steamboat cruise down the mississippi

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The 7 best mississippi river cruises for 2024.

Explore the history, culture and cuisine of the U.S. while cruising along the Mighty Mississippi.

The Best Mississippi River Cruises

Courtesy of American Cruise Lines

The more than 2,300-mile Mississippi River invites travelers to discover its multifaceted heritage, with a vast range of deeply rooted culture, music and history. A cruise is a fantastic way to discover many of the riverfront cities on a single trip, from the comfort of your modern riverboat or traditional paddle-wheeler.

The following Mississippi River cruise itineraries can help you choose from cruises of various lengths and options for the Lower and Upper Mississippi. Note that all fares are listed as double occupancy (based on two people per cabin), and that they might not reflect taxes, port fees or gratuities. The itinerary availability listed is also subject to change.

American Cruise Lines

Courtesy of American Cruise Lines | www.AmericanCruiseLines.com

American Cruise Lines operates small ships accommodating between 90 and 180 passengers that are built, flagged and crewed in the U.S. – and it's the only company in the world operating a 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and cruise ships. ACL's itineraries traverse waterways across 35 states, with 11 itineraries dedicated to the Mississippi River. Cruisers can choose to sail on modern riverboats with a sleek interior design or while away their time aboard classic paddle-wheelers reminiscent of days gone by.

ACL offers variety as well as versatility: This line boasts both the longest and shortest sailings on this list with cruises ranging from eight to 60 days in length, including The Great United States. This inaugural 60-day voyage spans four major rivers and 20 states, making it the longest U.S. river cruise in history.

Complimentary hotel and transportation packages are available from every departure city before your cruise. You can book certain premium packages for added perks, such as two nights spent next door to Graceland in Memphis – with VIP tickets and a city tour included in the price.

Music Cities Cruise

Length: Eight days Price: Starts at $3,610 per person

Spend a week getting lost in the sounds of the Memphis blues, rock 'n' roll and country music legends on the seven-night Music Cities Cruise. A hotel stay the night before your sailing is included, but embarking in Memphis means you also have the chance to splurge on a two-night pre-cruise package near Elvis' former home Graceland .

Ports of call include Paducah, Kentucky; Dover, Tennessee; and Clarksville, Tennessee, with an overnight in Nashville and an included excursion to a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Two scenic sailing days feature picturesque views of America's Heartland along the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers as well as Lake Barkley.

2024 dates: In 2024, there are two available itineraries in September and November.

Grand Heartland Cruise: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days Price: Starts at $9,455 per person

This 15-day voyage allows you to explore America's rich history in towns along the Upper and Lower Mississippi River. The immersive voyage covers six states and 12 cities including St. Paul, Minnesota ; Dubuque, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri ; Memphis, Tennessee; Natchez, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; and more.

Take a step back in time while visiting Mark Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, exploring stately historic estates in Natchez and Civil War sites in Vicksburg. At the end of a busy day ashore, you'll have plenty to chat about with fellow passengers during the evening cocktail hour.

2024 dates: American Heritage – ACL's traditional paddle-wheeler – and three modern riverboats set off on this journey from August to October in 2024.

Complete Mississippi River Cruise: New Orleans to St. Paul

Length: 22 days Price: Starts at $14,935 per person

If you want to see the entire Mississippi in one shot, check out this multiweek sailing that begins in New Orleans and ends in St. Paul, Minnesota. Along the way, you'll sail 1,393 miles, visit 10 states and experience a staggering 20 ports of call as you tour Louisiana and then head northbound to Minnesota.

In the South, walk the battlefields of the Civil War and sample delicious Southern barbecue before listening to the rhythms of jazz, the blues and rock 'n' roll. Then, explore the small and larger cities along the upper parts of the river. Remember to take time to gaze out at the picturesque scenery and the rolling farmlands of America's Midwest before disembarking in St. Paul.

2024 dates: Three of ACL's modern riverboats sail this itinerary in May, June and August in 2024.

The Great United States

Length: 60 days Price: Starts at $51,000

This two-month long journey – the longest domestic itinerary ever created – will check all the boxes for U.S. history and Civil War buffs, music and nature lovers, culinary enthusiasts, and beer and distilled spirits aficionados alike as the ship traverses America's iconic waterways through 20 states and 50 ports of call.

This epic journey showcases the natural beauty and living history of the U.S. from sea to shining sea. The sailing embarks in Portland, Oregon , on the Pacific Coast before traveling east to the Atlantic shore along four major rivers that highlight some of the country's most stunning coastlines. Upon arrival in New York Harbor, guests will have an unforgettable view of one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S.: the Statue of Liberty .

Passengers can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Snake and Columbia rivers; cruise along Ol' Man River in search of Mark Twain and Elvis; see the vibrant colors of fall during peak season on the Hudson River; and take in the coastal breezes (and fresh seafood) along New England's rocky coastline.

This curated adventure also includes two flights: Jackson, Wyoming , to New Orleans as well as St. Paul to Portland, Maine , plus a land package through Glacier , Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. All-inclusive pricing covers the pre-cruise hotel stay, all flights and hotels between cruise segments, an ACL jacket and gear pack, daily excursions, all meals and beverages, gratuities and port charges, entertainment, and Wi-Fi.

2024 dates: The inaugural cruise sets sail on August 16, 2024.

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Viking River Cruises

Courtesy of Viking

Viking is no stranger to sailing Europe's rivers; the brand is synonymous with river cruising worldwide aboard its dozens of ships. However, Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to U.S. rivers, with its purpose-built ship: the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Looking to carve out its own niche in the American river cruising category, Viking claims it has the region's "first truly modern cruise ship" with its distinct Scandinavian design and expansive top sun deck with an infinity plunge pool.

Viking's mostly all-inclusive fares include a complimentary excursion in each port, destination lectures and performances, beer and wine at meals, free Wi-Fi, specialty coffees and teas, and more. The line offers five itineraries ranging in length from eight to 22 days along the Mighty Mississippi. Pre- and post-cruise extensions can be added to all voyages for an additional expense.

New Orleans & Southern Charms: Round-trip from New Orleans

Length: Eight days Price: Starts at $3,999 per person

If you don't know which Viking Mississippi itinerary to choose, start here. A round-trip voyage from New Orleans is convenient for booking flights and offers an excellent opportunity to extend your stay in NOLA. Six guided tours are included across eight days, from the historic estates of Natchez to Vicksburg National Military Park. A stop in St. Francisville gives you the chance to marvel at some of the 140-plus buildings it has on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you extend your stay in New Orleans, plan to sample the local Creole cuisine and take in some of the city's nightly jazz entertainment. In the morning, grab a beignet and a steaming cup of chicory coffee au lait at the original Café du Monde in the French Market.

2024 dates: This itinerary is available on select dates in February, November and December.

Heart of the Delta: New Orleans to Memphis

Length: Nine days Price: Starts at $4,299 per person

Similar to its round-trip New Orleans Southern Charms itinerary, the Heart of the Delta cruise begins in New Orleans and calls on the same five ports, before sailing through the Lower Mississippi and disembarking in Memphis. Enjoy scenic views of the serpentine river route – perhaps with expert commentary or a local cooking demonstration – and then take time to explore the birthplace of the Memphis blues, which is also a center of civil rights history.

