Viking River Cruises are coming to the USA. New Orleans will be the first homeport for one of their ships in the nation. Mississippi River cruises are planned to begin in 2018.
Six ships are to be built in US shipyards for Viking River Cruises over a period of three years. Each ship will carry up to 300 passengers. The dock will be at Bienville Wharf, near the French Quarter in New Orleans.
Headquartered in Switzerland, Viking River Cruises offers cruises on rivers in Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. The voyages are destination-focused, with not as much to do onboard as on the larger ocean cruise ships. Itineraries include more hours in port, including late evenings and overnight stays. They also have the "Viking Culture Curriculum" enrichment lectures, cooking demonstrations, and regional entertainment.
