation’s second-longest river.

In case you’re in search of a strategy to examine just a few of the Midwestern states off your “been there” record, this can be a unbelievable strategy to do it with out having to take a highway journey or plan the logistics your self. The ship gives a terrific alternative to discover smaller, less-traveled locations, the place time typically appears to cease.

Swirl that along with glorious service, meals that is a reduce above what you’d discover on most oceangoing ships and cozy, upscale lodging, lounges and bars, and you have got the makings of a soothing, academic journey.

Need to be taught extra about Viking and Mississippi river cruises? We have got you lined with these tales.