2024 dates: In 2024, this cruise is available in February, March, April, May, June and November.

America's Great River: St. Paul to New Orleans

Length: 15 days Price: Starts at $12,999 per person

This Viking voyage sails from St. Paul to New Orleans on a two-week trip that calls on 13 ports with one day of scenic sailing. This itinerary combines the best of Viking's other Mississippi sailings for an all-encompassing Midwestern and Southern experience with 12 guided tours.

Included in the fare is a tour of Graceland; a stroll through small-town Burlington, Iowa, to see Snake Alley, deemed the most crooked street in the world; and a visit to the National Eagle Center of Red Wing, among others. For an additional fee, hop on an airboat ride through the Atchafalaya Swamp in Baton Rouge or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery of St. Louis.

2024 dates: Viking has availability for this itinerary in July, September and October.

Want to cruise the Mississippi River? See the top cruises on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

You may have seen riverboat gambling ships or are at least familiar with riverboat gambling along U.S. waterways. However, while high rolling on the river sounds like an exciting way to spend a night (or two, or more) while on your riverboat cruise, you'll have to jump ship to play the slots, roll the dice, spin the wheel or play a hand of Texas Hold 'em. Gambling on cruise ships sailing on internal waters is prohibited by U.S. law.

Gambling on boats in the U.S. is a complicated matter. While you will find some ships sailing along American waterways that are only set up for gambling, they are not carrying passengers from port to port. Most vessels that feature riverboat gambling are now moored, offering sports betting, table games, entertainment, live music and dancing while tethered to shore.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, paddle-wheelers on America's waterways, and an 18-stateroom river ship on the Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Most recently, she traveled on a small luxury expedition vessel in Antarctica and crossed the notorious Drake Passage twice. She covers the travel and culinary industries, specializing in cruises, for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top River Cruise Lines
• The Top All-Inclusive Cruises
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• The Top Cruise Insurance Plans

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Mississippi River Cruises

Mississippi river steamboat cruises.

Julie Green

| September 24, 2022

There’s nothing quite like a relaxing cruise. The gorgeous scenery, the gentle atmosphere and the sounds of the water are a perfect combination for a great getaway. A popular choice for cruises are steamboat cruises on the Mississippi river.

What are Steamboats?

Steamboats are boats that run on steam power instead of coal or wind power. When they were first created, they were meant to make general traveling and the transport of goods easier. Today, steamboats are primarily used for tourist purposes such as cruises on lakes and rivers.

Where does a Mississippi River Cruise Go?

Where the cruise goes depends on what kind of cruise you are interested in and where you are departing from. Upper Mississippi River cruises typically depart from somewhere in St. Louis. Then the cruise will go through Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The cruise usually ends in Minnesota where the passengers will then disembark.

Lower Mississippi River cruises typically start in Tennessee. The cruise will then head to Missouri, passing through Illinois and finally disembarking in St. Louis.

Several cruises also travel through the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers during their Mississippi River cruises. During the Ohio River cruise, the boat will visit places such as Kentucky and Indiana. If the cruise goes down the Tennessee River, the route will typically go through Alabama, Missouri and Illinois.

How Long does a Mississippi River Cruise Last?

This depends entirely on what kind of cruise you are taking and where you are departing from. Some cruises only last for a few hours. These cruises are typically day cruises for sightseeing or romantic moonlight cruises that usually include dinner and entertainment.

Other cruises last for two or three days, and they typically involve traveling through rivers that are connected to the Mississippi River such as the Illinois River, Ohio River and Tennessee river.

Upper and lower Mississippi River cruises last between one week and nine days.

Some cruises extend their route past the upper and lower Mississippi River boundaries and last around two weeks.

How Much Does a Steamboat Cruise Cost?

This depends on the length of your cruise and varies depending on which company you are traveling with. Short rides between one and two hours typically go for under $20 a ticket. Day cruises typically go for under $200. If you stay overnight, the price will usually be between $300 and $400. Extended trips between three days and two weeks can go for around $1000 to upwards of $12,000.

What are the Benefits of Steamboat Cruises?

There are many benefits to taking steamboat cruises. For example, steamboats have their own classic style and beauty that can’t really be matched by other boats.

Steamboat cruises also typically include meals, accommodations, entertainment and more into your ticket price.

Steamboats also go at a steady and gentle pace. This not only makes trips more relaxing, but it’s also perfect for people who easily get seasick. You’ll barely be able to feel the difference between standing on the boat and standing on land.

You also won’t need a passport or any travel documents when going on a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River.

Steamboat cruises on the Mississippi River are fun, relaxing and unique. If you’re considering taking a cruise in the near future, try a steamboat cruise on the beautiful and vast Mississippi River.

ABOUT JULIE

My name is Julie Green and I am the head writer, content contributor, and chief, cook, and bottle washer too! My goal is to provide you information about the Mississippi River.

It’s a wonderful place that I call home. I’d like to think I know a thing or two about this area!! Please stop by often and pay us a visit.

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American Queen

Discover the heritage and culture of America with a cruise onboard the elegant American Queen, an authentic paddlewheel steamboat. Luxurious amenities display the opulence of the American Victorian era while also featuring every modern convenience. Each stateroom features lush bedding and fine linens as well as in-room bottled water and fresh fruit. Onboard cuisine is gourmet and something to satisfy every craving is available 24 hours a day, from grand meals in the Dining Saloon to American favorites in the Front Porch of America. Complimentary wine and beer are available with dinner. There is always something to enjoy onboard during your leisure time. Enjoy a swim or a workout in the pool or athletic club or borrow a book in the Mark Twain Gallery; after a day of exploring, enjoy nightly entertainment that includes everything from showboat style performances to calliope concerts to swing dancing.

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7 best Mississippi River cruises

Mississippi River cruises have surged in popularity in recent decades. They are especially appealing to mature travelers looking to enjoy guided tours of top cities and small towns in several Southern and Midwestern states.

Add in regionally inspired cuisine enjoyed aboard a luxurious river ship, plus the camaraderie of other culturally curious travelers, and cruising the most celebrated river in the United States promises satisfaction on multiple levels.

Two major cruise lines sail the Mississippi, which stretches 2,340 miles from New Orleans to Minneapolis-St. Paul: American Cruise Lines and Viking . Each line offers several similar itineraries ranging from eight to 23 days, but the ships themselves differ. Some are retro-inspired paddlewheelers, others sleek modern riverboats. The onboard dining and entertainment, as well as the excursions in port, also vary across the lines.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

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.

Best cruise for Civil War history: Lower Mississippi (round trip from New Orleans)

The Deep South attracts history buffs with its Civil War battlefields and cemeteries and 18th- and 19th-century mansions guarded by regiments of live oaks. Both cruise lines offer a Lower Mississippi river cruise, sailing round-trip from New Orleans, but only one features multiple excursions geared to those with a keen interest in the 19th-century conflict.

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.

