Minnesota Cruise from Saint Paul to Alton — 8 Days

7 nights · Minnesota · River cruise · Departs Minneapolis-Saint Paul (USA) · Visiting Red Wing MN, La Crosse WI, Dubuque IA, Davenport IA, Burlington IA, Hannibal MO, Alton IL · Aboard Viking River Cruises on the Viking Mississippi

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Waterways

This river cruise sails the Mississippi, departing Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Cruise lineViking River Cruises
ShipViking Mississippi
Duration7 nights
Port calls8
Departures4 sailings
From fare$6,499 per person
Year built2022
Guests386
Cabins193
Crew148
Length114 m
Beam11 m
Cruising speed12.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Minneapolis-Saint Paul, USA

    Saint Paul is Minnesota’s capital, but its best introductions begin along the Mississippi. From the riverfront, broad bluffs rise toward a city shaped by trade, immigration, and civic ambition. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Paul, whose hilltop dome commands the skyline, then explore the nearby Minnesota History Center. Summit Avenue preserves an exceptional stretch of Victorian-era homes, including the James J. Hill House. Allow time for a meal downtown; Saint Paul’s food scene rewards a closer look.

  2. Day 2

    Red Wing MN, USA

    Red Wing stands beside the Mississippi, beneath limestone bluffs, about an hour southeast of Minneapolis–St. Paul. Explore the historic downtown, visit the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum, or trace the city’s pottery heritage. River views, independent shops, and the legacy of Minnesota’s boot and pottery makers give this compact town its character. Allow time for the blufftop overlooks; the Mississippi’s changing light is part of the visit.

  3. Day 3

    La Crosse WI, USA

    La Crosse sits where the Mississippi, Black and La Crosse rivers meet, beneath the wooded bluffs of western Wisconsin. Its riverfront gives the city its character, with Riverside Park offering broad views of passing vessels and the changing water. Walk into downtown for independent shops, brick storefronts and ornate 19th-century architecture in the historic district. For a wider view, visit Grandad Bluff, where the Mississippi Valley opens beneath you. This is a port best explored at an unhurried pace.

  4. Day 4

    Dubuque IA, USA

    Dubuque rewards a shore day spent close to the Mississippi. Iowa’s oldest city pairs a handsome 19th-century riverfront with lively museums and walkable downtown streets. At the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, river ecology and historic boats bring the waterway into focus. Ride the Fenelon Place Elevator for sweeping views across rooftops, bluffs and river. Allow time for historic Main Street, or explore the nearby Mines of Spain Recreation Area.

  5. Day 5

    Davenport IA, USA

    Davenport brings the Mississippi River into view from a lively downtown. Walk its riverfront paths, then visit the Figge Art Museum. The museum’s glass façade frames collections of American and regional art. Davenport belongs to the Quad Cities, with Illinois just across the river. Make time for a riverboat outing or dinner beside the water.

  6. Day 6

    Burlington IA, USA

    Burlington puts Lake Champlain at your doorstep, with the Adirondacks rising across the water and the Green Mountains behind town. Its compact center rewards a walk: Church Street Marketplace gathers independent shops, cafés and street performers between brick buildings. At the waterfront, follow the lakeside path or visit the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Vermont’s largest city feels easy to explore on foot.

  7. Day 7

    Hannibal MO, USA

    Hannibal sits on the Mississippi, where Mark Twain’s boyhood gave shape to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Walk the compact historic district to see Twain’s boyhood home and the Becky Thatcher House. Then explore museums tracing the river town’s literary past and its long connection with the Mississippi. Beyond the stories, the riverfront offers broad views of the waterway that shaped Hannibal’s trade and daily life.

  8. Day 8

    Alton IL, USA

    Alton sits on the Mississippi River, where limestone bluffs frame one of the region’s most historic river towns. Walk downtown to find the site of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate and memorials to abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy. The National Great Rivers Museum explores the waterways and engineering that shaped America’s inland commerce. Nearby, the Meeting of the Great Rivers marks the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers.

Viking Mississippi Cruises

Published August 15, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard


Cruise Disclosure

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