This Mississippi River Cruise Takes You Through the Heart of the American South With Stops in Underrated Destinations

"The Viking Mississippi calls at three of the state's ports as it covers 600 miles of the Lower Mississippi on its Mississippi Delta Explorer itinerary. The trio of destinations—Natchez, Vicksburg, and Greenville—might not have the global renown of other ports of call on the eight-day journey like New Orleans, Louisiana, or Memphis, Tennessee, but they each have a story to tell in the history of the state and its role in building the United States."

"In Natchez, founded by the French in 1716, travelers follow in the footsteps of the Natchez tribe, for whom the town was named. A strategic location at the end of the Natchez Trace, a 444-mile overland route to Nashville, made it a bustling crossroads where Native Americans and Europeans met."

"The next stop similarly carries the weight of America's history: Vicksburg was, as Abraham Lincoln called it, 'the key to the South'. When the 47-day Battle of Vicksburg in 1863 ended with the Confederates' surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War swung in favor of the Union."

"Then there is Greenville, the heartland of the Delta blues. The Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival each September is a calendar highlight."

Mississippi, the 20th state, derives its name from the Mississippi River, which flows 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. The Viking Mississippi visits three ports: Natchez, Vicksburg, and Greenville. Natchez, founded in 1716, features historic homes and was a meeting point for Native Americans and Europeans. Vicksburg, known for its pivotal Civil War battle, is home to the Vicksburg National Military Park. Greenville is recognized for its Delta blues heritage and hosts the Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival each September.

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