Other ports bring to life the pre-war South. In Oak Alley, Louisiana, guests can tour a Greek Revival mansion on a sugar plantation built and maintained by slaves. While no Civil War fighting took place in Natchez, Mississippi, the city is home to hundreds of lavish mansions from the era and the Historic Natchez Cemetery, which dates to 1822.

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.

Some excursions and a pre-cruise hotel stay in the Big Easy are included in the cruise fare. You can book additional day tours for an extra cost.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

If you're especially passionate about Civil War history, look for American Cruise Lines' special Civil War-themed cruises on limited dates, which allow a deeper dive into the period. These include a nine-day Lower Mississippi itinerary from Memphis to New Orleans (or vice versa).

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.

Best cruise for music: Lower Mississippi (New Orleans to Memphis)

If you love the musical genres of the South, a Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans to Memphis (or vice versa) should be your choice.

From Crescent City, the birthplace of American jazz, to Memphis, known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll, this itinerary celebrates the region's homegrown rhythms. Both cruise lines offer itineraries between New Orleans and Memphis, but Viking features more excursions and onboard experiences tailored to music lovers.

Viking's 12-day Heart of the Delta itinerary includes a two-night pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans. This allows ample time to enjoy the city's street musicians and jazz clubs.

In Baton Rouge, you can visit the Capitol Park Museum, which showcases exhibits dedicated to Louisiana's musical heritage and Mardi Gras traditions. While in Natchez, Mississippi, classical music (played on a 1903 Steinway piano) and Southern cuisine are the stars of the excursion to Lansdowne and Joseph Stone House.

The port call in Greenville, Mississippi, is steeped in the blues with a chance to visit a museum dedicated to hometown legend B.B. King. The grand finale of the cruise is two nights in Memphis, where you can enjoy all things 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 features a modern Scandinavian design. Itinerary departures are available in 2024 and 2025.

Passengers can enjoy a sun terrace with an aft infinity pool and an Explorer's Lounge with panoramic forward views of the Mississippi. The Restaurant serves both Southern regional cuisine and global favorites, and the ship welcomes local musicians onboard for evening entertainment.

Related: Meet the only line that cruises from Washington, DC. Here's where it'll take you

Best cruise for art and architecture: Upper Mississippi

An Upper Mississippi cruise between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota, provides access to some of the top architectural landmarks and artistic treasures of the American Heartland — from Eero Saarinen's soaring Gateway Arch to Frank Lloyd Wright's inimitable Taliesin.

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.

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.

Highlights include St. Louis, where you'll admire Saarinen's circa-1965 Gateway Arch, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis featuring a 41-million-piece mosaic and the Renaissance Revival-style City Hall. From Dubuque, Iowa, you can head to Spring Green, Wisconsin, to visit Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's private home, studio and school from 1911 to 1959.

After a day in Redwing, Minnesota, known for its pottery studios, you'll end your journey in the Twin Cities, home to the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Art in Minneapolis and well-preserved Victorian buildings in St. Paul.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

American Cruise Line's nine-day Upper Mississippi river cruise covers much of the same ground, with a few differences. Sailings are available on the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage as well as on three sleek new 180-guest riverboats, American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony. They're offered between June and late September/early October in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Beyond the landmarks of St. Louis, highlights include Hannibal, Missouri, where you can visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, and Dubuque, Iowa, known for its colorful Victorian mansions. (An excursion to the Field of Dreams featured in the 1989 Kevin Costner movie is also available.)

Winona, Minnesota, boasts some of the state's most architecturally significant buildings, many featuring the beautiful stained glass for which the city is known. Then it's off to Red Wing, Minnesota, where you can explore the Pottery Museum before completing your journey in the Twin Cities.

Best extended cruise: Complete Mississippi

Want it all? You can visit 18 ports in six states on a 23-day Mississippi River journey from New Orleans to St. Paul. These itineraries are offered by both American Cruise Lines and Viking, and are perfect for seniors with plenty of time to explore.

American Cruise Lines offers the 23-day Complete Mississippi Cruise in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with sailings available on three 180-passenger modern river ships: American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony.

After a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, passengers journey through all aspects of American history. You'll visit ports known for ornate mansions (Oak Alley and St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi), Civil War battles (Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vicksburg, Mississippi), music (Memphis and Greenville, Tennessee) and architecture (St. Louis and Dubuque, Iowa). You'll also call on a historic Missouri trading post in Cape Girardeau (a French river port).

Viking River Cruises' 22-day Grand Mississippi Voyage , available in 2024 aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi, also embarks in New Orleans and visits 16 ports in nine states as it cruises north to St. Paul, Minnesota.

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.

You can enjoy excursions in Missouri's most famous big city (St. Louis) and small town (Hannibal) and then visit three ports in Iowa known for their historic architecture and agriculture (including a tour of the John Deere Pavilion). 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.

Bottom line

History buffs and Americana lovers will find plenty to enjoy on a Mississippi River cruise. Your ship will stop in major cities and lesser-known towns, offering excursions to historic sites and evenings spent enjoying locally inspired cuisine and regional music.

The two cruise lines sailing America's most legendary river offer itineraries for every interest on ships designed with mature travelers in mind. Whether you want to visit Civil War sites, see top architectural landmarks or enjoy our country's best-loved musical genres, these two lines will offer a Mississippi River itinerary that will help you do it — in comfort and style as you make new friends on board.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Destinations , Mississippi

Sail along the Mississippi River with the American Steamboat Company

by Emma Smith - 15/11/2018

What better way to explore the history and landscapes surrounding one of the world’s most renowned rivers than aboard an iconic steamboat?

These vessels are a unique tribute to the early 1900s along Mark Twain’s Mississippi River, offering overnight cruising on-board boutique steamboats.

The history of the steamboat

Scottish inventor, James Watt developed the steam engine in 1769, spurring the Industrial Revolution and revolutionising trade and travel across the globe. Some years later, John Fitch was the first inventor to build a steamboat in the U.S., which sailed along the Delaware River for its maiden voyage.

These steamboats have then revolutionised travel and commercial trade across New Orleans and beyond, contributing to the agricultural and industrial economy. The steamboats featured in the American Steamboat Company (ASC) fleet are paddlewheelers, each with an iconic red paddlewheel at the rear.

More recently in 2011, ASC acquired the 1995-built American Queen, which now serves as an elegant river cruising time machine for the 1900s, offering you the perfect opportunity to explore the Mississippi River in style.

Life on-board the American Steamboats

Michael Hicks / Flickr.com , CC BY 2.0

Prepare to travel back in time along the mighty Mississippi aboard one of the ASC fleet, experiencing an era of romance and leisure as you visit storybook-style American towns amongst peaceful panoramas.

Enjoy five- to 23-day voyages when sailing with ASC and experience all of this within your cruise fare:

• One-night hotel stay with breakfast, taxes, porterage and transfers
• Signature hop-on hop-off shore excursions in each port of call
• Exclusive city tours
• Broadway-style entertainment
• All on-board meals with wine and beer at dinner
• Soft drinks, coffees, teas and bottled water throughout your voyage
• Daily lectures by the resident history and culture expert
• Themed voyage entertainment and events
• 24-hour room service

Dining venues aboard ASC feature award-winning culinary teams offering a diverse range of fresh, local ingredients to create exquisite dishes.

