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The Mississippi River is the stuff of stories, songs and legends: the playground of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, the liquid highway that shines “like a national guitar” in Paul Simon’s Graceland. It’s the lifeblood of America’s South, and there’s no more gracious way to explore it than on the low-lying, 386-guest Viking Mississippi riverboat. Sip Sazeracs and dance to zydeco, spot ’gators in the swamplands and visit the birthplace of the Delta Blues. Travelling this river is a historic, heart-touching journey like no other.
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The Mississippi River is the stuff of stories, songs and legends: the playground of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, the liquid highway that shines “like a national guitar” in Paul Simon’s Graceland. It’s the lifeblood of America’s South, and there’s no more gracious way to explore it than on the low-lying, 386-guest Viking Mississippi riverboat. Sip Sazeracs and dance to zydeco, spot ’gators in the swamplands and visit the birthplace of the Delta Blues. Travelling this river is a historic, heart-touching journey like no other.

ItineraryViking Mississippi’s eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer voyage begins in the jumping jazz capital of New Orleans, and snakes its way up mighty river to the heart of blues country, Memphis, Tennessee, a journey of around 1000km (you could drive it more directly in about six hours; but where’s the fun in that?).Along the way we stop at small southern towns that brim with history and hospitality: Darrow and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, Natchez and Greenville in Mississippi. Each stop explores the South’s many layers of culture and cuisine, from African and Acadian music to the dark past of plantations and the tragedy of unmarked Civil War graves. At every stop we feast on biscuits and gravy, blackened catfish and the famous Mississippi hot tamales.Must-book excursions include the Cajun Swamp Experience in Darrow (there are more crocs than people, and you’ll likely see a raccoon or two, too) and the Steve Azar Blues and B.B. King Museum experience in Greenville.
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Itinerary

Viking Mississippi’s eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer voyage begins in the jumping jazz capital of New Orleans, and snakes its way up mighty river to the heart of blues country, Memphis, Tennessee, a journey of around 1000km (you could drive it more directly in about six hours; but where’s the fun in that?).
Along the way we stop at small southern towns that brim with history and hospitality: Darrow and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, Natchez and Greenville in Mississippi. Each stop explores the South’s many layers of culture and cuisine, from African and Acadian music to the dark past of plantations and the tragedy of unmarked Civil War graves. At every stop we feast on biscuits and gravy, blackened catfish and the famous Mississippi hot tamales.
Must-book excursions include the Cajun Swamp Experience in Darrow (there are more crocs than people, and you’ll likely see a raccoon or two, too) and the Steve Azar Blues and B.B. King Museum experience in Greenville.
On boardViking’s interiors are some of the most attractive of any ships: cool, crisp and Nordic. The Explorers’ Lounge at the bow of the ship on Deck 2 is particularly charming; dappled with a fresh blue-and-white colour scheme, edged by a galaxy-patterned light instalment and bathed in sunshine during the day.Don’t expect to find anything gaudy or gilt in the 193 staterooms, either, the look here is all about clean lines and pretty practicality. Every one is river-facing; the entry-level staterooms have french balconies, while the top-level Explorer Suite includes a wraparound balcony and a private dining room.
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On board

Viking’s interiors are some of the most attractive of any ships: cool, crisp and Nordic. The Explorers’ Lounge at the bow of the ship on Deck 2 is particularly charming; dappled with a fresh blue-and-white colour scheme, edged by a galaxy-patterned light instalment and bathed in sunshine during the day.
Don’t expect to find anything gaudy or gilt in the 193 staterooms, either, the look here is all about clean lines and pretty practicality. Every one is river-facing; the entry-level staterooms have french balconies, while the top-level Explorer Suite includes a wraparound balcony and a private dining room.
DiningThere are two main dining areas; the casual, buffet-style River Café on Deck 5 and the more formal The Restaurant on Deck 1, which serves both international and regional dishes (their soups are particularly excellent; don’t sleep on the gazpacho or gumbo if you see them on a menu).Hot tip: almost everything served at the latter is also available at the former, so if you value variety over more formal, plated service, the sun-drenched River Café is your best dining bet.And an even hotter tip, in my view the tastiest food on the ship can be found on the bright and breezy Aquavit Terrace, which is right beside the River Café, almost like an al fresco extension. This place is a temple to surf and turf, serving fresh Gulf shrimp and oysters on ice, as well as barbecue classics grilled to order, like wagyu burgers, steak and – appropriately for the destination – fresh catfish.
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Dining

