A Tauck Exclusive Private Performance For Our Guests Only At New Orleans Legendary Preservation Hall
Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street in New Orleans, Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor one of Americas truest art forms traditional New Orleans Jazz. Operating as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit organization, Preservation Hall continues its mission today as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture presenting intimate, acoustic traditional jazz concerts over 350 nights a year, featuring ensembles of local master musicians. And on New Orleans and Mississippi River Plantation Country, youll enjoy the rare privilege of a private performance for our guests only at legendary Preservation Hall, in the heart of the Birthplace of Jazz.
Atmosphere Aboard The Steamboat Natchez
The Natchez is a beautiful vessel, providing a historic and elegant atmosphere with stunning views of the city
Hop on board and her gothic features will immediately transport you back in time! Stroll the beautiful ship in all of its glory, including outdoor decks and seating. Check out the museum-quality engine room and admire the steam technology and intricate pipework that delivers the power to the paddlewheel! Enjoy breathtaking views of the city as you cruise the Mississippi and enjoy a night of great food and music.
A Guide To Boat Tours And River Cruises Around Minneapolis And
Expect to shell out a bit more for tickets on Paradise cruises, with most tickets running $35-40 per person. Location Downtown Minneapolis: 2150 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Location Port of Excelsior/Lake Minnetonka: 2 Water St, Excelsior, MN 55331. Website: Paradise Charter Cruises.
Discoverthecities.com
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Sightseeing Cruises On The Mississippi River From Memphis
The classic choice is the 90-minute Memphis Sightseeing Cruise, which presents a Memphis city tour and riverboat cruise in one. Over the course of your 7- to 10-mile roundtrip journey, youll enjoy views of downtown Memphis and the riverfront, Presidents Island and the Wolf River Tributary, a mix of urban and natural scenic views. Your captain narrates the trip, sharing points of interest and historic tidbits along the way, from Mark Twains 19th-century connections to Memphis to Tom Lees heroic rescue on the river in 1925. And of course, the boat itself is full of charm, from the decorative gingerbread detailing on deck to the big red paddlewheel in back. Snacks, drinks and alcohol, as well as souvenir photos, are available for purchase on board, and the tours are family-friendly. Most days, the tours leave at 2:30 p.m., but in high season, a second tour may be added at 5:30 p.m. Check the full Memphis riverboat cruise schedule to book.
Creole Queen Jazz Cruise
Step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era with a cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen! Experience the lively sounds of traditional New Orleans music while enjoying a lavish Creole Buffet in our elegantly appointed dining room. After dinner, and maybe a little dancing, enjoy a classic New Orleans cocktail and sweet Mississippi River breezes on our promenade deck as the city skyline slips by under a canopy of stars. This nighttime cruise is pure New Orleans.
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Full Steam Ahead For American Cruise Lines Mississippi Riverboat
American Cruise Lines newest riverboat for the Mississippi River has passed sea trials and is on its way to New Orleans for an on-time start to its inaugural season on the Mighty Mississippi.
American Cruise Lines announced that it has accepted delivery of the American Symphony from Chesapeake Shipbuilding as scheduled. American Symphony is the 5th riverboat in the Lines ground-breaking new series and the 15th small ship built by Chesapeake for American. The 175-passenger new boat will immediately join the companys expanding Mississippi River fleet. American Symphonys first cruise is set to depart August 27th from New Orleans, and American Cruise Lines plans to christen the riverboat during its inaugural cruise on August 30th in Natchez, Mississippi.
American Symphony is part of our ongoing commitment to leading the U.S. River Cruise market by introducing innovative small ships every year, said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. Smaller is better on the rivers. We look forward to American Symphonys first season on the Mississippi, as well as the introduction of sister ship American Serenade early next year.
A virtual 360-degree tour of Americans new riverboats is available here: American Cruise Lines Virtual Riverboat Tour. Ship photos and tours are available at all times on the companys main website under the ships tab.
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Cruises On The Mississippi River
Launched in 2015, American Cruise Lines 150-passenger American Heritage is dedicated to Mississippi river cruises.
The most traveled Mississippi river cruises are between New Orleans and Memphis or St. Louis. There are also a few full-length New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota or reverse cruise each summer.
You can also journey east of the Mississippi river and cruise the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers.
If youre wondering if Mississippi river cruise ships have a casino, the answer is no. Overnight Mississippi river cruise ships do not have a casino.
However, an option would be to take a taxi from the ship if the port that you are at has a nearby casino. Just dont miss the boat!
Disclosure: I was a guest of American Cruise Lines aboard American Heritage. As always, all opinions are my own. It was a wonderful week and I heartily recommend this cruise.
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Im the editor and creator of CruiseMaven.com, a solo traveler cruising the world on waves and wheels, collecting recipes along the way. I hope my articles and photos entertain, advise and inspire you to travel the world without flying. Take a breathstop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way.
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Epic New Magic Of The Mississippi Cruise Takes You To Memphis Graceland And New Orleans
Imagine Cruisings Magic of the Mississippi River Cruise is one for the bucket list with an itinerary that includes the likes of Memphis, Graceland and New Orleans
- 18:07, 2 Aug 2022
Picture yourself sailing down the Mississippi River onboard an iconic steamboat, stopping off at some of the USAs most vibrant cities, spotting majestic wildlife and ticking off a host of bucket list-worthy experiences.
