• Viking River Cruises has officially opened bookings for its 2027 sailing season on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
• The company is introducing two new itineraries that focus heavily on the cultural, musical, and historical heritage of the American South.
• The voyages take place on the Viking Mississippi, a modern ship featuring Scandinavian design and all-outside staterooms for 386 guests.
• A promotional booking event is currently active, offering discounts for travelers who reserve their 2027 river cruises before the end of February 2026

Viking River Cruises recently announced the opening of bookings for its new 2027 itineraries on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. These voyages will be conducted aboard the Viking Mississippi, a purpose-built vessel designed to comfortably accommodate 386 guests across 193 exterior staterooms. The ship incorporates signature Scandinavian design elements, featuring expansive windows and modern amenities that have been specifically tailored for river navigation within the United States.

The newly available cruise options range from eight to twenty-two days in length, offering travelers various comprehensive ways to explore the cultural, historical, and culinary heritage of the American South and the Midwest. Torstein Hagen, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Viking, emphasized that these domestic routes allow guests to discover significant regional histories that remain relatively unexplored by many travelers, despite being geographically close to home for a large portion of their core demographic.

Among the 2027 offerings are two entirely new itineraries designed to showcase specific regional highlights. The first, titled “Bayous, Blues & Bluegrass,” is a fifteen-day journey traveling from New Orleans to Louisville. This route specifically highlights the rich musical and culinary traditions of the South. The second new addition, the “Mississippi & Ohio River Explorer,” is an eight-day trip from Memphis to Louisville that focuses on scenic wetlands alongside the cultural legacies of American icons such as B.B. King and Elvis Presley.

In addition to these new routes, Viking continues to offer several established and popular itineraries. The highly comprehensive “Mississippi River Odyssey” spans twenty-two days, journeying all the way from New Orleans to St. Paul. The “Mississippi Delta Explorer” provides an eight-day exploration from New Orleans to Memphis, visiting historic sites located in Natchez and Vicksburg. The “Heartland of America” sails for eight days from St. Louis to St. Paul, highlighting the historical stories of early pioneers, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and writers like Mark Twain. Finally, the “New Orleans & Southern Charms” is an eight-day roundtrip voyage focusing heavily on the hospitality of the Lower Mississippi.

To encourage early reservations, Viking is currently running a promotional savings event. Travelers who book their 2027 Mississippi and Ohio River cruises by the end of February 2026 can receive significant discounts on their all-inclusive voyages. This expansion of domestic river cruise options reflects an ongoing interest in regional travel and provides structured exploration of the country.