10 Best Mississippi River Cruises 2024 2025

Table Of Content

• Night The Big Easy To The Gateway CityDetails
• What is the best time of year to go on a river cruise?
• Keep Natural Disasters and River Water Levels in Mind When Booking Your Mississippi River Cruise
• Night New Orleans & Southern CharmsDetails
• NEW! Mississippi Delta Explorer
• Best cruise for Civil War history: Lower Mississippi (round trip from New Orleans)
• Reviews of Mississippi Cruises

Some excursions and a pre-cruise hotel stay in the Big Easy are included in the cruise fare. This itinerary is offered in 2024 and 2025 on four American Cruise Lines ships, ranging from the 150-passenger classic paddlewheeler American Heritage to the 180-passenger modern riverboat American Serenade. American Cruise Lines is known for its regionally inspired cuisine, served with complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, plus complimentary cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and hosted entertainment in the main lounges. Today is a day to revel in the scenery, as along the legendary Mississippi River.

Night The Big Easy To The Gateway CityDetails

Mingle with guests in one of our comfortable lounges, read a good book on your private balcony, or take part in one of our many onboard activities. Board your ship and be treated to a special welcoming reception, a chance to mingle with fellow guests as you set sail for the most comprehensive exploration of the Mississippi River available. Run your hand along Aunt Polly’s fence, explore Injun Joe’s Cave, and get reacquainted with one of the world’s most beloved authors. Explore other nearby museums and the charming downtown Main Street with unique shops, art galleries, and tasty temptations. Welcome to New Orleans, world-renowned for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live music scene, and unique cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American influences. We know that US River Cruises may give some people sticker shock if they’re used to ocean cruise ship prices.

What is the best time of year to go on a river cruise?

Riverboat cruises won't dock near Vicksburg because of low river levels - WAPT Jackson

Riverboat cruises won't dock near Vicksburg because of low river levels.

Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

This eight-day cruise starts in St. Louis and sails along the Upper Mississippi to St. Paul. Stops along the way include Hannibal, Missouri; Fort Madison, Davenport, and Dubuque, Iowa; and Winona and Red Wing, Minnesota. Several riverboats cruise this route, including American Melody and American Symphony, inaugurated in 2021 and 2022, respectively. These sister vessels offer large rooms and suites with contemporary furnishings and an upscale feel. Sail along the Lower Mississippi from New Orleans to Memphis on this nine-day cruise, which starts with a complimentary stay in New Orleans and a second day to enjoy the Big Easy. Then, it's on to Nottoway Resort and St. Francisville in Louisiana and Natchez, Vicksburg, and Greenville in Mississippi before a day of cruising through the Delta and disembarking in Memphis.

Keep Natural Disasters and River Water Levels in Mind When Booking Your Mississippi River Cruise

Spring blossoms add a colorful touch to the shoreline, and you can never go wrong with autumn foliage. The temperatures are mild, if not pleasantly cool, and passengers are eager to welcome a new spring travel season—or to enjoy one last autumn river adventure before winter arrives. The company's flagship, the American Queen, is said to be the world's biggest steamboat.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, American Cruise Lines (ACL) has a fleet of more than 20 American-built ships sailing across the country and remains family-owned and American-crewed. The Mississippi River is truly a force of nature and travels across multiple states in the USA such as Iowa or Illinois before flowing through the Gulf of Mexico. Being the fourth largest river in the USA means that a river cruise in Mississippi will reveal countless landmarks, breathtaking scenery and even wildlife. Discover premium river cruise companies and you've got yourself a dream holiday to relax and recharge.

Times have changed, but not in Downtown Tunica, with Main Street buildings just as they were at the turn of the century. Explore unique boutiques, antique shops, a fully restored courthouse, and Tunica Veterans Memorial at Rivergate Park. Here, you can enjoy the kind of southern hospitality you thought only existed in storybooks. As the bow-ramp from the ship opens and stretches to the shore, you will be welcomed into the historic cotton port of St. Francisville. As you make your way from Lacrosse to Dubuque, reflect upon the rich history of the Mississippi River and the variety of music born upon its shores. Listen to the talented performers in one of our lounges or share the afternoon with fellow travelers.

Delight in the region’s famed Southern cuisine and sample Memphis’s renowned barbecue, alongside artisan beers. Birthplace of American music—blues, jazz and soul—the Mississippi celebrates its musical heritage in the towns and cities that line its legendary shores. Tour the elaborate townhomes, visit a working cotton farm to learn about the crop’s importance in history and today, and discover the historic Under-The-Hill Saloon.

Mississippi River Cruise Deals

7 best Mississippi River cruises - The Points Guy

7 best Mississippi River cruises.

Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

River cruises on the Mississippi are generally more expensive than ocean cruises because of their intimate, hands-on nature. Since 1985, the Riverboat Twilight has delivered one of the most exceptional cruise experiences in the Midwest. And it’s not just a cruise; it’s a conduit to reconnection, relaxation, and renewal. Back on board, be pampered by our gracious crew or find solace as you relax in your spacious stateroom and relish the rolling river views. Sometimes Sailing is a cruise-focused website by Dan and Mikkel Woodruff, a couple passionate about cruising. St. Louis is home to the symbolic Gateway Arch, which celebrates the hard journey people took to populate the Central and Western United States.

Reviews of Mississippi Cruises

The two cruise lines sailing America's most legendary river offer itineraries for every interest on ships designed with mature travelers in mind. St. Paul is an exciting place to end your riverboat cruise adventure on the Mississippi River. History buffs will enjoy a walking tour of Summit Avenue, which highlights gorgeous historic mansions built in the late 1800’s.

Learn about the Norwegian heritage of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and get to know the eagles and pottery of Red Wing, Minnesota, before disembarking in St. Paul. Both cruise lines offer Upper Mississippi sailings from July through September. Viking and American Cruise Lines' itineraries and excursions are our picks for fans of American art and architecture.

Depending on the itinerary, either city is used as a starting or ending point. The more popular Mississippi River cruises typically occur in America’s Heartland on the Lower Mississippi River. Popular states on this route are Louisiana, Tennessee (home of Elvis Presley), Arkansas, and of course, Mississippi. As for Lower Mississippi River cruises, they typically operate from November through December and again from April to mid-June.

Alton is an idyllic town, known for its scenic limestone bluffs along the river and its rich Civil War history. The National Great Rivers Museum, located at the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, tells the stories of the Mississippi River’s history, the people that rely on the River, and its many ecosystems. Hometown of jazz musician Miles Davis and Robert Wadlow, the tallest known person in history (8’11”), Alton is an inspiring and picturesque destination and the perfect place to begin your Upper Mississippi journey.