- Viking River Cruises to launch two new itineraries in 2027.
- Mississippi and Ohio rivers will welcome the new itineraries.
- The itineraries are now available for booking.
Viking River Cruises will debut two new itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in 2027, including a 15 day journey called Bayous, Blues and Bluegrass.
The line is introducing the new itineraries alongside the existing eight-day and 22-day Mississippi itineraries, indicating a growth in the region and increased demand. These existing itineraries are named Mississippi and Ohio River Explorer and are a shortened version of the 15-day cruise, starting in Memphis and ending in Louisville.
The new 15-day sailing from New Orleans to Louisville will be onboard the aptly named Viking Mississippi and includes four destinations in Louisiana; New Orleans, Darrow, St. Francisville and Baton Rouge.
The sailing then heads to Mississippi with stops in Natchez, Vicksburg and Greenville before reaching Memphis, Tennessee. From there, she will then branch off onto the Ohio River, and the final five days are in Kentucky, where guests can visit Paducah, Henderson, Owensboro and Louisville.
Bookings for the voyages have now opened 2026, giving travellers new options to explore the cultural and historic landscapes of the American South and Midwest.
The cruise line’s 2027 Mississippi and Ohio river itineraries are now available for booking.
The new Bayous, Blues & Bluegrass itinerary
From: New Orleans to Louisville
Duration: 15 days
Rivers: Mississippi and Ohio
Focus: Southern culture, music and cuisine
Highlights: The cultural heritage of the region, with stops tied to blues, rock ’n’ roll and bluegrass traditions, as well as Civil War history and regional culinary experiences.
The itinerary also calls at smaller river towns along the route, including emerging cruise destinations such as Owensboro in Kentucky.
Mississippi & Ohio River Explorer
From: Memphis to Louisville
Duration: 8 days
Rivers: Mississippi and Ohio
Focus: American music and regional traditions
Highlights: This shorter itinerary offers a concentrated voyage through the mid-Mississippi and Ohio River regions.
The route highlights the musical legacy of Memphis, including icons like B.B. King and Elvis Presley, and cultural attractions in Kentucky such as Louisville’s bourbon heritage and baseball museums.
The Viking Mississippi
Both itineraries will operate aboard the Viking Mississippi, a purpose-built U.S. river ship launched in 2022 with 193 all-outside staterooms. She carries up to 386 guests and features Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.
She launched in 2022 and carries up to 150 crew. She measures about 450 ft and 5 decks in total. And she was specifically designed for the Mississippi River system, rather than adapted from European river vessels, making it one of the first modern ships purpose-built for the region.
The Scandinavian design aesthetic features light woods, large windows and open public spaces. The ship’s layout focuses on views of the river and surrounding landscapes, using panoramic lounges and observation areas.
There are expansive floor-to-ceiling windows in public areas. There’s a two-storey Explorers’ Lounge for panoramic river views. And the Aquavit Terrace (above) is an indoor-outdoor dining area at the bow, popular with guests. There’s also a 360-degree promenade deck allowing guests to walk the full perimeter of the ship.
