Mississippi River Cruise | April 2022

Enjoy a relaxing morning in this city best known for jazz, barbeque, and the King of Rock and Roll. It also has the unfortunate distinction of being the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. We’ll then transfer to the port terminal to board the luxurious American Duchess for the next seven nights. This beautiful ship is the first all-suite paddlewheeler on US rivers. It offers large accommodations, vaulted ceilings, fine dining options, and luxury amenities. Time will be available to settle into our cabins before we depart along the river. Over the next week, we’ll experience the best of the Antebellum South and get acquainted with the classic traditions of the Cajun and Creole cultures!

(Breakfast and dinner included)

The Mississippi Delta is more than a geographical region. It is a way of life – a true cultural experience based on agriculture, music and history. These small river towns have been the inspiration of authors, musicians and artists for centuries, and we’ll soon see why as we get a unique glimpse into life in a port of the Mississippi Delta.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Vicksburg perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern attractions. Described as the key to the South by President Abraham Lincoln, this Southern town carries a history unlike any other Civil War city. Vicksburg was founded in 1811 and grew as a vital river port city. It played a major role in the Civil War and still showcases much of that history today. Vicksburg is a popular spot for tourists to learn about the battles of the city, taste the cuisine, and visit the many museums. We’ll spend the day exploring the city with a hop-on, hop-off tour that will take us to many local landmarks. View the wide variety of Coca-Cola memorabilia in the building where Coke was bottled for the first time in 1894 or browse the collection of artifacts tied to Vicksburg history at the Old Court House Museum. The Old Depot Museum is home to a fascinating 250-square-foot diorama of the Vicksburg Battlefield, plus various models of ships, railroads, and automobiles, and the Church of the Holy Trinity has an impressive collection of Tiffany stained-glass windows for you to admire!

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Natchez is a charming river town founded in 1716, making it the oldest city on the Mississippi River. The city is known for its elegance, hospitality, and impressive preservation of history, which can be found on every corner. Enjoy the unique shops, restaurants, museums, and historical homes, all of which contribute to Natchez being one of “The 100 Best Towns in America,” according to author Hugh Bayless. Landmarks on the guided hop-on, hop-off tour include a number of mansions, a tavern and distillery, the Museum of African-American history, and the William Johnson House Museum. Magnolia Hall is a Greek Revival Mansion that once had a cannon ball launched into the kitchen, and Stanton Hall is a fully furnished mansion that takes up an entire block! Delve into 300 years of African American history from the Colonial and Cotton Kingdom Natchez to the Civil Rights Movement. Learn the story of William Johnson, who was born a slave and gained his freedom and respect in society as the town barber, or tour King’s Tavern and Charboneau Distillery owned by a nationally renowned chef and her husband.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

St. Francisville was established in 1809, earning the distinction as the oldest town in the Florida Parishes. In the 1790s, a settlement called Bayou Sara was located just below where St. Francisville is now. When this settlement was destroyed by flooding and fires, many of the structures and artifacts were hauled up the bluff into St. Francisville and still remain to this day. The town is referred to as “two miles long and two yards wide,” but that definitely doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer! With over 140 buildings on the National Register, beautiful plantation homes nestled in the rolling countryside, and bustling Main Street shops, this quaint town situated on the bluffs of the Mississippi River has a style all its own. Visit the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum, tour Grace Episcopal Church, and stroll down Royal Street.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Named by French explorer Sieur D’Iberville after a reddish pole marking two separate tribal hunting grounds, Baton Rouge is rich in cultural history. Spend the day exploring all that Baton Rouge has to offer, from the museums and architecture to the shops and cuisine. Included on today’s tour is the USS Kidd, a Fletcher-class destroyer that fought in many battles throughout US history and has now been converted into a museum. If art is more of your interest, hop-off the coach at the LSU Museum of Art to admire the galleries of American, European, British, Chinese, and African works. Baton Rouge is also home to the Capitol Park Museum where you can revel in Mardi Gras, discover the difference between Cajun and Creole, and explore collections of visual arts, jazz, costumes, textiles, and artifacts from Louisiana history.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Nottoway Plantation is the South’s largest, most glorious remaining antebellum mansion with a rich history dating back to 1859. In a fabulous location along the Great River Road, the “White Castle of the South” transports visitors back to an era of glory and grandeur. Set against a natural backdrop of vibrant gardens and 200-year-old oak trees, the mansion boasts three floors, sixty-four bedrooms, and twenty-two white square columns. The home also has 365 openings—one for each day of the year! The most popular room is the White Ballroom, which is painted entirely in white with elaborate gold decor throughout. The rooms are trimmed in custom frieze made from Spanish moss, clay, plaster, and mud that is all original to the house. Enjoy a guided walking tour of Nottoway followed by a walk through the lush grounds and gardens.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

We will disembark the ship in New Orleans and transfer to the airport for our flight home.

(Breakfast included)