DESTINATIONS AMERICAN RIVERS CRUISE


America Line, started cruising the Mississippi in 2016 but its vessel is currently out of operation, due to return to service in late summer 2018.


w ELVIS AND THE CIVIL WAR The most popular voyage on the Mississippi is a one-week cruise between Memphis and New Orleans – an eclectic journey that starts with Elvis, the history of rock’n’roll and the civil rights movement, and moves on to the American Civil War, slavery and grand plantation houses. Round-trip cruises from New Orleans are also popular. They don’t have Elvis but they do have the advantage of direct British Airways flights from London to the Big Easy. These Lower Mississippi cruises


operate mostly in spring, autumn and winter. In summer, vessels move north and offer itineraries on the upper stretches of the river and its tributaries. American Cruise Lines, for instance, sails between St Louis and Pittsburgh in June and July, a cruise that pairs the Mississippi with the Ohio River, and between St Louis and Nashville, combining the Mississippi and Cumberland rivers. From $3,695 cruise-only for seven nights departing


September 8 including a pre-cruise hotel night.


The eclectic sailing starts with Elvis and civil rights and moves on to the Civil War, slavery and grand plantation houses


American Queen has nine-day cruises on the Mississippi between St Louis and Red Wing, Minneapolis, that visit Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal; and voyages on the Ohio River between Louisville and Pittsburgh that spend a day in Cincinnati. From £3,395 departing July 8 including flights and a pre-cruise hotel night. American Duchess has nine-day


voyages between Chattanooga and Nashville on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, and voyages between St Louis and Ottawa, a town on the Illinois River about 80 miles south of Chicago. From £3,895 for nine days departing August 12 including flights and a pre-cruise hotel night. And for those who just can’t


ABOVE: American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi


LEFT: American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen


54 travelweekly.co.uk 8 March 2018


decide, an epic 23-day cruise from New Orleans to Red Wing offers the ultimate Mississippi adventure. From £5,995, departing August 19, including flights and one pre-cruise hotel night. American Cruise Lines has a similar long cruise from $11,270 cruise-only for 22 days, departing August 4. Both companies offer free tours at each port that visit local landmarks and museums (AQSC uniquely has hop-on hop-off buses so passengers can dip in and out of the places that interest them) and various optional excursions.


American Cruise Lines, for instance,


has a free tour of Nashville and a paid- for trip to Frogmore Plantation


PICTURE: TYLER KAUFMAN


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