ALTON, Ill. – A brass band welcomed nearly 400 tourists who were boarding the Viking Mississippi during the new cruise ship’s first port of call in Alton. 

What You Need To Know

  • Viking Mississppi now cruising from St. Paul, Minn. to New Orleans

  • Alton, Ill. is one of the port of calls along with excursions around St. Louis

  • Saturday’s docking in Alton will be the first or four visits by Viking to Alton in 2022

  • The ship is 450 feet long with five decks and can host 386 guests in 193 rooms. It has a crew of 148 people

The Illinois river town rolled out the red carpet and presented a proclamation welcoming the Viking Cruise Line. The ship, which had to cancel some early departures dates due to construction delays, will take passengers from the St. Louis area to St. Paul, MN on an 8-day cruise.

Alton Mayor David Goins wrote on Facebook that Viking Mississippi's Capt. Cory Burke remarked “ this welcome to Alton has been the best I have ever experienced."

“This is the first of many port calls to Alton for Viking and we look forward to being involved in pre and post cruise tours and providing passengers with great shopping opportunities in Alton’s vibrant downtown district.,” said Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau in a release. 

Saturday’s docking in Alton will be the first or four visits by Viking to Alton in 2022, according to the tourism bureau.

The passengers also had their pick of locally grown apples and pears. They were also greeted by local re-enactors dressed in vintage clothing, including some from the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site.

 

The Viking Mississippi left St. Paul the first weekend of September on its maiden voyage. The sold-out cruise stopped at several river towns including Hannibal, Missouri; three towns in Iowa; La Crosse, Wis.; Red Wing, Minn.

The cruise line is also offering a 15-day itinerary between St. Paul and New Orleans with a stop in the St. Louis area. According to the Viking website as of September 9, there are three sold out cruises planned in September and October of 2022, and six cruises each in 2023 and 2024 are both sold out. There is still availability for the 8-day cruises in 2023 and 2024.

 

 

For passengers on the 15-day cruise, Viking is offering passengers the choice of excursions including visits to the Gateway Arch, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, National Blues Museum, Scott Joplin Home Tour & Concert and a Ste. Genevieve Historic Site.

On Aug. 23, Viking announced construction of the cruise ship was delayed due to circumstances beyond its control. In March, Spectrum News reported the ship was set to debut in June with its first full sailing season in 2023. 

Viking first announced plans to expand its operations to America in 2015. The Maritime Executive reports the ship was also delayed several times as it had to overcome opposition to the company based in Switzerland operating an American flag vessel. 

The ship is 450 feet long with five decks and can host 386 guests in 193 rooms. It has a crew of 148 people.