River cruising juggernaut Viking River Cruises has confirmed it will launch a new operation in the United States, starting with ships based in New Orleans.
Operations on the Mississippi River will begin in late 2017.
The company will build ships at a rate of two per year, costing up to US$100m each, to reach a fleet of six in the first three years.
Depending on the season, ships will travel upriver as far as St Paul, Minnesota, accommodating up to 300 passengers on each vessel.
