Mississippi

This river cruise made the American Deep South feel all-inclusive

Published

2 months ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

This river cruise made the American Deep South feel all-inclusive

The Viking Mississippi offers cruises along the Mississippi River, exploring cities like Natchez, Vicksburg, and Greenville.
Onboard experiences reflect the region’s culture with local music, cuisine, and historical lectures.
Fares are largely inclusive, covering meals, drinks, Wi-Fi, and at least one shore excursion per port.

During my first visit to Natchez, Mississippi, I covered nearly 200 years of history in a few hours.

A shore excursion on my nearly week-long cruise aboard Viking Mississippi took me from Magnolia Hall, an 1858 Greek Revival and Italianate mansion, to the Stratton Chapel Gallery – home to photographs of Natchez dating back to the mid-1800s – behind First Presbyterian Church. Our shuttle bus then stopped by the Proud to Take a Stand monument, honoring residents who were incarcerated following a Civil Rights demonstration, before dropping my tour group back at the bank of the Mississippi River – and I still had an entire afternoon to explore.

The tour was one of several complimentary excursions I took during my early December sailing. The ship, which is Viking’s only river vessel based in the U.S., offers an easy and almost entirely inclusive way for guests to see the American South. Here’s what to know.

Where does Viking Mississippi go?

My cruise – the eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer itinerary – traveled from New Orleans and ended in Memphis, Tennessee (though I boarded late in St. Francisville, Louisiana). I spent my days exploring small cities along the way, both on my own and under the tutelage of knowledgeable guides at each stop.

During my free time in Natchez, I trekked up a hill and through town to Wishes Sweets & Eats, where I snagged one of the last snickerdoodles before perching on a bench along the Natchez Bluff Walking Trail to enjoy views of the river (and Louisiana across the water).

The following day in Vicksburg, low water required the ship to stop at an alternate landing outside of town. The river’s fluctuating levels can impede cruise ships, but Viking Mississippi has a flat bottom that allows it to keep moving even when the river is shallow.

I hopped on a complimentary Viking coach for a roughly 20-minute ride to browse the shops on Washington Street. On a fairly sunny, 58-degree day, I grabbed a latte at Highway 61 Coffeehouse and browsed Lorelei Books, which had exposed brick and a large selection of regional titles, from Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” to “Rising Tide” by John M. Barry, which details the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

The city is also home to the Vicksburg Civil War Museum and the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum (the soda was first bottled in Vicksburg in 1894), which guests can visit during their stop. After returning to the ship for lunch, I boarded another shuttle for an excursion to Vicksburg National Military Park, the site of a key battle during the Civil War, where a guide detailed the events via loudspeaker.

Before arriving in Memphis, we made one last stop in Greenville. There, singer-songwriter and Mississippi Music and Culture Ambassador Steve Azar shared his love of his hometown, hosting a banquet-style concert at E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center. The event featured a catered lunch of crispy hush puppies, catfish, smoked chicken and more – with Mississippi Sherin Sauce on the table, while Azar and others told stories between songs. The building also housed a 1901 Armitage Herschell Carousel, which guests could ride after the show.

What is the ship like?

The 386-guest ship was purpose-built for the region, evident in its design. A mural at the forward stairs displays passages from “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” for example, and the ceiling of the central Living Room mimics the frets on a guitar in a nod to the area’s musical heritage (married with the signature Scandinavian look of Viking’s other ships).

Fittingly, there was live music onboard. Memphis-based musician, Memphis Jones – an apt moniker – welcomed passengers to Tennessee with two nights of shows, featuring his take on hits from Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and more. There was also a communal record player, allowing guests to spin records from artists such as Elvis Presley and Robert Pete Williams.

There was plenty of other onboard programming, including trivia, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, and seminars related to the visited regions. A lecture on slavery and Mississippi’s efforts to secede from the Union was particularly impactful.

