Mississippi River cruises have surged in reputation in current a long time. They’re particularly interesting to mature vacationers seeking to take pleasure in guided excursions of high cities and small cities in a number of Southern and Midwestern states.
Add in regionally impressed delicacies loved aboard an expensive river ship, plus the camaraderie of different culturally curious vacationers, and cruising essentially the most celebrated river in the US guarantees satisfaction on a number of ranges.
Three main cruise traces sail the Mississippi River, which stretches 2,340 miles from New Orleans to Minneapolis-St. Paul: American Cruise Traces, American Queen Voyages and Viking. Every line presents a number of related itineraries starting from eight to 22 days, however the ships themselves differ. Some are retro-inspired paddlewheelers, others glossy fashionable riverboats. The onboard eating and leisure, in addition to the excursions in port, additionally fluctuate throughout the traces.
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We’ve rounded up the very best Mississippi River cruises for seniors, historical past buffs and Americana lovers, so you could find your good U.S. river cruise itinerary primarily based in your pursuits and journey preferences.
Finest cruise for Civil Battle historical past: Decrease Mississippi (round-trip New Orleans)
The Deep South attracts historical past buffs with its Civil Battle battlefields and cemeteries and 18th- and Nineteenth-century mansions guarded by regiments of stay oaks. All three cruise traces supply a Decrease Mississippi river cruise, crusing round-trip from New Orleans, however just one options a number of excursions geared to these with a eager curiosity within the Nineteenth-century battle.
Different ports convey to life the pre-war South. In Oak Alley, Louisiana, visitors can tour a Greek Revival mansion on a sugar plantation constructed and maintained by slaves. Whereas no Civil Battle combating occurred in Natchez, Mississippi, town is residence to a whole bunch of lavish mansions from the period and the Historic Natchez Cemetery, which dates to 1822.
This itinerary is obtainable on 5 American Cruise Traces ships, starting from the 150-passenger traditional paddlewheeler American Heritage to the 180-passenger fashionable riverboat American Serenade. American Cruise Traces is thought for its regionally impressed delicacies, served with complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, plus complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and hosted leisure in the primary lounges.
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Some excursions and a pre-cruise lodge keep within the Huge Simple are included within the cruise fare. You may e-book extra day excursions for an additional value.
Associated: Finest river cruise traces around the globe
Should you’re particularly captivated with Civil Battle historical past, search for American Cruise Traces’ particular Civil Battle-themed cruises on restricted dates, which permit a deeper dive into the interval. These embody an eight-day Decrease Mississippi itinerary from Memphis to New Orleans (or vice versa).
Along with visiting monuments and museums, you’ll take pleasure in onboard lectures and displays and interplay with different Civil Battle buffs. These sailings are aboard 180-guest American Serenade and American Symphony.
Finest cruise for music: Decrease Mississippi (New Orleans to Memphis)
Should you love the musical genres of the South, a Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to Memphis (or vice versa) needs to be your alternative.
From Crescent Metropolis, the birthplace of American jazz, to Memphis, often known as the Residence of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, this itinerary celebrates the area’s homegrown rhythms. All three cruise traces supply itineraries between New Orleans and Memphis, however Viking and American Queen Voyages characteristic extra excursions and onboard experiences tailor-made to music lovers.
In Baton Rouge, you possibly can go to the Capitol Park Museum, which showcases displays devoted to Louisiana’s musical heritage and Mardi Gras traditions. Whereas in Natchez, Mississippi, classical music (performed on a 1903 Steinway piano) and Southern delicacies are the celebrities of the tour to Lansdowne and Joseph Stone Home.
The port name in Greenville, Mississippi, is steeped within the blues with an opportunity to go to a museum devoted to hometown legend B.B. King. The grand finale of the cruise is 2 nights in Memphis, the place you possibly can take pleasure in all issues blues, barbecue and Elvis Presley.
Viking is a newcomer to the Mississippi River, and all sailings are aboard the 386-guest Viking Mississippi. The riverboat debuted in 2022 and encompasses a fashionable Scandinavian design.
Friends can take pleasure in a solar terrace with an aft infinity pool and an Explorer’s Lounge with panoramic ahead views of the Mississippi. The Restaurant serves each Southern regional delicacies and international favorites, and the ship welcomes native musicians onboard for night leisure.
Should you choose a extra nostalgic vibe, American Queen Voyages presents a nine-day Decrease Mississippi New Orleans to Memphis voyage aboard the 417-passenger American Queen.
The most important steamboat ever constructed, the ship was christened in Memphis in 2012 by godmother Priscilla Presley, so musical immersion abounds. You’ll take pleasure in an genuine riverboat expertise with nightly performances within the Grand Saloon, designed to resemble a Nineteenth-century opera home.
The itinerary visits the Decrease Mississippi’s high ports, together with Natchez and Tunica, Mississippi, residence to the Blues Customer Middle and Museum. The attraction is housed in an 1895 railroad depot and options a big show of guitars utilized by well-known musicians. Upon disembarkation, visitors can e-book a two-night post-cruise tour in Memphis to benefit from the metropolis’s barbecue and music scenes.
Associated: First impressions of a US river cruise on American Queen
Finest cruise for artwork and structure: Higher Mississippi
An Higher Mississippi cruise between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota, supplies entry to a number of the high architectural landmarks and creative treasures of the American Heartland — from Eero Saarinen’s hovering Gateway Arch to Frank Lloyd Wright’s inimitable Taliesin.
All three cruise traces supply Higher Mississippi sailings from July by way of September. Viking and American Cruise Traces’ itineraries and excursions are our picks for followers of American artwork and structure.
