Viking opens bookings for 2023 Mississippi program

Viking Mississippi is set to debut in August 2022 and will sail on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River between New Orleans and St. Paul.

Several 2022 departures sold out

Since bookings opened in April, several sailings have already sold out.

'We are very pleased at the initial response and support we have received from guests and community partners along the Mississippi River,' Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said. 'Like me, many travelers are planning ahead for when we will once again be exploring the world in comfort — to exotic destinations as well as those closer to home.'

The new cruises are expected to bring more than 5,800 travelers to the region in 2022 and more than 17,600 during the first full sailing season in 2023.

Destinations in seven states

Currently scheduled ports span seven states: Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Darrow, New Orleans and St. Francisville), Mississippi (Natchez and Vicksburg), Tennessee (Memphis), Missouri (Hannibal, St. Louis), Iowa (Burlington, Dubuque and Davenport), Wisconsin (La Crosse) and Minnesota (Red Wing, St. Paul).

Itineraries include 'America’s Heartland,' eight days, St. Louis to St. Paul, priced starting at $4,599 per person. 'Heart of the Delta,' eight days, New Orleans-Memphis, starts at $4,199.

'Southern Celebration,' eight days, New Orleans-Vicksburg-New Orleans, is priced from $3,699. And 'America's Great River,' 15 days, New Orleans-St. Paul, starts at $10,999 per person.

For all the sailings, discounted airfare starts at $199.

The 386-passenger Viking Mississippi will rise five decks and sports Scandinavian design. It is being built at Edison Chouest Offshore in Louisiana.