Monday, April 1, 2024

11 BEST Mississippi River Cruises 2024 Prices + Itineraries: Cruises to Mississippi River on Cruise Critic

cruise the mississippi river

Spring (late March through mid-June) and autumn (September through November) are the best times of year to go on a river cruise in the US. 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. Nestled among the scenic bluffs of the Upper Mississippi River, Red Wing's beauty has inspired craftsmen and artisans for over 150 years. Enjoy a show at the historic Sheldon Performing Arts Theatre or observe the beauty of nature at one of Red Wing’s 38 parks. Today is a day to revel in the scenery, as along the legendary Mississippi River.

Day By Day Itinerary

Explore the charming downtown, located only two blocks from our dock, where you peruse local boutiques, coffee shops, and eateries. Our onboard experts bring the stories of the River to life and provide context to each shore experience we provide along the way. This epic 23-day exploration of America begins in New Orleans and travels north, visiting new ports of call each day before concluding in Minneapolis. In Baton Rouge, you can visit the Capitol Park Museum, which showcases exhibits dedicated to Louisiana's musical heritage and Mardi Gras traditions.

Day by Day

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. Times have changed, but not in Downtown Tunica, with Main Street buildings just as they were at the turn of the century.

Grand Heartland

Since 1716, when the French first built a fort here among the Natchez Indians, the town has grown to boast elaborate mansions built by planters in the 1800s to flaunt their wealth. Once serving as an antebellum sugar cane plantation, Oak Alley Plantation is rightfully named after its most distinguishing feature, a canopy of 300-year-old oak trees that form a quarter-mile path leading to the Mississippi River. Restored to its 19th-century grandeur, this classic Greek Revival-style antebellum mansion is simply breathtaking. In Oak Alley, Louisiana, guests can tour a Greek Revival mansion on a sugar plantation built and maintained by slaves.

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. For an 8- or 9-day cruise, the average cost of a Mississippi River cruise is around $4,000 per person in a stateroom. Viking offers complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner.

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

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. History and culture unfold as you traverse the Mississippi on this enriching voyage. Enjoy relaxing scenic sailing and unparalleled bird-watching as the landscape changes between the bluffs of the North and the bayous of the South. Along the way, tap your feet to the rhythm of American folk, soul and jazz music—and taste a delicious array of regional cuisine.

Which cruise lines do Mississippi River cruises?

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. Sail along the Mississippi River, an important region with diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Experience New Orleans, famed for the old-world architecture of its iconic French Quarter. Explore the oldest city on the Mississippi, Natchez, with over 200 historic Southern estates. Immerse yourself in the blues with Viking’s Privileged Access Mississippi Delta experience.

cruise the mississippi river

Riverboats at the Gateway Arch Kick Off 60th Season - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S - National Park Service

Riverboats at the Gateway Arch Kick Off 60th Season - Gateway Arch National Park (U.S.

Posted: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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. Explore Downtown Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City, and admire its preserved architecture. Explore St. Paul’s historic districts graced with late 19th- and early 20th-century mansions.

Upcoming Cruises

Known as the Heart and Soul of the Mississippi Delta, the city of Greenville offers visitors unique insight into traditional southern living. Enjoy a relaxing trip through the historic sites of the largest city in Mississippi, including Cotton Row, the Mount Holly Plantation, and the Weatherbee House. Step off your ship docked right at Houmas House and explore one of the most elaborately renovated of the grand homes along the river, once a private home and a thriving historical agricultural enterprise.

St. Paul’s enchanting art galleries, world-class museums, and entertaining stage performances will capture your imagination. End the day by visiting Mounds Park, where visitors are treated to a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Travel to the birthplace of jazz, blues, and rock–n-roll as our talented onboard musicians entertain you with songs born along the river.

Overlooking the river from atop a high, St. Francisville began as a part of Spanish West Florida in the early 1800s until American settlers overthrew the Spanish governing forces, and the region later became part of the United States. 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. Viking is a newcomer to the Mississippi River, and all sailings are aboard the 386-guest Viking Mississippi. 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.

Entertaining and knowledgeable guides will escort you through the magnificently restored home’s unmatched collection of stunning period furnishings and artwork. The ornately landscaped grounds include 38 acres of gardens, fountains, and majestic live oak trees. 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. 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. In addition to visiting monuments and museums, you'll enjoy onboard lectures and presentations and interaction with other Civil War buffs.

Discover Memphis, the birthplace of Memphis blues and a center of civil rights history. The new kid on the Mississippi is the Viking Mississippi, a 386-passenger, five-deck vessel that first set sail in September 2022. The cutting-edge cruise is Viking’s first foray in the US, adding to their fleet of more than 90 ocean, river, and expedition vessels navigating the world’s seven continents.

From the coast of Maine, to the mighty Mississippi and Pacific Northwest, our Free Cruise Guide provides detailed information about all of our more than 50 U.S. itinerary options. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. Experience this town’s rich history on your own or with a variety of guided excursions.

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