Grand Mississippi Voyage 2024 Itinerary New Orleans, Louisiana to St Paul, Minnesota Viking®

Table Of Content

• Night America's HeartlandDetails
• day Mississippi River Odyssey: New Orleans to Red Wing, Minnesota
• NEW! The Big Easy to the Gateway City
• Onboard Experience
• Exploring Mississippi, Ohio river towns
• American Queen Voyages: New Orleans to Memphis
• Be Wary of Weather on the Mississippi River Changing Your Cruise Itinerary

The enormous Mall of America includes more than 500 stores and an indoor waterpark and theme park. View gorgeous panoramas of the city from Mounds Park and cherish the enchantment of Minnehaha Falls with its 53-foot cascade. Cruise from New Orleans all the way up to St. Paul on Viking's 15- or 17-day America's Great River itinerary aboard the 193-stateroom Viking Mississippi, a vessel designed just for this river. The journey starts in New Orleans and stops in Baton Rouge; Natchez and Vicksburg, Mississippi; Memphis; and St. Louis, where passengers can explore attractions like Gateway Arch National Park and the flagship Anheuser-Busch brewery. From there, it continues on to Hannibal, Missouri; Burlington, Davenport, and Dubuque, Iowa; La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Red Wing, Minnesota, where travelers can learn about America's most recognizable symbol at the National Eagle Center.

Night America's HeartlandDetails

Get to know fellow guests in one of the lounges or at the evening cocktail hour. Ask about our Current Savings and our Pre-Cruise Packages which include a premium hotel stay and transportation to the ship. Before embarking on the American Duchess in Memphis, all passengers were required to pass a COVID-19 test administered at the hotel the night before departure. It took just one hour for the test results to be emailed to me, indicating I was good to go the next morning for a pre-cruise tour of Graceland – Elvis Presley’s former home – before being taken directly to the boat in the late afternoon. So far, according to Shawn Bierdz, president of the Indiana-based company, it’s been relatively smooth sailing.

day Mississippi River Odyssey: New Orleans to Red Wing, Minnesota

After American Queen Voyages shut down in February, only two Mississippi River cruise lines currently remain in operation. St. Louis is often referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Take in the Gateway Arch Riverfront, highlighted by the Gateway Arch, the largest man-made monument in the U.S. Enjoy St. Louis' many world-class attractions, including the Art Museum, Science Center, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and the Missouri History Museum. End your day by relaxing at the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the world’s most popular public gardens. 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.

Riverboat Cruise to Offer St. Louis Unique Views of the Solar Eclipse - Riverfront Times

Riverboat Cruise to Offer St. Louis Unique Views of the Solar Eclipse.

Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

NEW! The Big Easy to the Gateway City

You can cruise all the way from New Orleans to Minneapolis, or you can sail shorter segments of the river. Typically, cruises along the Lower Mississippi sail between New Orleans and Memphis, while cruises on the Upper Mississippi sail between St. Louis and the Twin Cities. Here's what you need to know about Mississippi River boat cruises, from choice itineraries to popular stops. Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products.

During this sailing, you'll overnight in Memphis, so there's time to fully savor barbecue, the blues and Elvis Presley's Graceland. A port call in Paducah, Kentucky, lets you explore the National Quilt Museum and colorful street murals. On American Cruise Lines' eight-day New Orleans to New Orleans itinerary, cruisers can visit Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the National Military Park commemorates the campaign, siege and defense of Vicksburg in 1863. In Louisiana's capital, Baton Rouge, a guided excursion explores critical locations in the Civil War's Battle of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson.

Discover Hannibal, “America’s Hometown,” and the inspiration behind many of Mark Twain’s literary characters. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn come to life in this charming Missouri town, where you can 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. The downtown area is a thriving haven for artisans, filled with specialty shops unique to Hannibal. Perhaps take a narrated motorcoach excursion to get an overview of this dramatic city. Explore the home, life, and career of Elvis Presley or make your pilgrimage to Sun Studio, where he recorded his earliest smash-hits.

Its fleet includes the American Queen, which holds the record as the biggest river steamboat. American Queen Voyages offers several itineraries along the Mississippi — one along the Upper Mississippi, another on the Lower Mississippi, and one that also sails a portion of the Ohio River — on its signature paddle-wheel steamboats. The company's flagship, the American Queen, is said to be the world's biggest steamboat. There are three main cruise lines traveling the Mississippi, with journeys ranging from less than a week to more than 20 days. Spring and fall are the best times of year to take a cruise along the river, as you'll avoid the summer heat and winter chill and enjoy more pleasant weather while you take in the surroundings. When they were first created, they were meant to make general traveling and the transport of goods easier.

Be Wary of Weather on the Mississippi River Changing Your Cruise Itinerary

Viking River Cruises' American Heartland itinerary sails from St. Louis to St. Paul (or vice versa) and runs 12 days with pre- and post-cruise stays in 2024 and 2025. You'll explore architectural gems aboard Viking Mississippi, itself an example of sleek, Scandinavian-inspired nautical architecture. Both cruise lines offer Upper Mississippi sailings from July through September.

What month is best for a Mississippi River cruise?

The Ohio River doesn’t offer some of the glitziest ports of call, but Bierdz said American Queen Steamboat Company is planning to expand sailings on the river in 2022, reflecting increased demand from cruisers wanting to stay closer to home. As you cruise toward the historic city of Hannibal, enjoy the beauty of the heartland. 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.

We all know businesses from every industry has been operating in a different environment the last 8 weeks and will encounter new changes in the future. As you make your way from Dubuque to Winona, enjoy the scenic splendor of the Upper Mississippi River from your private balcony. Immerse yourself in the beauty that surrounds you, the setting for countless American stories and the inspiration for artists and musicians throughout time. The comfort of your ship awaits at the nearby Beale Street Landing, docked along an impressive, recently renovated city park. Experience this town’s rich history on your own or with a variety of guided excursions.

Elements of his childhood adventures were woven into classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For an alternate introduction to the area, upgrade to a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and explore this city at your leisure. At our final stop in Brandenburg, we were taken to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln in nearby Hodgenville. Lincoln was born in a log cabin at the site and lived in Kentucky until he was 7 when his family moved to Indiana. I especially enjoyed a visit to the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville, where an impersonator recited portions of the Gettysburg Address. A full-time nurse was on board and some cabins were set aside as quarantine spaces.

From rolling fields of prairie flowers to some of the most architecturally important buildings in Minnesota, enjoy all there is to see and do here. Take a ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator, the world’s shortest and steepest scenic railway or try your luck in one of Dubuque's state-of-the-art casinos. View colorful Victorian mansions, stroll through a whimsical downtown area, and visit the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

Along the way, be treated to the gracious hospitality of our crew and savor an exquisite menu, featuring dishes masterfully prepared by our culinary team, with a dash of local flavor. 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.

Viking and American Cruise Lines' itineraries and excursions are our picks for fans of American art and architecture. In addition to visiting monuments and museums, you'll enjoy onboard lectures and presentations and interaction with other Civil War buffs. These sailings are aboard 150-passenger American Heritage and 180-guest American Melody, American Serenade, American Splendor and American Symphony. 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. We've rounded up the best Mississippi River cruises for seniors, history buffs and Americana lovers, so you can find your perfect U.S. river cruise itinerary based on your interests and travel preferences.