Popular European cruise line Viking is now operating river cruises in the US — see what it's like aboard the new ship that's selling out fast

You can soon go on your dream European river cruise vacation without taking an international flight.

Popular European cruise line Viking has finally begun operations in the US with its new highly anticipated river cruise vessel, the Viking Mississippi.

And you can probably guess where it'll be sailing: along the Mississippi River.

The new cruise ship is now traversing the iconic river between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Sailings currently start at $4,000 per guest for eight-day cruises from New Orleans to Memphis or back to the Louisiana hotspot.

Source: Viking

And these all-American itineraries have already captured the interest of travelers.

Many itineraries through 2023 are now sold out …

… and interest into the future isn't slowing down.

To meet this red-hot demand, in 2021, Viking opened bookings for 2024 itineraries ahead of initial expectations.

Source: Viking

And a handful of these sailings are now sold out as well, a testament to the strength of the river cruise industry.

In recent years, several popular cruise lines have unveiled over 1,000-foot-long mega cruise liners with enough staterooms to fit a large community.

Source: Insider

But Viking's newest river cruise wasn't built to accommodate thousands of passengers.

Source: Viking

Instead, the smaller 450-foot-long Viking Mississippi can sail up to 386 guests in its 193 staterooms.

These accommodations range from a 268-square-foot stateroom to a rather lofty 1,024-square-foot suite.

The smallest veranda stateroom still has luxury touches like a floor-to-ceiling glass sliding door that leads into the veranda.

But it pales in comparison to the largest explorer suite, which comes with a wraparound balcony and a separate living and dining room.

No matter the square-footage, all of the staterooms will have a balcony, king bed …

… and lavish amenities like a glass shower and heated bathroom flowers.

Like any typical cruise ship, river or not, the Viking Mississippi's five decks will be filled with communal spaces like lounges, cafes ...

... and outdoor terraces to help travelers pass the time.

For warm afternoons, spend some time in the infinity pool, bask under the sun on one of the adjacent lounge chairs …

… or take a lap around the ship on the promenade deck.

But if you'd rather be inside while enjoying views of the river, make yourself at home in the two-floor explorers' lounge, which also opens into an outdoor space.

It's just one of a few communal lounges where guests can gather to either socialize or spend some time alone.

And it wouldn't be a true American cruise without barbecue, which is available at the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace.

Here, there's also an adjacent cafe serving American and Norwegian bites.

This more casual dining space is a contrast to the vessel's main restaurant, which has a daily rotating menu filled with local ingredients.

Besides serving regional bites, to bring the destinations onto the cruise ship, the Viking Mississippi will also feature jazz, blues, and polka performances …

… as well as guest lecturers to educate passengers on cultural topics like local history and art, creating a rounded Viking cruise experience.

The European cruise line is just one of a handful of companies operating river itineraries on the historic Mississippi River.

Both American Cruise Line and American Queen Voyages have several multi-day itineraries along the iconic river with comparable pricing, although AQV offers several less expensive options.

Source: American Cruise Line, American Queen Voyages