Cruise United States | American Cruise Lines, Cruise the Mississippi River: New Orleans to Saint Louis

Days 1 - 2: Your Home City / New Orleans, Louisiana

Arrive in New Orleans and check-into your premium pre-cruise hotel, enjoying the remainder of the day exploring the French Quarter, or sample a favorite beignet. Following breakfast in the morning, meet your transfer to your American Cruise Lines ship for embarkation. Settle into your stateroom before joining your fellow travelers and celebratory crew for a welcome reception, followed by a delicious dinner in the grand dining room.

Day 3: Baton Rouge

This morning, awaken in the rich capital city of Louisiana for a day of history and fascination on a variety of shore excursions. After a delicious breakfast, meet your guide for a beaded Mardi Gras welcome before touring the state capitol and state museum, featuring interactive films and displays for a peek of legendary Baton Rouge. For a glance of the Old South, head to the Rosedown Plantation, once a working 19th-century cotton plantation, for a tour of the main house, luxurious furnishings, towering oaks and formal gardens as you immerse in the antebellum days. Or, pay reverence to those who served in the armed forces of World War II as you explore the USS Kidd, known as the Pirate of the Pacific.

Day 4: Natchez, Mississippi

An important port of the cotton trade once inhabited by Natchez Indians and French explorers, go ashore and discover the elegant mansions, casual charm and hospitality of Natchez. Take a shuttle through town to explore at your leisure or tour the historic Longwood, an octagonal home never completed due to the outbreak of the Civil War. Choose an optional visit to the Frogmore Plantation to participate in a live gospel performance and to pick cotton on this 1,800-acre estate. Or, spend the afternoon exploring the unique antebellum-style and artworks of the J. N. Stone House, complete with an exclusive piano concert and refreshments in the music hall.

Day 5: Vicksburg, Mississippi

| Where Southern hospitality and Civil War history converge, discover wartime relics, Antebellum mansions, intriguing landmarks, monuments and more in the "Queen City of the Bluff." Travel the front lines of the Civil War on an exclusive guided tour of Vicksburg National Military Park, commemorating one of the most decisive Civil War battles. Discover cannons, monuments and the restored Union gunboat, USS Cairo, raised from the depths of the Mississippi River, for a noteworthy experience.

Day 6:  Mississippi River

Revel in a relaxing day onboard as you sail the waters of the Mississippi River. Sit back and watch the miles of historic, scenic shoreline go by from the top deck, lounge or your favorite picture window. Workout at the fitness center, play a game of bocce or immerse in an onboard enrichment program. Then, delight in a pre-dinner cocktail party as a prelude to a tantalizing dinner in the grand dining room, followed by evening entertainment.

Day 7: Memphis, Tennessee

Birthplace of the delta blues and good ole rock 'n' roll, join a narrated city excursion as you discover Mud Island, Cotton Row, National Civil Rights Museum and the historical Pinch District. For Elvis fans, reserve the signature excursion to visit Graceland, once home of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," housing his famous jumpsuits, gold records, the famous Jungle Room and collection of automobiles and custom jets.

Day 8: New Madrid, Missouri

Savor a delightful breakfast this morning before immersing in the character and culture of New Madrid. Take a hayride pulled by a tractor through the picturesque, quaint town to the Historical Museum, showcasing 200 years of the oldest town west of the Mississippi River. Continue your down-home journey, with sights of the Higgerson School, Hunter Dawson State Historic Site and the River Walk Gallery, with an option to stop at any sites along the way.

Day 9: Paducah, Kentucky

Step back in time as you experience Paducah's rich history with a choice of shore excursions today. Just a short stroll from the dock, learn about the Four Rivers region at the River Discovery Center, its interactive exhibits, working lock and dam models and pilothouse simulator, allowing guests to command your own riverboat. For a guided experience, tour the many historical sites downtown before a stroll along the riverfront to witness more than 50 life-sized murals of the city's past including Native American history and Civil War depictions, with time to see the Old Carnegie Library and National Quilt Museum.

Day 10: Ohio River Cruising

Enjoy a leisurely day onboard as you sail the waters of the Ohio River. Sit back and listen to the gentle sounds of the paddlewheel, as the ever-changing scenery rolls along with the tranquil waters. Then, delight in pre-dinner cocktail party as a prelude to a farewell dinner, featuring tantalizing seasonal cuisine and favorite beverages, followed by live entertainment onboard. Toast to your fellow sailors as you continue your enchanting Mississippi river voyage and sail to your final port.

Day 11: St. Louis, Missouri

Following your final meal onboard this morning, disembark in St. Louis, the "Gateway To the West." Opt to spend the day discovering the scenic riverfront, botanical gardens and the famous Gateway Arch for a grand finale to your river cruise, or consider adding a post-cruise stay in this world-class city.