What exciting news in the river cruise world: Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced that New Orleans will be the homeport for Viking River Cruises’ first North American river cruise itineraries sailing on the Mississippi River, starting in late 2017.
Viking Cruises, a leader in European and Asia river cruises, and having recently launching an Ocean cruise operation in Europe, is on a huge expansion roll. Viking plans to build six new vessels to ply U.S. rivers during the next three years. The vessels will be built in U.S. shipyards at a cost of $90 to $100 million each, and crewed by U.S. citizens.
The new Viking River Cruises will take passengers up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to itinerary stops in St. James, East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes; continuing upriver to Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis; or St. Paul, Minnesota, depending on the season. The specialty-built riverboats will boast luxury amenities and host up to 300 guests, a much more intimate experience that large ocean-going cruise ships.
Viking, which has operational headquarters in Switzerland, was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Hagen. The company has grown to become the world’s leading river cruise line, sailing 60 modern river vessels, including its innovative Viking Longships. The company first expanded into the U.S. market by establishing U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles. The Mississippi River itineraries will be the company’s first cruise offering in North America.
“The Viking team is very proud to partner with the State of Louisiana, and we are grateful for the support of Governor Jindal,” Hagen said. “We are excited about the prospect of bringing modern river-cruising to the Mississippi, a river that has been traveled by explorers for centuries. We know our passengers will enjoy the rich history, culture and cuisine of all the great cities and towns along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Paul. Together with our U.S. partners, we take great pride in the economic benefit that river-cruising provides to the regions our guests visit, from the shipbuilders to the local businesses.”
River cruising has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with cruisers drawn to boats that can navigate narrow waterways to port cities that massive ships could never reach.
All vessels sailing under the Viking flag in the U.S. will be owned by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm. They’ll be dedicated vessels that are time-chartered to Viking.
The Viking river vessels will join the current Mississippi River fleet which includes American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen and American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle (launching this spring).
Viking has built itself into a well-known consumer brand after launching a PBS partnership that includes high visibility spots run in conjunction with Downton Abbey and other Masterpiece shows.
Have you sailing on a Viking River Cruise? Will you be interested in sailing on the Mississippi River with Viking? Please share your thoughts in comments below.
To book a Viking River cruise, click here.
Check out these other posts on recent news in the world of cruising:
- How to Get Your Preferred Dining Seating on a Cruise
- Thinking About Your 1st Cruise? Check Out This New Video Series by Samantha Brown
- Norwegian Cruise Lines Raises Its Daily Service Charge
- Planning a Cruise Vacation? Check Out These Tips for a Better Cruise Experience
Share your comments or questions via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.