My fascination with the Mississippi river had its roots in the Tom Sawyer novels we were assigned to read in grade school. I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so the confluence of the three rivers (the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio) always intrigued me as a child.

It stands to reason that rivers are a big part of my childhood memories. We learned quite a bit about the Mississippi river in our high school history class, and again, it always held a fascination for me, though I never had the opportunity to explore it so thoroughly as I did on the Viking Mississippi---in the lap of luxury to boot!

Fast forward to today and I hope you enjoy my impressions of our recent eight-day cruise sailing of the America’s Heartland itinerary aboard the Viking Mississippi Heartland Cruise,  Viking’s first ship to sail the Mississippi river.

My husband and I are no strangers to the luxury afforded on a Viking cruise, be it ocean or river destinations. The accommodations onboard the Viking Mississippi meet all the standards that you would enjoy on a cruise down the Danube or through the Norwegian fjords--from the Aquavit Terrace for dining and lounging, to the Explorers’ Lounge and bar with picturesque views on the river landscapes to savor as the ship cruises to the next port of call.

Viking Mississippi accommodates up to 386 passengers on five decks. All passengers can enjoy a sundeck and pool on the top deck as well as a walking track on the first desk that allows guests to get a substantial workout while circumnavigating the track. The line’s signature Scandinavian décor is evident throughout the ship, in addition to design elements that reflect the history of the river.

Not to be overlooked is the incomparable cuisine for which Viking Cruises is famous. The River Café on deck 5 was our favorite for breakfast and lunch, where we could dine on a mix of regional and international cuisine while enjoying the picturesque towns, as well as the lush flora and fauna, float by along the way.

For a more formal dining experience (dress codes are relaxed even in this venue), The Restaurant on deck one was our favorites, especially for dinner, which is served between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm. We enjoyed several outstanding entrees in this restaurant, complemented by spectacular sunsets as viewed from our expansive window as we dined.

Viking is also careful to cater to those with allergies or dietary restrictions, and staff is also very proactive to accommodate any dietary request. Speaking of staff, you’ll always be met with a genuine smile and sincere willingness to assist the guests in answering questions or fulfilling any request.

Shore excursions are an important part of any cruise, ocean or river, and Viking excels in creating excursion options at each port of call on this itinerary. Many of them, such as comprehensive bus tours in St. Louis Missouri (which includes a visit to the majestic Gateway Arch National Park) and St. Paul Minnesota (which features a comprehensive tour of the famous site of the 1904 World’s Fair) are included in the price of the cruise.

A variety of additional shore excursions are also offered for a fee and designed to cover a wide variety of interests and activities.

In the evening after a day full of discovery, we appreciated the tasteful music that reflected the spirit of the river. From stirring renditions from the Great American Songbook to classic jazz tunes, the musical selections presented by talented musicians and vocalists perfectly reflected the spirit of the Mississippi.

Our stateroom offered its own private balcony which became a place for us to capture photo memories, sip a glass of wine at sunset, and soak in the views of the towns and landscapes as we “kept on rolling along” on this magical voyage through America’s heartland.

More ship features:

 193 comfortable all outside staterooms (128 Veranda & Deluxe Veranda Staterooms, 8 French Balcony Stateroom, 24 Penthouse Veranda Staterooms, 16 Penthouse Junior Suites, 7 Terrace Suites, 10 Explorer Suites)

• Sun Terrace with Infinity Plunge Pool

• Stroll the full 360-degree promenade deck for views of scenic landscapes and regional wildlife

• The Bow, a quiet sitting area at the front of the ship

• Aquavit Terrace, a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area for al fresco dining or an American barbecue experience

• The Explorers’ Lounge and Bay with two-story panoramic views of the Mississippi

• River Café, a new way to dine featuring American classics

• Elevators throughout the ship

• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

• Self-service launderettes and laundry service

• Intelligent energy-efficient propulsion systems produce less vibrations for a smoother ride

• 42” flat-screen LCD TV with intuitive remote & complimentary movies on demand

For more information, Viking Mississippi Cruise

Visit our photo website at (TBD) for an entire gallery of images captured during this remarkable Viking cruise for an unbiased and first-hand look at our personal experiences onboard.