American Queen’s two-deck J.M. White Dining Room venue offers a nightly five-course dinner, while American Empress features a lavish Astoria Dining Room which pays homage to the Pacific Northwest with gilded columns, marble and crystal chandeliers.

The custom Italian fabrics and rich accents of the American Duchess’ Grand Dining Room also offers a lavish dining experience, with sweeping windows and river views.

Entertainment

Music is a large influence on steamboat history and there is plenty to enjoy while aboard. American Queen’s Grand Saloon mirrors the opera houses of the 19 th century and offers high-energy cabaret each evening. Jazz, blues, ragtime and bluegrass can also be enjoyed in the Engine Room bar as you sip a nightly tipple.

American Empress provides the perfect venue for entertainment in the Show Lounge, with an elevated ceiling and grand chandeliers. Enjoy a more intimate affair in the Paddewheel Lounge, where solo performances and soft piano music shapes a cosy afternoon well-spent.

American Duchess also features a Show Lounge where dancing, drinking and entertainment are welcomed. This venue offers single-seating shows, live musical performances and distinguished historical dialogue for you to enjoy.

Cultural enrichment

One of the main attractions of sailing aboard the ASC is the award-winning shore excursions, optimised for guests to enjoy plenty of activities and endless enjoyment. ASC has a large fleet of deluxe motorcoaches with talented drivers and staff, taking you to a breadth of tours in each port of call.

Included shore excursions cover a range of hop-on hop-off excursions, hassle-free access to many historic and cultural attractions, narrated city tours and guided walking tours.

Immersive itineraries

The itineraries themselves are just as enjoyable, visiting some of the most popular ports of call along the Mississippi River and allowing you the opportunity to experience the deep south like never before.

Antebellum South –  New Orleans to Memphis

This itinerary cruises along the Lower Mississippi River, exploring the authentic Southern culture and journeying through living history as you experience the romantic spirit of the Antebellum Era. Prepare to be transported back in time as you pass fertile cotton fields, sugar cane plantations, pillared mansions and Civil War battlefields.

M ark Twain’s Mississippi – St. Louis to Minneapolis

Follow the trail of Samuel Clemens’ Mark Twain along the Upper Mississippi River as you explore his childhood hometown of Hannibal which inspired works including  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .

The Enduring Legacy of the Civil War –  Memphis to Chattanooga

The Mississippi River and its many tributaries all offered great strategic value during the Civil War. Set sail along that very same river and encounter the living history and legacy that has been left behind. Enjoy distinguished guest speakers on-board such as Gene Salecker who will discuss the tragedy of the SS Sultana sinking; tribute artist, George Buss who brings President Abraham Lincolm to life in his act; the song and stories of Bobby Horton as he revisits the Civil War; and both Dave Para and Cathy Barton who perform on various stringed instruments.

The American Queen celebrates her 25th anniversary

The American Queen steamboat turns 25 in 2020! With a celebration so huge, the line are offering cruisers the chance to commemorate the occasion. Throughout 2020, American Queen Steamboat Company will offer:

• Special guests and experiences
• Unique amenities and gifts as keepsakes for your trip
• Enhanced cruises designed to bring back the past alongside the present to offer one fun-filled experience

Call our Cruise Concierge if you would like to know more about this remarkable celebration and a chance to sail on-board American Queen.

Enjoy a river cruise with the American Steamboat Company

Each sailing with the American Steamboat Company offers a unique on-the-river perspective, with luxuriously appointed staterooms and suites and sumptuous dining venues boasting interiors inspired by history and menus inspired by nearby regions, as well as plenty cultural enrichment to deliver a truly unforgettable river cruising experience.

Whether you sail aboard American Duchess, Empress or Queen, each vessel is uniquely American and provides unforgettable experiences along the iconic Mississippi River.

Find out more about the Mississippi River and what cruises are available by calling our Cruise Concierge team on  0800 197 0854. They can offer  expert help and assistance with any questions you may have.

About Emma Smith

Emma has more than seven years' experience as a writer and has been in the travel industry for nearly five years. She loves learning about new places and cruise ships coming to market, as well as discovering fun and exciting activities to do while you sail. She has cruised with Princess Cruises, Cunard, Celebrity Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Avalon Waterways and Royal Caribbean and is looking to get something in her diary for 2024! Her favourite things to see on a ship include excellent entertainment, a delicious cocktail menu and extraordinary dining venues.

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6 Responses to “Sail along the Mississippi River with the American Steamboat Company”

can you please tell me how much a trip down the mississipi, flights from uk, thankyou, ps looking to go March 2019

Hi Robert, of course. A member of our Cruise Concierge team will be in touch! Thanks, Emma.

Need 2 single outside. 1 double inside….March or May 2020 Fly from Heathrow.

Hello Peter, thank you for your enquiry. I’ve passed your details on to our Cruise Concierge team, who will be in touch with further information. Thanks, Emma.

Would be very interested to doing one of these Cruises!! We would like an outside cabin for two people We are in NewZealand at the Moment but from the UK Could you please send us all details Thank You Greta & Colin Potter

Hi Greta & Colin, I’ve passed your details on to our Cruise Concierge team who will be in touch with further details. I hope you’re having a great time in New Zealand! Many thanks, Emma.

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Mississippi River Cruises

The arrival of the riverboats changed the landscape and lives of the people along the rivers of the Old South forever. Great sugar and cotton plantations sprang up, and trade boomed along the entire Mississippi River system.

Step back in time to the grand era of steamboating on an authentic paddlewheeler and journey to the heart and soul of America's Deep South on our Mississippi riverboats. Choose the newly built American Heritage , it's sister ship American Eagle or the recently refurbished American Queen, a well-known sight on the Mississippi.

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Visit columned mansions of plantation country; the poignant cemeteries and memorials of the Civil War; the early settlements of the French Acadians; and the bustling major riverports of New Orleans and Memphis.

Hear the music that was born of hardships and triumphs - Delta blues, Dixieland jazz, gospel and zydeco. Revel in local Creole and Cajun tastes like ‘red beans and rice’ and ‘cafe au lait’ and enjoy the spectacular sights along the river, which are much the same as they were over a century ago.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Life in the ‘Big Easy’ blends legendary jazz, fine architecture, laid back ‘laissez-faire’ lifestyle and world-renowned cuisine - Cajun to Creole, beignets to jambalaya.

Memphis, Tennessee

Home of the Blues, Elvis’ Graceland, fascinating Mud Island and the famed bomber aircraft, the Memphis Belle, this historic port city offers a combination of culture and charm.

Nashville, Tennessee

The vibrant city of Nashville, capital of the US state Tennessee, has been influenced by classical, jazz and rock'n'roll music. See the Grand Ole Opry where Elvis performed or the historical Fort Nashborough.

Chicago, Illinois

See the sights and sounds of the popular city of Chicago, famed for its theatres and enjoy spectacular views across Lake Michigan.

