Why a Viking river cruise is a great way to explore the Mississippi River

No river in the United States is more storied or iconic than the Mississippi, and for good reason. Etched into its history are tales of paddlewheel boats and life on and along the river, which promised a way out for many who had never ventured beyond the borders of their own small towns.

These municipalities dot the banks of the Big Muddy, latching onto its waters as if their very survival depends on it — because it does. With its rushing currents and impressive lock system, the Mighty Mississippi pulses life into businesses and provides a transportation route for the shipping of goods that the locals want to both buy and sell.

Today, river cruises along the Mississippi offer a chance to experience some of that same steadfast promise and allure in bustling big cities and smaller towns that have been all but forgotten since the dawn of air travel.

As the newest cruise line to offer fantastic itineraries on the Upper and Lower Mississippi on its Viking Mississippi vessel, Viking provides a glimpse into life along this fascinating waterway. The brand also features fabulous pre- and post-cruise extensions that allow you to continue your trip in the wonderful places the ship visits.

My recent Viking Mississippi voyage began with a two-night precruise stay in St. Louis before a transfer to Alton, Illinois, where I boarded the vessel for a trip north. After Alton, the schedule had me visiting six different riverside towns. They included Hannibal, Missouri; Burlington, Iowa; Quad Cities, Iowa; Dubuque, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Red Wing, Minnesota. Then a transfer took me to St. Paul for a two-night postcruise stay — a total of 12 days of exploring in the Midwest.

What I experienced was a healthy dose of small-town Americana on an itinerary I didn't even know I wanted. If, like me, you've always been intrigued by the Mississippi, here's why a Viking river cruise is an excellent way to experience this part of the U.S.

An itinerary of tiny towns you didn't know you wanted to visit

The lore of the Mighty Mississippi is great for history buffs. When I initially looked at the ports between the starting and ending points, my first thought was “I’ve never heard of these places.” But after investigating shore excursion options, excitement set in. I realized many of the destinations on the itinerary were made famous by iconic names that range from agricultural (John Deere in Moline, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities) and literary (Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in Hannibal) to cinematic (the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, near Dubuque).

Viking's list of shore excursions is impressive, with one free tour included in each port. I tried two free tours and three added-fee ones. Although the ones for an extra cost were excellent and of a higher quality than the free ones, the complimentary ones were still pretty great.

My favorites included an $89 visit to the Anheuser-Busch brewery and museum in St. Louis, where I saw some of the famous Clydesdale horses; a $99 outing to see the actual Field of Dreams, where the movie was filmed; and a free trip to tour the John Deere family mansions. All of the tours provided a nice glimpse of life in America’s heartland.

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In places where I didn’t book tours or where the excursions were shorter, I spent some time meandering around town on my own. What I found was delightful: an old-timey candy store and soda fountain in Hannibal, home of Mark Twain; tasty cheese curds in La Crosse; and a quaint bookstore in Red Wing, where the shopkeepers select a book to gift you on your first visit.

Lovely people — ashore and on board

What surprised me most about my Viking Mississippi trip was that the people won me over as much as the towns themselves did. Nothing tops the kindness I found in Alton, the port where I first boarded the ship. During my two-night precruise stay, I ran out of dental floss and planned to pick some up the next day in Alton. As it turns out, there are no stores in the downtown area that sell it. You need to travel several miles away to find larger stores, and good luck finding an Uber or taxi in a town that size.

When I went into a boutique thrift shop and asked the woman working if she knew where I could find some, she said she didn’t but offered to give me some of her own flossers. (I declined.) I walked about 15 minutes to a convenience store I found on Google, but when the girl working the register told me they didn’t carry floss, she too offered me some of her own, pointing to her braces and explaining that she carries it with her at all times. That type of help-your-neighbor hospitality and charm are qualities you don’t often find in major cities.

And then there’s Paul Sherman, a Dyersville native and former professional baseballer who was cast as one of the ghost players in “Field of Dreams.” He uses his role to raise funds for charities and still dons the uniform at the field today, where you’ll find him ready to give tours, chat with visitors, pose for photos in the nearby cornfield and talk all things baseball, Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta (who, as Sherman will tell you, never played baseball in his life before filming the movie).

