Viking Mississippi Cruise Ship Touches Water For First Time

A Swiss company’s plan to offer tourists cruises along the length of the Mississippi River drew a step closer to reality this week as its new 386-passenger ship was floated out of a south Louisiana shipyard.

Viking River Cruises of Basel, which in 2015 announced the plans for Mississippi River cruises, toasted the completion of the Viking Mississippi in a celebration Monday at a Houma shipyard.

Two U.S. companies already offer cruises up and down the river, which flows 2,350 miles (3,780 kilometers) from its source at Minnesota’s Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. American Queen Voyages, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and American Cruise Lines, based in Guilford, Connecticut, expect to carry a total of 50,000 people on the Mississippi this year, spokespeople said.

The Viking Mississippi is billed by the Swiss competitor as “the largest and most modern ship in the region.” It is to make its first voyage in June between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota — a trip that would take about 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) by car but is about 1,700 miles (2,700 kilometers) on the twisting river.

“It is a proud moment that this new ship has met an American waterway for the first time,” Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said in a news release. “Our guests have long wanted to sail the Mississippi River with Viking, and we very much look forward to welcoming them on board this summer.”

Company officials said the Viking Mississippi is expected to draw more than 7,500 passengers to the river this year and more than 17,600 during the first full sailing season in 2023.

The Viking Mississippi plans stops in 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).

Meanwhile, American Queen Voyages has three paddlewheel cruise boats that operate on the Mississippi, the smallest able to carry 166 passengers and the largest 417, spokesperson Michael Hicks said. He added that the company expects about 20,000 passengers on the Mississippi River this year.

American Cruise Lines has two paddlewheelers and three modern riverboats on the river and plans to launch a fourth modern riverboat late this year, spokesperson Alexa Paolella said. Both also operate in other parts of the United States. She said the boats will carry 30,000 on Mississippi River routes this year.

American Cruise Lines’ 15 river and coastal cruise ships all were upgraded during the off-season, with the most extensive work on the line’s four paddlewheelers, a company news release said Wednesday.

“Viking’s boat will also be lovely, but American Cruise Lines’ new modern series riverboats are equally if not more beautiful,” Paolella wrote in an email.

The Best Cruises For Viewing The Magnificent Fall Foliage In The U.S.

One of Mother Nature's best shows takes place along the Eastern Seaboard in late September and October when colorful leaves are on full display. Cruises provide views of peak foliage in New England and Canada.

You can visit places including Acadia National Park in Maine and the St. Lawrence Seaway in Quebec, without the detraction of highways filled with other leaf-peepers. Bonus: From your ship you're also likely to spot migrating humpback whales.

There are also other places to see colorful foliage, including along the cruising routes in the Pacific Northwest, Hudson Valley and along the Tennessee River.

Here are the best cruises for viewing fall foliage.

Maasdam: This 1,258-passenger Holland America Line ship sails from both Boston and Montreal on seven- to 14-day itineraries, either round-trip or one-way. You visit Bar Harbor, Maine (for Acadia), cruise into the narrow channels of the St. Lawrence Seaway, with colorful leaves on both sides, and visit ports including Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Fares from $599.

Royal Princess: This beautiful year-old, 3,560-passenger Princess Cruises ship, with its expansive Piazza and fountain pool, cruises round-trip from New York (Brooklyn). The one-week itineraries include port calls in St. John, New Brunswick, tony Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Bar Harbor and Halifax. From $999.

Regatta: Cruise on this 694-passenger Oceania Cruises ship between New York and Montreal on 10- to 12-day itineraries that visit Newport, Portland (Maine), Boston and Bar Harbor as well as ports in Atlantic Canada, with some cruises including Corner Brook, Newfoundland. An October 10 sailing gets you to Saguenay National Park, the great tree-lined fjord, which cuts through what may be the oldest rocks on the planet. From $2,949.

Brilliance of the Seas: Check out the views from the rock-climbing wall aboard this 2,112-passenger Royal Caribbean ship, as you cruise for a week, round-trip from Boston to Portland, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax, fares from $599.

Seabourn Quest: Enjoy suite accommodations onboard Seabourn's 450-passenger luxury ship as you cruise between Boston and Montreal, on one of four 10-day itineraries. You'll overnight in Quebec City, visit Charlottetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor and Saguenay, and also spend time in the scenic St. Lawrence River and the Quebec cities of Baie-Comeau and Gaspe. Fares from $3,999.

Norwegian Gem: Cruise from New York on a one-week itinerary that includes port calls in Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, St. John and Halifax. Fares are from $699. While onboard this Norwegian Cruise Line ship, visit the bowling lanes in the retro-chic Bliss Ultra Lounge.

S.S. Legacy: See colorful leaves, deep gorges and waterfalls as you trace the route of Lewis & Clark on the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers. Un-Cruise has booked historians and Heritage guides are to provide guests with a narrative. The 88-passenger ship, a replica of a steamer, does one-week sailings from Portland, Oregon through November. Fares from $3,195.