The downtown area of the attractive city of Charleston is a step back in time. Some of its plantation houses are open for visitors, including Boone Hall which is still active and producing peaches, pumpkins and strawberries, and the merchant's mansions of National Russell and Heywood-Washington House. Tours through the town can be taken by horse-drawn carriage. Across Ashley River is Mount Pleasant, an old village of colonial houses.

Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee and known as the Blues City. It has many attractions including Elvis Presley’s Graceland with its infamous décor and the Peabody Memphis, a legendary hotel famous for its Peabody Ducks which march to and from the Grand Lobby. Other highlights include Sun Studio where Jonny Cash, Roy Orbison and Elvis recorded music and the National Civil Rights Museum housed in the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated.

New Orleans

With its atmospheric French Quarter, New Orleans, also known as the 'Big Easy', is situated on the Mississippi River. It's possible to explore this small city via the historic streetcars, taking in the French Quarter ' Royal Street for shops and the balconied Galliers House, the Jazz Historical Park and French Market. Pitot House is a typical Creole Plantation House on Moss Street, and paddlewheel steamboat trips can be taken from the harbour.

Oak Alley is situated between the historic cities of new Orleans and Baton Rouge. It has been called the Grand Dame of the Great River Road. A canopy of giant oak trees forms an impressive avenue leading to this classic antebellum home which has been restored to its 19th-century glory.

The graceful town of Savannah has strong roots in America's colonial past, which can be seen in the peaceful squares and fine houses of the Historic District. The Roundhouse Railroad Museum traces the history of railroad construction from the 1830s onwards, and Old Fort Jackson was the HQ for the Confederate Savannah River during the Civil War. East of Savannah is Tybee's Island, which has a scenic shoreline, an 18th-century lighthouse and birdlife attracted by its dunes, sub-tropical forests and salt marshes.

St Francisville

The beautiful small town of St Francisville is located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Its historic centre reveals two centuries of architecture and lifestyles. The town has many historic pklanatation homes, including Myrtles Plantation with its large veranda, impressive ironwork and beautiful stained glass. It is considered one of America’s most haunted homes.

Vicksburg is rich in history and culture. The National Military Park is the city’s main attraction and has over 1000 monuments and markers including the Illinois State Memorial. The city is home to magnificent antebellum mansions, the most famous being Cedar Grove and offers sweeping views of the Mississippi River.

We thoroughly enjoyed this 7 day cruise down the Mississippi at the end of April. Before joining the cruise we spent two nights in Memphis, staying centrally at the Holiday Inn, Downtown, opposite the Peabody hotel, famous for the parade of ducks in the lobby each day. Nearby we visited the Civil Rights Museum, tastefully built behind the facade of the motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated. We also went to the river museum, took a trolley up and down Main Street, and in the evening spent some time in Beale Street, thronged with people, with the Blues booming out from clubs and restaurants. We could also have visited Graceland, about 10 miles out of town.

We joined the boat mid-morning on Saturday. It is a replica of a traditional Steam/Paddle boat. As it was built in 2012 all the amenities are up to date. There were 150 passengers of which 6 were from the UK, 2 from Australia and 2 from Canada. The rest were American. Dining was open seating, the food was good, with complimentary beer and wine at lunch and dinner. The service from the crew was excellent. There were talks about the river in the afternoon and musical entertainment in the evening. We set off on our 400 mile cruise on the winding Mississippi at lunchtime. The river is up to a mile wide the whole way, with a tree- lined embankment. In the afternoon we were fascinated to watch the commercial traffic going up- river. The largest we saw consisted of 42 large barges strung together in rows of 6 by 7 and pushed by a boat called a towboat.

The next day we arrived in Vicksburg and toured the famous civil war battlefield. Then it was on to Natchez and St Francisville, where we went past and also visited some beautifully restored antebellum homes as well as a working cotton plantation. After that we came to Baton Rouge, the state capital of Louisiana, where on a tour we went to the fascinating Louisiana State Museum and the old State Capitol. We had expected to pay for some of the tours, but at the end of the cruise they all turned out to be complimentary. The next day we came to what was probably the highlight of the cruise, a visit to Oak Alley Plantation, a former sugar plantation, with an imposing mansion, approached by a quarter-mile canopy of magnificent giant live oak trees, believed to be more than 300 years old. They are called live oaks because they are evergreeen. Finally, before reaching New Orleans, we were able to do some kite flying from the open deck, taking care to avoid approaching bridges and passing barges.

We disembarked in New Orleans at 8.30am on Saturday morning for a two night stay. We went straight to our hotel, where fortunately our room was ready. Suggest staying at either of the two Marriott hotels in Canal Street close to the French Quarter. Then it was out for more sightseeing, first to Jackson Square, the hub of the French Quarter, a carriage tour round the Quarter, went into the cathedral and French Market and had coffee and doughnuts at the renowned Cafe du Monde. Later we took the hop-on-hop-off bus round this vibrant city, which included a stop at the Mardi Gras Museum, where the floats are made for the annual parade, and took a trolley round the Garden District, lined with more beautiful houses. In the evening we found two good restaurants near our hotel, Galatoires and Dickie Brennans and joined the crowds walking up and down Bourbon Street, with jazz being played everywhere, both on and off the street. All in all a wonderful holiday, which we can highly recommend.

Everything went really well with our Mississippi river cruise holiday. We managed to get a lift with the flight crew to our hotel in Memphis which was a good start! Both hotels,were located in a good position. We had a great night in the BB Kings in Baele Street, Memphis, and the Jazz and Blues Club in Bourbon Street, New Orleans.

The boat was great with a nice room and the food was excellent. We had a great time in New Orleans as well.

Despite our reservations, there were no problems with the return connecting flights. All the security stuff at New Oreals which meant when we arrived at Washington Airport we could transfer easily to our connecting flight.

Thank you for all your help in arranging our holiday.

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Revel in the charm of “America’s Great River” as you set sail along the Mississippi. Admire the historic mansions and grand homes atop its bluffs, and delve into America’s Civil War history. 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.

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What to Know About Mississippi River Cruises — From the Cruise Lines to Top Itineraries

See small towns and bustling cities by boat on a Mississippi River cruise.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

River cruises are a great way to see the world — you can visit several waterfront destinations and watch the scenery pass by from cozy accommodations and top-deck lounges on intimate luxury ships. And while rivers like the Danube and the Rhine are top choices for many travelers, you don't have to go abroad for a memorable river cruise. You can access some of the nation's iconic attractions and favorite cities right from the Mississippi River.

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.

Here's what you need to know about Mississippi River boat cruises, from choice itineraries to popular stops.

Mississippi River Cruise Lines

There are three main cruise lines that offer itineraries along the Mississippi River: Viking River Cruises , American Queen Voyages , and American Cruise Lines . Viking is known for its luxury river, ocean, and expedition cruises to incredible destinations around the world, and trips aboard its 193-stateroom Viking Mississippi adhere to the same standard of service.

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.

The itineraries on American Cruise Lines feature either modern riverboats or old-school paddle wheelers, so you can choose your ideal sailing experience.