It isn’t just the locals who are great, though. The crew on board Viking Mississippi has its own cast of delightful characters. Tim, the cruise director, is full of dad jokes during daily trivia, and Richard is an absolute wiz behind Paps Bar in the Explorers’ Lounge.

If you smell something amazing in the hallway near your cabin, it’s probably Michael, a room steward who’s obsessed with Bath & Body Works scents. And don’t miss a chance to chat with waitstaff members Darrell, who’s an absolute breath of fresh air first thing in the morning, and Kindra, who can offer stellar recommendations for what you should binge-watch next on Netflix.

The perks of a road trip — but without the road

Because some of these towns are so small, they don’t have major airports, making them difficult to reach. Apart from a handful of annual festivals — such as Hannibal’s Twain on Main, in celebration of author Mark Twain — that tend to draw tourists as part of one-town getaways, these riverside municipalities are often best suited to road trips.

But what if you don’t own a car, don’t like driving or don’t want the hassle of planning road trip logistics like where to stay and how many days it will take you to get where you’re going?

That’s where a cruise comes in. You won’t have to worry about the price of gas, locating the nearest rest stop to restock your snacks or figuring out a playlist that will suit everyone in the car. On Viking Mississippi, you can settle in and enjoy while someone else does the driving. Viking handles all of the logistics, including the pre- and postcruise stays, which extend the trip by several days for those with vacation time to spare. Plus, every cabin has a balcony, so you won’t have to miss out on relaxing views to keep your eyes on the road.

A unique hybrid onboard vibe

If you’ve cruised on one of Viking’s ocean ships or one of its Europe river vessels, you’ll know that the ambience on board is considerably Scandinavian, a nod to the line’s Norwegian heritage. It’s the same with Viking Mississippi. However, it offers a bit of a twist.

Mixed in with Viking memorabilia, a traditional Norwegian dress display and an onboard shop that sells Norwegian wool sweaters are references to the Mississippi. Giant maps of the river adorn stairwell walls, along with larger-than-life excerpts from Mark Twain novels featuring Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Although it might seem like an odd mix, it's a way for passengers to enjoy the line's hallmark Scandinavian elegance while still being reminded of the local elements they'll experience ashore.

Viking Mississippi flies an American flag and is crewed by Americans, but you can still expect the refined, upscale elements that are Viking signatures — something that sets the line apart from its competition in the U.S. market.

Fantastic onboard service

After experiencing questionable service with a different (now defunct) U.S. river cruise line a couple of years before sailing with Viking Mississippi, I was elated to discover that Viking’s staff is excellent. Except for some minor issues with the timing between food courses in the dining room, I was impressed with the crew’s professionalism.

Waitstaff and room stewards are consistently friendly and go out of their way to anticipate passengers’ needs. They handle special requests with ease and grace, and they seem genuinely happy to be doing their jobs — something that isn’t always the case on other lines.

When I sailed with the other cruise line, I received undercooked pancakes that were still runny inside, and when I asked for a banana, the harried waiter returned 15 minutes later to announce he couldn’t find them. In contrast, on Viking Mississippi, my cabin attendant left me extra washcloths because she noticed I use at least two a day, and one of the waiters in the River Cafe buffet saw me light up at the mention of coconut ice cream and brought me a dish for dessert before I even had a chance to ask.

When you come back from a busy day of exploring ashore, you can expect a level of service that will have you feeling pampered and ready to take on the adventures that come next.

Bottom line

Something special happens as you take in the quiet rush of water from your cabin balcony and watch as the world slides past, but a river cruise on the Mississippi is never only about the onboard experience.

Viking Mississippi’s itineraries start and end in cities, but it’s the small towns along the way that truly make the experience memorable. From antique stores and local art and ultra-friendly people to brands like John Deere and Red Wing Shoes that are synonymous with hard work, you’ll find many surprises during a sailing in the region. But, with Viking, you can also expect terrific service, comfortable accommodations and a chance to relax.

Want to learn more about Viking and Mississippi river cruises? We've got you covered with these stories.

• The ultimate guide to Viking cruise ships and itineraries
• The best destinations you can visit on a Viking cruise ship
• Viking Explorer Society cruise loyalty program: Everything you need to know
• The 3 types of Viking cruise ships, explained
• Viking cruise cabins and suites: A guide to everything you want to know