There are two main dining areas; the casual, buffet-style River Café on Deck 5 and the more formal The Restaurant on Deck 1, which serves both international and regional dishes (their soups are particularly excellent; don’t sleep on the gazpacho or gumbo if you see them on a menu).
Hot tip: almost everything served at the latter is also available at the former, so if you value variety over more formal, plated service, the sun-drenched River Café is your best dining bet.
And an even hotter tip, in my view the tastiest food on the ship can be found on the bright and breezy Aquavit Terrace, which is right beside the River Café, almost like an al fresco extension. This place is a temple to surf and turf, serving fresh Gulf shrimp and oysters on ice, as well as barbecue classics grilled to order, like wagyu burgers, steak and – appropriately for the destination – fresh catfish.
EntertainmentBecause you leave the ship for excursions almost every day the entertainment program isn’t as extensive as other cruises; there’s no back-to-back calendar of shuffleboard or bridge. But you are in the heartland of American music so the evening entertainers in The Living Room on Deck 1 are first class: specialising in blues, country, jazz and zydeco, the fiddle-centric music of the swamps. There’s also a daily lecture that helps expand guests’ knowledge of the region covering everything from the history of river steamboats to slavery.
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Entertainment

Because you leave the ship for excursions almost every day the entertainment program isn’t as extensive as other cruises; there’s no back-to-back calendar of shuffleboard or bridge. But you are in the heartland of American music so the evening entertainers in The Living Room on Deck 1 are first class: specialising in blues, country, jazz and zydeco, the fiddle-centric music of the swamps. 
There’s also a daily lecture that helps expand guests’ knowledge of the region covering everything from the history of river steamboats to slavery.
Pre- and post-cruiseIt’s a long trek to the US from Australia so it makes sense to add on what Cajuns and Creoles call a lagniappe, or a little something extra, to your cruise. Viking offers pre- and post-cruise itineraries in New Orleans where the voyage ends, Memphis and Nashville, the latter of which is about two hours from where the ship docks in Memphis.Take a walking tour of New Orleans and discover its haunted voodoo history, visit the sacred halls of Graceland in Memphis, where the King himself lies sleeping, or see how much heat you can take by feasting on the hottest-of-hot Nashville hot chicken.Picture: Alexandra Carlton (Roberts Western World in Nashville).
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Pre- and post-cruise

It’s a long trek to the US from Australia so it makes sense to add on what Cajuns and Creoles call a lagniappe, or a little something extra, to your cruise. Viking offers pre- and post-cruise itineraries in New Orleans where the voyage ends, Memphis and Nashville, the latter of which is about two hours from where the ship docks in Memphis.
Take a walking tour of New Orleans and discover its haunted voodoo history, visit the sacred halls of Graceland in Memphis, where the King himself lies sleeping, or see how much heat you can take by feasting on the hottest-of-hot Nashville hot chicken.
Picture: Alexandra Carlton (Roberts Western World in Nashville).
What's hotThink a compact ship won’t have a pool? Think again. There’s a lovely plunge version on the ship’s aft, perfectly positioned for sunset river views.What's notI would have loved the ship to have a fitness studio so I could work off some of that Southern fried food, but six laps around the Promenade Deck is equivalent to walking a mile (plus you can do it with a mint julep in hand).
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What's hot

Think a compact ship won’t have a pool? Think again. There’s a lovely plunge version on the ship’s aft, perfectly positioned for sunset river views.

What's not

I would have loved the ship to have a fitness studio so I could work off some of that Southern fried food, but six laps around the Promenade Deck is equivalent to walking a mile (plus you can do it with a mint julep in hand).
The verdict - 9.5/10The chance to explore the heartland of American music and soul food while travelling along the river that shaped the nation makes this one of the world’s truly great journeys.The writer was a guest of Viking. Viking’s eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer is priced from $6495 per person in a Deluxe Veranda room with savings of up to $4800 per couple on new 2025, 2026 and 2027 sailings. Available until June 30.
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The verdict - 9.5/10

The chance to explore the heartland of American music and soul food while travelling along the river that shaped the nation makes this one of the world’s truly great journeys.
The writer was a guest of Viking. Viking’s eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer is priced from $6495 per person in a Deluxe Veranda room with savings of up to $4800 per couple on new 2025, 2026 and 2027 sailings. Available until June 30.
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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/review-viking-mississippi-river-cruise-from-new-orleans-to-memphis/image-gallery/1bbf101f640e581d5a6d6bb5e1de7da8