All three cruise lines offer similar itineraries along the river, so we recommend looking into the ships, the amenities, and what's included in the rate (like pre-departure hotel stays and excursions) to help make your decision.

Popular Ports on the Mississippi

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.

Passengers on the Upper Mississippi may get the chance to hop off and explore Mark Twain's childhood home in Hannibal, Missouri, stroll the streets of Iowa's oldest city (Dubuque), or marvel at sacred bluffs in Red Wing, Minnesota. Along the Middle Mississippi, there's Paducah, Kentucky, a UNESCO-designated Creative City , and Chester, Illinois, the birthplace of Popeye the Sailor Man.

On the Lower Mississippi, you'll find Cajun culture in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Civil War history in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and music and BBQ in Memphis .

Mississippi River Cruise Itineraries

There are many itineraries to choose from between the three major Mississippi River Cruise lines, but here are our top picks.

Viking River Cruises: America's Great River

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. In between action-packed stops, there's plenty of time to take in the scenery from your veranda or the boat's several public viewing areas.

American Queen Voyages: New Orleans to Memphis

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. There are a few different paddle-wheel riverboats that cruise this route for American Queen Voyages — find the specific ship for your journey when you select a date.

American Cruise Lines: Upper Mississippi River Cruise

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.

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St. Louis to New Orleans

• Get inspired by the possibilities.
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• Experience Memphis, home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n roll
• Discover incredible museums, parks, and architecture in St. Louis
• Learn about the role of Vicksburg, Mississippi in the Civil War
• Immerse yourself in the festive energy of New Orleans
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Full Itinerary

Day 1: st. louis, missouri, day 2: alton, il | embark.

• Accommodation

Day 3: River Cruising

• 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 4: Memphis, TN

Day 5: port of the mississippi delta, day 6: vicksburg, ms, day 7: natchez, ms, day 8: nottoway, la, day 9: new orleans, la | disembark.

• 1 Breakfast

American Countess

Dates & prices, my preferred start date.

Initial deposit is $250 per person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.

Final payment is due 71 days prior to departure by MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, or check

See our general terms and conditions:

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We are an agent for one or more providers on this trip with specific cancellation policies and terms:

• American Queen Steamboat Company - Terms and Conditions 2022 - American Queen Voyages

For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.

• 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
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Review of American Splendor: Music Cities Cruise from Memphis to Nashville on American Cruise Lines riverboat

From the birthplace of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll in Memphis to the home of country music in Nashville, my 8-day cruise aboard the American Splendor was a musical delight. And it was even more wonderful to share the journey with my grandson Logan.

With a fulltime job and night classes at Purdue University, Logan’s life is quite busy. So it was a pleasure to get away together and experience the music from my childhood with a young man who was born decades after the deaths of musical icons like Elvis Presley, W.C. Handy, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Gram Parsons and many more.

“My favorite part of the Music Cities Cruise was learning about artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, and experiencing a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, where they all once performed,” Logan said.

Our cruise started in Memphis with stops along the way in Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville, Tennessee. We also had one full day in Nashville where the Splendor docked at the bottom of famous Broadway Street, also known as Honky Tonk Highway because of the many bars that line the street.

For our journey, Logan and I began with a two-night stay at The Guest House at Graceland before we boarded the ship. All American Cruise Lines passengers receive a complimentary one-night stay before the cruise to make sure everyone is there when the ship departs.

The two-night pre-stay has an extra fee ($725 for a solo passenger or $525 each for two guests in one room) which includes two nights at The Guest House at Graceland, a cocktail party the first night followed by a behind-the-scenes shuttle to Graceland to view Elvis memorabilia that the general public doesn’t get to see.

For our behind-the-scenes, Logan and I got to see and hold (wearing cotton gloves) Elvis’ sparkly black cape that he wore in 1972 Las Vegas concerts. We also saw the sewing basket used by Elvis’ mother Gladys, six Kahlil Gibran books Elvis read and made notes in, Elvis’ monogrammed boots and other personal family items.

Logan holds a cape worn by Elvis along with a photo of Elvis wearing the cape long before Logan was born.

The pre-cruise package also included breakfast both mornings at Delta’s Kitchen at The Guest House, plus admission to Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis (across the street from The Guest House,) a $20 lunch voucher at the huge Graceland facility and a three-hour bus tour around Memphis before boarding our ship.

                                           Splendid American Splendor

As for the American Splendor, the ship certainly lives up to her name. The Splendor is elegant and comfortable. Launched in 2016, the paddlewheeler has a 180-passenger capacity. Our cruise had 154 passengers and 49 crew members.

On the day of boarding the American Splendor riverboat, most of us were down bright and early in the lobby of The Guest House at Graceland. Our luggage had been picked up in our rooms and was being loaded on the waiting American Cruise Lines cruise coach while we enjoyed breakfast at Delta’s Kitchen at The Guest House.

Out cruise coach was easy to spot outside The Guest House. It had huge red, white and blue signs noting that the cruise coach belonged to American Cruise Lines. The coach followed us along the cruise so it would always be there on time when we needed a bus. Smart move by American Cruise Lines.

Soon we were stepping onto the coach for a morning tour around Memphis before embarking on the beautiful American Splendor just in time for lunch.

                                              Cruise coach tour of Memphis

First stop on our motorcoach tour around Memphis was Sun Studio where Elvis made the initial recording that launched his spectacular career. An 18-year-old truck driver for Crown Electric, Elvis plopped down $4 to record “My Happiness,” as a birthday gift for his mother, legend says.

We didn’t tour Sun Studio once owned by Sam Phillips. Just a photo stop.

Next was the Peabody Hotel to watch the morning parade of ducks from their penthouse atop the hotel to the lobby fountain. There the ducks would splash and entertain visitors until it was time to march to hotel elevators to return to their penthouse for the night.

Then came a visit to Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at age 39. The motel exterior looks like it has been stuck in time. Antique automobiles are parked beneath the second-floor balcony where MLK was standing when he was shot by James Earl Ray from a rooming house across the street. Inside is a museum which would have taken several hours to tour. Just a quick stop outside.

                                             Boarding American Splendor

Boarding the ship was easy. Walk on, show ID, head to stateroom to make sure luggage was there, pick up nametags which will be scanned every time we leave the ship and return. Then head to lunch.

Our stateroom

Our stateroom 522 was on the fifth Deck, roomy and comfy with a beautiful balcony with two chairs and a table. The two large beds had quality white bed linens and duvets with nightstands next to both our beds. The room had a long dresser with plenty of drawers, a small closet and a desk, mirror, Keurig coffee maker, large flat screen TV, two chairs and plenty of storage space.

The bathroom had a big shower with a glass door, long sink counter with drawers and storage space underneath. Toiletries are provided unless you want to bring your own.

Our bathroom

Our stateroom was cleaned every day with a turndown each night and a copy of the daily “Ship to Shore” newsletter. The double-sided newsletter contained a wealth of information, including a listing of the day’s activities, when the ship docked and when it left, cell phone numbers for ship officials and much more.