The cuisine also reflects the ship’s destination. On cruises that start out in New Orleans, guests can expect to see more French, Cajun and Creole fare, while barbecue is likely to be on offer as the vessel nears Memphis.

I enjoyed every meal I had onboard and developed a particular fondness for The Grill on Deck 5, an outdoor venue open for lunch and dinner with made-to-order steaks, seafood and more. I visited several times and the burger – juicy and well-seasoned – was the best one I’ve had in recent memory. The pumpkin praline cheesecake from the adjacent River Café was another highlight.

Despite its relatively small size, the ship – which began sailing in 2022 – felt spacious with wide hallways and luxurious touches, such as complimentary espresso machines and heated bathroom floors in the cabins. The service felt pampering, too: When I arrived with a large suitcase, a crew member offered me a golf cart ride down a steep hill to board the ship. Another day, when guests returned to the vessel from an outing, the staff had mulled wine waiting for us.

How much do Viking Mississippi cruises cost?

Viking Mississippi’s available cruises – ranging from eight to 22 days long – currently start at $3,499 per person based on double occupancy, according to the cruise line’s website. The fares cover lodging; meals on board; drinks such as house wines, beer and soft drinks; at least one shore excursion in each port; Wi-Fi; entertainment and more.

I grew up in Middle Tennessee, just three hours from Memphis, but by the morning of disembarkation, I felt like I’d undergone a five-night history and culture immersion session – with comfortable beds and really good cocktails. I learned something new every day of the cruise, and found myself wondering why it took me so long to make the trip.

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Viking. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

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Mississippi

Former federal attorney faces arson charge after two fires in Fondren

Published

7 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Former federal attorney faces arson charge after two fires in Fondren

A former federal attorney was arrested and charged with arson for two fires in Jackson, Mississippi.
The fires damaged a building and a dumpster at the Yana Club of Mississippi, a recovery community nonprofit.
The suspect, George McDowell Yoder III, has a history of previous arrests and was suspended from practicing law in 2022.

A former federal attorney was arrested and charged with arson after a building and dumpster were set on fire Friday, Feb. 27, in the Fondren area of Jackson, authorities said.

Jackson Fire Department Chief of Investigations Charles Felton said firefighters responded around 12 a.m. Friday in reference to a reported building fire and dumpster fire at Yana Club of Mississippi located at 555 Hartsfield Street.

Felton said fire crews arrived and found two separate fires in the Fondren neighborhood that caused damage to the Yana Club and the dumpster.

No injuries were reported.

After the fires were extinguished, a fire investigator was called to the scene. Investigators spoke with Capitol Police, who had a suspect detained.

Felton said the Jackson Fire Department Arson Division arrested George McDowell Yoder III, a former federal attorney, and charged him with first-degree arson of Yana Club and third-degree arson of the dumpster.

In 2021, WDAM TV reported Yoder had been a special assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi from 2009 to 2011. Yoder also ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for the Mississippi Court of Appeals in 2016.

According to a 2023 article by the Laurel Leader Call, Yoder was arrested in 2021 for residential burglary and faced multiple charges from 2021 to 2023. Yoder was also arrested in 2023 for arson charges, the outlet reported.

Documents from the Supreme Court of Mississippi also indicate that Yoder was admitted to the practice of law in the state in 1999 but later suspended in 2022 from practicing law for three years.

Court records show Yoder was found to be accepting fees from clients, abandoning them and then failing to deposit their retainers into a trust account. Yoder “commingled” his personal money with those of his clients and performed little to no work on a Madison County criminal case he was hired to resolve.

Jackson fire officials also said that a fire did not occur Friday morning at The Pig & Pint, a barbecue business located next to Yana Club.

Yana Club of Mississippi, a nonprofit organization, is described via their Facebook page as a “recovery community” that serves individuals seeking help with addictions.

The organization confirmed at 10:23 a.m. Friday via a social media post that the Yana Club building will be closed due to damages sustained from the fire.