Highlights embody St. Louis, the place you’ll admire Saarinen’s circa-1965 Gateway Arch, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis that includes a 41-million-piece mosaic and the Renaissance Revival-style Metropolis Corridor. From Dubuque, Iowa, you possibly can head to Spring Inexperienced, Wisconsin, to go to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal residence, studio and faculty from 1911 to 1959.
After a day in Redwing, Minnesota, recognized for its pottery studios, you’ll finish your journey within the Twin Cities, residence to the Walker Artwork Middle and Minneapolis Institute of Artwork in Minneapolis and well-preserved Victorian buildings in St. Paul.
Associated: River cruise packing checklist: What to pack when touring by riverboat
American Cruise Line’s eight-day Higher Mississippi river cruise covers a lot of the identical floor, with a couple of variations. Sailings can be found on the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage in addition to on three glossy new 180-guest riverboats, American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony.
Past the landmarks of St. Louis, highlights embody Davenport, Iowa, the place you possibly can go to the Smithsonian-affiliated Putnam Museum, and Dubuque, Iowa, recognized for its colourful Victorian mansions. (An tour to the Subject of Goals featured within the 1989 Kevin Costner film can be obtainable.)
Winona, Minnesota, boasts a number of the state’s most architecturally important buildings, many that includes the attractive stained glass for which town is thought. Then it’s off to Purple Wing, Minnesota, the place you possibly can discover the Pottery Museum earlier than finishing your journey within the Twin Cities.
Finest multi-river paddlewheel cruise: Ohio and Mississippi rivers
Kentucky bourbon, St. Louis beer, legendary baseball bats and the nostalgia of cruising each the Ohio and Mississippi rivers aboard a luxurious paddlewheeler make American Queen Voyages’ nine-day Louisville to St. Louis (or vice versa) itinerary a delight for followers of America’s favourite pastimes.
Supplied as soon as every summer season, this journey explores eight ports in Kentucky and Missouri. It takes place aboard the 245-passenger American Countess, a Southern-inspired paddlewheeler with a regionally centered culinary program and nightly musical leisure.
In Louisville, you possibly can tour the Louisville Slugger Museum & Manufacturing unit or study Kentucky Derby champions at historic Churchill Downs. Town can be residence to the Muhammad Ali Middle (Louisville was the boxing nice’s hometown) and dozens of atmospheric bars serving bourbon straight up or in a traditional Previous Long-established cocktail.
America’s sixteenth president is the main target in Brandenburg, Kentucky as you take pleasure in an tour to the close by Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Nationwide Historic Park and the Lincoln Museum. Bluegrass music, artisanal handicrafts and extra bourbon tasting await in different Ohio River ports, similar to Paducah, residence to the Nationwide Quilt Museum.
On the Mississippi River, you’ll name on Cape Girardeau, a historic buying and selling put up recognized for its 1,100-foot-long mural that includes 24 panels portraying its wealthy heritage. It’s additionally recognized for the Missouri Wall of Fame and museums and landmark properties that protect its previous. (Town was visited by Mark Twain and Ulysses S. Grant, in addition to Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea.)
The historical past of beer is on faucet within the remaining Missouri ports (Kimmswick is residence to the Anheuser Museum and Property) and St. Louis, the place you’ll disembark and have an opportunity to discover The Gateway Metropolis, the place Budweiser and different brewery experiences await.
Finest prolonged cruise: Full Mississippi
Need all of it? You may go to as much as 20 ports in as many as 9 states on a 22-day Mississippi River journey from New Orleans to St. Paul. These itineraries are provided by each American Cruise Traces and Viking, and are good for seniors with loads of time to discover.
American Cruise Traces presents the 22-day Full Mississippi Cruise aboard three 180-passenger fashionable river ships: American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony.
After a pre-cruise lodge keep in New Orleans, passengers journey by way of all points of American historical past. You’ll go to ports recognized for ornate mansions (Oak Alley and St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi), Civil Battle battles (Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vicksburg, Mississippi), music (Memphis and Greenville, Tennessee) and structure (St. Louis and Dubuque, Iowa). You’ll additionally name on historic Missouri buying and selling posts, similar to New Madrid (a Spanish outpost) and Cape Girardeau (a French river port).
Viking River Cruises’ 22-day Grand Mississippi Voyage, obtainable in 2024 aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi, additionally embarks in New Orleans and visits 16 ports in 9 states because it cruises north to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Throughout this crusing, you’ll in a single day in Memphis, so there’s time to totally savor barbecue, the blues and Elvis Presley’s Graceland. A port name in Paducah, Kentucky, permits you to discover the Nationwide Quilt Museum and colourful road murals.
You may take pleasure in excursions in Missouri’s most well-known massive metropolis (St. Louis) and small city (Hannibal) after which go to three ports in Iowa recognized for his or her historic structure and agriculture (together with a tour of the John Deere Pavilion). Study concerning the Norwegian heritage of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and get to know the eagles and pottery of Purple Wing, Minnesota, earlier than disembarking in St. Paul.
Backside line
Historical past buffs and Americana lovers will discover loads to take pleasure in on a Mississippi River cruise. Your ship will cease in main cities and lesser-known cities, providing excursions to historic websites and evenings spent having fun with domestically impressed delicacies and regional music.
The three cruise traces crusing America’s most legendary river supply itineraries for each curiosity on ships designed with mature vacationers in thoughts. Whether or not you wish to go to Civil Battle websites, see high architectural landmarks, or take pleasure in our nation’s best-loved musical genres, a number of of the traces will supply a Mississippi River itinerary that can provide help to do it — in consolation and magnificence as you make new pals on board.
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