Our stateroom balcony

                                                         Dining

  The dining room on the Main Deck aft was spacious with plenty of room and window views. No reservations needed. No seats assigned. Just walk in, sit down and be prepared to be pampered. Menu choices were plentiful.

Dijon crusted roast pork tenderloin with maple sweet potatoes and applesauce

“The food on our ship was excellent, with options ranging from sweet potato pancakes for breakfast to crab-stuffed lobster tail for dinner,” Logan said. “Every dish was as delicious as the one before it.”

Lemon meringue pie

For those who might get hungry later, the Sky Lounge and River Lounge always had snacks available and refrigerators filled with soft drinks and fruit drinks. A big plus on the American Splendor is that all drinks – wine, beer, cocktails, bottled water, soft drinks, fruit drinks, tea, coffee – are included in the cruise price. No signing a drink tab. Just order a drink at almost any time of day or night and have one served to you.

                                                    Paducah floodwall

I took my first Mississippi River cruise in 1976 on the inaugural cruise of the Mississippi Queen. Since then I’ve returned to the mighty Mississippi and its fellow waterways many times but I always learn something new on any voyage.

Take the bus tour around Paducah. I’ve been to the Kentucky city quite often but never knew about the fun message right in front of my eyes.

A UNESCO Creative City, Paducah is well-known for its National Quilt Museum and its lovely floodwall. On the hop-on, hop-off cruise coach tour around Paducah (no extra cost), tour guide Kim Blaisdell pointed out places of interest and shared fascinating history.

After the Great Flood of 1937 decimated Paducah, a towering floodwall was built and covered in more than 60 beautiful murals by artist Robert Dafford.  Stretching three blocks with a wide sidewalk for easy walking along the floodwall, each 14-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide mural depicts a moment in Paducah’s history.

                                      ‘Hidden’ tidbits on floodwall

I’ve walked the floodwall many times but tour guide Kim shared two “hidden” tidbits on the concrete barrier. In a mural about the old-fashioned Paducah telephone switchboard used before the device was replaced by an electronic computer switching system in 1979, the scene features women working the switchboard.

Look closely at one woman with long brown hair wearing a light blue dress. “It’s Lily Tomlin,” Kim says. “Remember Ernestine the telephone operator in 1969’s Rowman & Martin’s Laugh-In comedy show? That was Lily Tomlin.”

Lily Tomlin is second seated from right

Lily grew up in Detroit but her parents were from Paducah and each summer Lily and her brother would take a bus down to Paducah to visit family. Then I had to Google a video clip to show Logan who in the world this Lily Tomlin person was and why she is honored on the floodwall.

The other tidbit was easily apparent to Logan after tour guide Kim stopped at the mural showcasing Paducah’s history as the “Strawberry Capital of the World” in the early 1940s. That’s when Kim mentioned the song “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

Celebrating Paducah’s strawberry heritage, note the fella in gold paint in center of photo 

Sure enough, sitting in the middle of the strawberry field is an unmistakable guy wearing round wire-rimmed glasses. John Lennon.

John Lennon

                                                 Shipboard music

Since this was a music cruise, the Splendor had plenty of live musical entertainment each evening. Onboard pianist Jay Chalmers must have a repertoire of thousands of musical selections. When passengers requested a certain song, Jay obliged. One evening he came out as Elton John to kick off his show.

Jay Chambers presents music as Elton John.

In Paducah, Terry Mike Jeffrey came aboard for some country and rock songs. Known to specialize in Elvis Presley music, Terry says he started singing for money when he was three years old.

 “I’d stand in front of the jukebox and sing along with it and people would give me a nickel or a dime,” he says. “That’s when it occurred to me that you can make money singing songs. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Terry Mike Jeffrey

In Dover, the Banjocats came aboard for an evening of bluegrass and classical music. The husband and wife team of Jennifer and Michael McLain showed their versatility on other musical instruments as well.

Michael McLain

Jennifer McLain

The last musical group, the Laura White Trio, was cancelled because the Splendor arrived several hours later than expected in Clarksville. A shame because I’ve heard the Laura White Trio before and they are great.

                                           Shipboard activities

The Splendor seemed to have something going on from early morning to late at night. Games, crafts, exercises, mojito tastings, margarita tastings, pilot house tours, culinary demonstration, karaoke, line dancing lessons, trivia, bingo and much more.

Guest speaker Mark Wisner gave interesting talks on subjects such as Mississippi River Hydrology, Mark Twain’s World of Wisdom, The Louisiana Purchase, The Civil War and American Art, Country Music’s Big Bang of 1927 and more.

For a surprise activity, cruise director Julia Settlemire bought a stuffed toy pig when the Splendor docked in Dover for a shore excursion to the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm & Living History Museum. Cuddling the toy, Julia asked passengers to suggest a name for her new critter.

Seated aboard the ship’s rocking pig, Cruise Director Julia Settlemire reads name suggestions for new stuffed pig animal seated on the rocker’s head.

Dozens of names were submitted. Julia unveiled the creative pig names in the River Lounge with passengers choosing the most popular. Quite appropriate for our Music Cities Cruise, the name Piggy Sue was picked – a salute to the 1957 “Peggy Sue” song by Buddy Holly.

                                                Grand Ole Opry

  In Nashville, the American Splendor had the perfect docking space – right at the bottom of Broadway where we could walk to many main attractions or ride the cruise coach. Arriving the night before, we had a whole day in Nashville, capped off by a night at the Grand Ole Opry before our cruise ended.

After breakfast on that big Nashville day, Logan and I walked to the County Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum and the Patsy Cline Museum. Plus we looked into many of the bars where live music was blaring – Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar, Kid Rock’s Big A$$ Honky Tonk, John Rich’s Redneck Riviera Bar, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar and many more.

“I was pleasantly surprised by how many great places there were to see in Nashville, all within walking distance from where we docked,” Logan said.

Logan with the American Splendor conveniently docked in downtown Nashville.

After a buffet dinner onboard the ship, we boarded cruise coaches for the Grand Ole Opry that was part of the cruise package. No extra charge. Settled into our ticketed seats we saw Rhonda Vincent, Maggie Rose, Kruger Brothers, Gavin Adcock, Mandy Barnett, Dusty Slay, Flatland Cavalry and Don Schlitz take the stage.

“When we entered the concert hall of the Grand Ole Opry, I was surprised at how close and intimate the stage felt with the audience,” Logan said. “The choice of pew-style seating gave the venue a unique appearance that perfectly suited the country music atmosphere.”

                                                Special circle at Opry House

In the center stage of the Grand Ole Opry is a special piece of wood. It is from the old Ryman Auditorium. Can you imagine what it has seen? If it could talk, think about all the legends it could tell about.

Over the years, thousands of performers have stood on this circle – Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens.

Known as ‘The King of Country Music,’ Roy Acuff (1903-1991) is honored standing on the old Ryman stage circle in a photo at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Even a skinny truck driver from Memphis named Elvis Presley. Singing a rocked-up version of Bill Monroe’s bluegrass “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” Elvis did not receive a warm welcome for his first and only Opry performance on Oct. 2, 1954. Instead, he was told to go back to driving a truck.

