Down the Mississippi

 

Down the Mississippi

December 2022-January 2023

            Sometimes trips evolve in quite unexpected ways. After a lovely trip to Maine in August I sent my usual writeup to family & friends. That led Santa Fe friend Diane to call Marjorie for a long chat that included news she and hubbie Jerry (with friends Bob & Donna) are going on a Viking Mississippi River cruise starting New Year’s Eve. We’ve done a bunch of Viking river cruises in Europe, but the Mississippi is a new itinerary for them. Enticing, but a look at the website showed the cruise sold out except one stateroom category, some price reductions would end the next day, and final payment due in 3 days! Spurred into action: a call to Viking to book with agent Donnie, then reviewing & reserving included & optional excursions, purchasing trip insurance. By moving so quickly we save about $2,000: trip discounts, getting our own insurance, using “E-check” to pay. So Marjorie’s not the only smart shopper! It seems odd to do a Viking trip domestically, but it’s nice to avoid passports, customs. money exchange, and language differences; well, some differences y’all.

          A potential hitch: drought in the Midwest, High Plains and South leads to very low water levels

in the Mississippi in October, including lowest ever in Memphis, where we start. A Baton Rouge resident hunting for artifacts finds submerged wreck of a 19^th C ship. New islands emerge and walkways to others. Our more selfish concern: we don’t want a river cruise to become a bus tour! There are signs that late-November storms in the Midwest & South causing flight delays & cancellations have also eased the Mississippi R drought. Agent Donnie assures us early in December that there is water to cruise. COVID has also been spiking. Viking requires vaccination, but so far not the daily testing on our Portugal cruise in April.

Of course, winter travel has other risks. A major “bomb cyclone” storm comes across the country into Christmas weekend. Buffalo hit with over 4’ of snow. Even the Deep South has subfreezing temps with burst pipes & power outages. Thankfully, we have quiet clear weather to drive to & from Queens for Christmas with the family. And forecasts look favorable for our travel schedule.