“Due to the safety of our members, we will be closed through the weekend,” the organization stated. “We are working with [the] fire department and insurance to determine the best course of action. The building is currently deemed unsafe for meetings to be held. We will be in touch with updates when we have them.”

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

Renowned New York dance instructor visits Mississippi to recruit for summer program

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Renowned New York dance instructor visits Mississippi to recruit for summer program

LAUREL, Miss. (WDAM) – A world-renowned dance instructor from New York visited Laurel Thursday to conduct a special class and do some recruiting for a prestigious summer dance program in the Big Apple.

Melanie Person, who is co-director of the Ailey School in New York, taught a master ballet class Thursday morning at Laurel Middle School.

It’s part of a three-day residency in the Magnolia State, organized by the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience in Meridian.

She’ll teach two other classes Friday in Meridian before hosting an audition Saturday for a prestigious summer dance program at the Ailey School.

“I typically tour in about six to eight cities in the U.S., and I recruit dancers to come to our summer intensive, so part of this weekend, in one of the classes, I will be accepting students to come to New York for our five-week summer intensive,” Person said.

“We accept the dancers we like, and we see if they are able to come. The decision to come to New York for the summer is a big undertaking for families, so we just hope that they can do it.”

Registration is required for that audition, which will be held at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience.

To do that, click HERE.

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Mississippi

No. 12 Mississippi State’s Balance Shows Again in Road Win at Georgia Tech

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

No. 12 Mississippi State’s Balance Shows Again in Road Win at Georgia Tech

Mississippi State has won plenty of different ways during this 15-1 start, but Wednesday night in Atlanta felt like one of those games where the Bulldogs reminded everyone why they’ve looked so steady all month.

It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t stress‑free, but the 8-3 win over Georgia Tech was the kind of road win that shows a team knows exactly who it is and what buttons to push when things get a little weird.

Alyssa Faircloth set the tone again, even on a night when she didn’t have her cleanest beginning. She gave up a game‑tying homer in the second, shrugged, and then basically disappeared Georgia Tech’s lineup for the next three innings.

Eight strikeouts in nine batters the second time through the order, back‑to‑back innings striking out the side. The only real hiccup came on another leadoff homer in the sixth, and by then she’d already done the heavy lifting.

And while Faircloth was settling in, the lineup did what it’s been doing all year: spreading the damage around.

Des Rivera wasted no time, jumping on the first pitch of the second inning and sending it out. When Georgia Tech tied it, Nadia Barbary answered immediately with a solo shot of her own. It wasn’t loud or flashy, but it was the kind of response good teams make without thinking.

The middle innings were more about pressure than power. Barbary worked a walk, Kiarra Sells split the gap for an RBI double, and Anna Carder did her job with a sac fly. Suddenly it was 4-1, and Mississippi State had the game exactly where it wanted it with Faircloth cruising, the lineup stacking quality at‑bats, and the defense staying clean.

The seventh inning, though, is where the Bulldogs turned a solid win into a comfortable one. Sells homered again, and then Rivera and Tatum Silva kept the inning alive long enough for Morgan Bernardini to drop the hammer. Her three‑run shot to center didn’t just put the game away; it capped off the kind of night she’s been stringing together for a week now. She’s 7‑for‑11 during her four‑game hitting streak and looks like a hitter who’s seeing everything in slow motion.

Peja Goold handled the final outs, picking up her second save and slamming the door on a Georgia Tech team that kept trying to make things interesting late.

What stands out most about this win isn’t the four homers or the 11 strikeouts or even the 15-1 record. It’s how routine it all felt.

Mississippi State went on the road, took a couple of punches, and never looked rattled. Rivera homered. Barbary homered. Sells homered. Bernardini homered. Faircloth dominated. Goold closed. It was the same formula, just in a different ballpark.

Now the Bulldogs head to Clemson for a weekend that should tell us even more about who they are. But if Wednesday night is any indication, they’re traveling with a lineup that can hurt you anywhere and a pitching staff that doesn’t mind carrying the load when needed.