                                        Piece of the old Ryman Auditorium

When the Grand Ole Opry moved to its present 4,400-seat home at the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, the circular section of the old Ryman stage was taken along as a reminder of the place the Opry had called home for more than three decades.

From its simple beginnings on Nov. 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has never missed a Saturday night broadcast. Its audience, at first only a few hundred with primitive radios and crystal sets, has grown to include millions around the world.

It used to be that the Opry was pure country, but that isn’t so anymore. When I attended a show back in 2006, one of the performers was a 16-year-old girl making her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.

Her first disc wouldn’t hit the shelves until a month later but, judging from the enthusiastic audience, newcomer Taylor Swift was already beginning her rapid ascent to stardom.

The show has a little bit of everything. And, as Porter Wagoner used to say, if you don’t like one singer, you can just wait a few minutes and the show will have out someone you do like. You never know what you’ll see or hear in that unbroken performance circle at the Grand Ole Opry.

The next morning, we departed the American Splendor and boarded an American Cruise Lines cruise coach once again for the airport and our flight back to Indy. Logan and I are still talking about what we saw and heard on our Music Cities Cruise. Many magical music memories.

Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch

  On American Splendor, these are the costs included in the fare:

• All onboard alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• All meals. No specialty restaurants or added costs.
• All ship gratuities for ship staff.
• Pre-cruise hotel stay
• Most shore excursions

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Midwest Travel

A houseboat getaway on the Mississippi tunes in to the Great River’s rhythms

You can rent a houseboat to explore the islands, bluffs and wildlife around the Mississippi River’s Pool 9.

By Lisa Meyers McClintick

I’ve never volunteered so quickly to wash dishes. The view helped.

A bald eagle was perched in a tree about 30 feet away. We watched each other as I cleaned plates and pans from chili and grilled cheese made in the kitchen of a houseboat that rocked gently beneath my feet. The rocking picked up tempo when a boater buzzed past, leaving a washboard wake.

I had grown up visiting my grandma’s tiny cabin above the Mississippi River outside Wabasha, Minn., back when the fish couldn’t be eaten (too many contaminants) and eagles were never seen after farm chemicals decimated their population. I also drive across the Mississippi River several times a week near home in St. Cloud.

Yet here in this houseboat near Lansing, Iowa, 10 miles south of the Minnesota border, it felt like I could, for the first time, connect to the river on an intimate level, rocking with its rhythms and admiring its wildlife from the shore of a sandbar near Island No. 143 in Pool 9 .

My husband, Bob, and I met a group of friends at S&S Boat Rentals in Lansing at the tail end of the season in 2022. On the 60-foot Party Top Sharpe, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a dining area maximized every inch of space on the lower level, while the upper deck was reserved for embracing the breeze while cruising past the steep bluffs of the Driftless Area.

Catching up on that upper deck while parked in the marina on our first night, we waved at the crew piloting a barge headed upriver. Not long afterward, the now-defunct American Countess cruise ship paddled its way beneath the Black Hawk Bridge on its way downriver. It rounded a river bluff, with the sun dropping behind it.

S&S co-owner Blake Schoh joined us on board the next morning and gave us the rundown for piloting the boat. Karl Schneider, the most experienced boater among us, listened intently to instructions on the motor, the generator, steering, parking on sandbars, setting the anchor and staying in the main channel — the only water deep enough for the houseboat.

We had to simultaneously avoid barges that stretch up to 1,000 feet and be wary of the dreaded wing dams — a kind of erosion control — that could lurk below the water and damage your watercraft.

“It’s an ever-changing environment,” said Schoh.

After our lesson, we spent the day cruising the southern end of so-called Pool 9, a 31-mile-stretch of the Mississippi between Genoa, Wis., and Harper’s Ferry, Iowa. We passed skeletal trees where cormorants stood with wings fully stretched to dry out. Another bald eagle watched from the Wisconsin shoreline, and we motored past a long parade of white pelicans feeding and preening for their migratory flight south.

At night, we fired up the grill and enjoyed what may have been our best steaks ever. Sure, food seems to taste better when enjoyed outdoors or with friends, but those steaks also came from the 100-year-old City Meat Market in nearby New Albin, Iowa.

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“There’s a meat vending machine for after hours,” said Kim Schneider, who brought the steaks. Meat vending machine? We put it on our must-do list for the road trip home.

Going to sleep that night among the islands and eagles, with the slight rock of the river, felt comforting on a primal level.

In the morning, it was tempting to stay in bed with a sliding-glass door facing the river with its wisps of fog and a rosy glow. Instead, I threw on a fleece and climbed quietly to the upper deck with my camera. I found Kim already there, likewise soaking in the spectacle of gold, pink and lavender clouds mirrored by the Mississippi. With the crisp almost-fall weather and a cup of coffee, there was no better way to launch a new day.

Where to sleep

Reservations with S&S Houseboats are three or four nights, with this year’s season extended until early October. The family business also rents fishing boats and pontoons to get into the backwaters. Boaters can dock and camp at 30-some first-come first-served campsites on Pool 9. S&S will also park houseboats on an island for customers uncomfortable with navigating them ( ssboatrentals.com ).

Blackhawk Park , a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground along the shore of Pool 9, can be found north of De Soto, Wis. It includes a boat launch, fishing pier and beach ( recreation.gov ).

Where else to go

The three-story Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing offers an interactive overview of what makes this part of the Midwest unique, from geology and wildlife (including live snakes) to the importance of the river for travel, fish, trapping beavers and using clam and mussel shells for buttons. It also offers some of the best river views.

Lansing’s Mount Hosmer City Park offers blufftop views of the Mississippi, its islands and the cantilevered Black Hawk Bridge connecting Wisconsin and Iowa.

Nearby Effigy Mounds National Monument gives insight into burial mound-building ancestral cultures linked to 20 modern tribal nations. It’s a steep but worthy hike up Fire Point Trail to river overlooks and past some of the more than 200 mounds, including one shaped like a bear ( nps.gov/efmo ).

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge , marking its 100th anniversary, stretches 261 miles from Wabasha, Minn., to Rock Island, Ill. If you can’t get on a boat, stop at Minnesota’s Brownsville Wildlife Overlook along U.S. Hwy. 61 for views of sheltered areas where waterfowl such as wigeons, goldeneyes and pintails gather during migration ( fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river ).

Where to eat

Lansing’s Safe House Saloon showcases hundreds of bottle caps, booths hung with velvet curtains, and a Main Street building that feels full of history. They’re known for craft beer, deep-fried cheese curds and wings; pizzas range from classics to shrimp and crab or one combining al pastor meat, enchilada sauce and pineapple ( safehousesaloon.com ).

City Meat Market in New Albin was the first smokehouse in Iowa when it opened in 1882. The vending machine out front — surely another “first” — dispenses sausages, jerky and pre-wrapped refrigerated meat after hours ( citymeatnewalbin.com ).

St. Cloud-based freelance writer Lisa Meyers McClintick has written more than 130 travel features for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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