American Queen: Red and gold leaves create beautiful landscapes on the Tennessee River. Cruise between Chattanooga and Memphis or Nashville in October on this 436-passenger American Queen Steamboat Company paddlewheeler on nine-day itineraries, priced from $2,549. The October 24 departure is a Country Music-themed sailing.

American Star: This 100-passenger ship operated by American Cruise Lines has October sailings from New York through the Hudson Valley, getting you to places including Sleepy Hollow, Catskill and West Point. Fares from $3,810.

Crystal Serenity: Do a five- to 30-day cruise in luxurious surrounds onboard this 1,070-passenger Crystal Cruises ship. Most of the sailings are from Quebec City or New York, but there's also a five-day sailing from Halifax to New York, priced from $1,780, that visits Bar Harbor, Boston and Newport. A new feature is running tours in select ports of call – including an escorted 5k run on scenic carriage roads in Acadia National Park.

Contributed by Fran Golden, Special for USA TODAY

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Best Cruises For Wine Lovers

On these theme cruises you can get a wine education. Enjoy fine sups and hear from winemakers and other experts, including at lectures, shore excursions and wine tastings.

Check out these special cruises designed for wine lovers.

Un-Cruise Adventures: Sipping and glaciers combine on this seven-day Alaska cruise aboard the 84-passenger sailing yacht Safari Endeavour. Onboard the June 15 sailing, round-trip from Juneau, will be Kevin Correll of Barrage Cellars boutique winery in Woodinville, Wash. The focus is on the vineyards of Washington State, along with fine barrels from France.

AmaWaterways: This river cruise line has a whole series of wine cruises featuring noted vintners — 17 total this year. Most of the sailings are in the fall and spring, including on the Danube, Mosel, Rhine, Mosel, Douro and Seine rivers. Onboard the "Celebration of Wine" cruises, top wine experts including Peter Marks, Master of Wine, Constellation Brands, one of only 24 Masters of Wine in the U.S., lecture and lead tastings on a Paris & Normandy cruise embarking November 13.

Avalon Waterways: Wine Appreciation Cruises, including eight itineraries on the Danube and in France next year, are designed to be wine-education adventures. A wine authority is onboard each cruise to offer expertise, tastings are held at local wineries, and a special dinner is offered with food and wine pairings. Itineraries include 16-day Paris to the Cote d'Azur and 11-day Burgundy & Provence, both in March and October.

SeaDream: Four cruises in Europe in the fall on this line's intimate, 112-passenger yachts, get you to high quality vineyards where you spend time with winemakers – such as at a dinner with the owners of Portugal's oldest table wine producer, José Maria da Fonseca. Activities shipboard – run by world-renowned wine experts – include both wine tastings and master classes – with opportunity to take a blind-tasting test and receive a SeaDream wine diploma based on your knowledge.

Crystal Cruises: Wine & Food Festival theme cruises take place several times a year, including on an upcoming 12-day sailing on the Crystal Symphony from Singapore to Bali, embarking January 15. Wine educations are onboard – on the Asia sailing Fongyee Walker and Edward Ragg, co-founders of Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting, Beijing's first and fully independent wine consulting and education service.

Norwegian Pearl: This Norwegian Cruise Line ship is the scene for a Wine, Dine & Music theme cruise, organized by Flying Dutchmen Travel. The five-day Bahamas sailing, embarking on October 25, will have onboard winemakers and sommeliers from the Kendall-Jackson family of wines, educating guests about pairing wine and food. Others onboard include celebrity Chef John Ash and Grammy Award-winning duo America.

American Cruise Lines: Cruise for a week on the Columbia & Snake rivers with Regina Daigneault, a Master Sommelier and wine pairing expert. Visit vineyards including Barnard Griffin and Domaine Pouillon. The sailing is October 18 on the 120-passenger paddlewheeler Queen of the West, from Clarkston, Wash. to Portland. There are also other wine cruises on the small ship line's calendar including on the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands in the fall and spring.

Paul Gauguin Cruises: Cruise through paradise in the Society Islands and Tuamotus while hearing from Daniel Baron, winemaker at Sonoma's Silver Oak Cellars. The 10-day cruise on the Paul Gauguin, embarks from Papeete, Tahiti on December 3. Baron will lead lectures and wine tastings.

Windstar Cruises: Explore the wines of Spain on an eight-day cruise on the Wind Surf, embarking on November 15. Sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon, passengers will have opportunity to sip their way through regions such as Andalucía and Catalonia, visiting places including Jerez de la Frontera, the "Sherry Capital of the World," and the Museo de Vino in Mijas, Spain. Two complimentary themed excursions are included in the cruise fare. Offering expert commentary onboard will be Stephen Metzler and Almudena de Llaguno, founders of Classical Wines.

Oceania Cruises: Food and Wine Trails is hosting several theme cruises on Oceania ships. For instance, vintners from New York's Paumanok Vineyards and Maryland's Black Ankle Vineyards will be on the Insignia on a 10-day Barcelona to Lisbon cruise, embarking August 5. Group activities include private parties and tastings and a winemakers dinner.

Contributed by Fran Golden,  USA TODAY

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