Finest Mississippi River cruises for seniors, historical past buffs and Americana lovers

Different ports convey to life the pre-war South. In Oak Alley, Louisiana, friends can tour a Greek Revival mansion on a sugar plantation constructed and maintained by slaves. Whereas no Civil Warfare preventing occurred in Natchez, Mississippi, town is dwelling to lots of of lavish mansions from the period and the Historic Natchez Cemetery, which dates to 1822.

This itinerary is obtainable on 5 American Cruise Strains ships, starting from the 150-passenger traditional paddlewheeler American Heritage to the 180-passenger trendy riverboat American Serenade. American Cruise Strains 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 principle lounges.

Some excursions and a pre-cruise lodge keep within the Massive Straightforward are included within the cruise fare. You possibly can e-book further day excursions for an additional value.

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Should you’re particularly keen about Civil Warfare historical past, search for American Cruise Strains’ particular Civil Warfare-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 shows and interplay with different Civil Warfare 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 selection.

From Crescent Metropolis, the birthplace of American jazz, to Memphis, often known as the Dwelling of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, this itinerary celebrates the area’s homegrown rhythms. All three cruise strains provide 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 reveals 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 incorporates a trendy Scandinavian design.

Company 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 world favorites, and the ship welcomes native musicians onboard for night leisure.

Should you favor a extra nostalgic vibe, American Queen Voyages affords 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 prime ports, together with Natchez and Tunica, Mississippi, dwelling 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, friends can e-book a two-night post-cruise tour in Memphis to benefit from the metropolis’s barbecue and music scenes.

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Finest cruise for artwork and structure: Higher Mississippi

An Higher Mississippi cruise between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota, supplies entry to a few of the prime 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 strains provide Higher Mississippi sailings from July by means of September. Viking and American Cruise Strains’ 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 dwelling, studio and college from 1911 to 1959.

After a day in Redwing, Minnesota, identified for its pottery studios, you’ll finish your journey within the Twin Cities, dwelling to the Walker Artwork Middle and Minneapolis Institute of Artwork in Minneapolis and well-preserved Victorian buildings in St. Paul.

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American Cruise Line’s eight-day Higher Mississippi river cruise covers a lot of the identical floor, with a number of variations. Sailings can be found on the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage in addition to on three modern 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, identified for its colourful Victorian mansions. (An tour to the Area of Goals featured within the 1989 Kevin Costner film can also be out there.)

Winona, Minnesota, boasts a few of the state’s most architecturally important buildings, many that includes the gorgeous 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

Provided 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 targeted culinary program and nightly musical leisure.

In Louisville, you possibly can tour the Louisville Slugger Museum & Manufacturing unit or find out about Kentucky Derby champions at historic Churchill Downs. Town can also be dwelling 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 Outdated Customary cocktail.

America’s sixteenth president is the main focus 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, corresponding to Paducah, dwelling to the Nationwide Quilt Museum.

On the Mississippi River, you’ll name on Cape Girardeau, a historic buying and selling put up identified for its 1,100-foot-long mural that includes 24 panels portraying its wealthy heritage. It’s additionally identified 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 dwelling 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 possibly can 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 Strains and Viking, and are excellent for seniors with loads of time to discover.

After a pre-cruise lodge keep in New Orleans, passengers journey by means of all features of American historical past. You’ll go to ports identified for ornate mansions (Oak Alley and St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi), Civil Warfare 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, corresponding to New Madrid (a Spanish outpost) and Cape Girardeau (a French river port).

Viking River Cruises’ 22-day Grand Mississippi Voyage, out there 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 completely savor barbecue, the blues and Elvis Presley’s Graceland. A port name in Paducah, Kentucky, helps you to discover the Nationwide Quilt Museum and colourful road murals.

You possibly can take pleasure in excursions in Missouri’s most well-known huge metropolis (St. Louis) and small city (Hannibal) after which go to three ports in Iowa identified for his or her historic structure and agriculture (together with a tour of the John Deere Pavilion). Be taught in regards to 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.