Viking prepares to cruise Louisiana's rivers

Viking Cruises has selected New Orleans as the homeport for its first North American river cruise itineraries, set to begin in late 2017.

Plans call for the construction of six new vessels over the next three years at an estimated cost of $90 million to $100 million per vessel. The vessels will be owned by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm, and time-chartered to Viking in full compliance with maritime laws.

Itinearies will take passengers on a journey along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to itinerary stops in St. James, East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes; continuing upriver to Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis; or St. Paul, Minnesota, depending on the season. The specialty-built riverboats will have a full complement of luxury amenities and host up to 300 passengers.

The Mississippi River cruises will operate from docking facilities near the French Quarter in New Orleans. Viking’s new service will result in the creation of 416 new direct jobs for Louisiana-based operations and vessel crews.