Well, thats exactly what Imagine Cruising is offering with its new 12-night holiday.
The All-Inclusive Magic of the Mississippi River Cruise has everything you could want for a holiday of a lifetime, from an epic itinerary that includes the likes of Memphis, Elvis Presleys Graceland and New Orleans, to your home-away-from-home on the American Queen, the largest steamboat ever built.
Oh, and there will be plenty of exciting entertainment onboard, with one highlight being a special live performance from jazz and soul singer Kandace Springs.
The holiday kicks off with plenty of thrills courtesy of a three-night stay in Memphis, Tennessee, right in the heart of Carnival season.
Spend your nights throwing yourself into the celebrations and live music, and while away the days with fascinating trips including an audio-guided tour of Elvis Presleys home Graceland, as well as a trip to the Rock n Soul museum.
Want to be on board? Prices start from £3,499pp for the holiday, departing on February 17, 2023. You can already book on imagineholidays.co.uk.
Viking Mississippi Aquavit Terrace
Viking Mississippi Aquavit Terrace
According to Viking, its boat will be the largest and most modern cruise ship on the river, sailing between New Orleans and St. Paul. The international cruise company is making a major commitment to tourism along the river, with the new cruises expected to bring more than 5,800 guests to the region in 2022 and 17,600-plus during the first full sailing season in 2023.
Cruises start at $3,999. Scheduled ports of call currently include seven states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. vikingrivercruises.com
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Riverboat City Of New Orleans
A mixture of old-world charm and modern amenities, this totally renovated stern wheeler, the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, set sail in Fall 2020. The newest paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River features three beautiful decks with stunning décor and a marvelous roof top viewing deck. She offers two-hour daytime cruises introducing you to the Port and skyline of New Orleans with riverfront narration and options for lunch or a Sunday brunch. The Evening Jazz Cruise provides a mystical night on the Mighty Mississippi, and the option for dinner service prepared fresh on board. It features the Grammy nominated Dukes of Dixieland band, full bar and wine list, for an evening to remember. When you hear the calliope, its time to board! Private functions on each of the three enclosed decks are available. Docked at Toulouse Street & the Mississippi River in the heart of the French Quarter.
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More Information On New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise
True to tradition in every detail, boarding the NATCHEZ makes you feel as if you have entered another era. The captain barks his orders through an old-time hand-held megaphone. The calliope trills a melody into the air while the great wheel, 25 tons of white oak, churns the heavy waters of the Mississippi. You soon find yourself slipping into a sense of the old, vast and timeless river.
As the NATCHEZ glides past the French Quarter and through one of the worlds most active ports, you begin to understand the magic of the experience. For all its history and romance, the excitement of riding a steamboat is as real and rich and genuine now as it was a century ago.
Your casual buffet-style dinner consists of offerings such as Blackened Fish Lafitte, Pork Loin, Stemboat Round , Rotini Pasta Primavera, Red Beans and Rice, Soup du Jour,, Steamboat Salad, Sweet and Golden Brabant Potatoes, Creole Creamed Spinach, and rounded off with New Orleans White Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert. All meals are prepared fresh on board. You can enjoy your meal indoor or outdoor as you listen to live jazz by the world renowned Dukes of Dixieland. Get your eTicket now to board the Steamboat NATCHEZ and savor a New Orleans experience you wont soon forget!
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Queen Of The Mississippi
Queen of the Mississippis ambiance and décor of the mid-19th century were accurately duplicated throughout each the four decks, the spacious public areas and all of the cabins. Beautiful ornate woodwork, plush cushioned sofas and chairs and a sun deck with dozens of white wooden rocking chairs were evocative of a small step back in time.
All 150 passengers were mostly seniors and mostly Americans, with a few Brits and Australians. Everyone got into the 1800s spirit even before the complimentary wine was poured at lunch and dinner.
A few men and women were wearing straw or ribboned hats and other small bits of wearable nostalgia. At embarkation, crew members were dressed as though they were sent from Central Casting. Its a Mississippi river cruise thing.
- Vicksburg, Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee
The river cruise price tag included a one-night pre-cruise stay at The Whitney Hotel in New Orleans. This made it very convenient for the cruise line to pick up almost all of their guests from one location in town to go to the port. It also assured that everyone would be on board and checked in well before sailaway time.
Before dinner chimes were even heard, Queen of the Mississippi was underway and headed upstream for an evening port visit.
En Route To Oak Alley Louisiana
American Heritage left New Orleans well before dinner chimes were heard. We were heading upstream for an evening port visit. Oak Alley, Louisiana.
Only a few hours into our Mississippi river cruise was our first port town Vacherie, Louisiana for a stop at Oak Alley Plantation. Aglow at sunset, the plantation was quite a spectacular sight.
Maybe it was the 300-year old canopy of live oaks or the warm glow from the porch lights.
An evening stroll along the 1/4 mile path from the ships gangway to the double-door plantation house entrance was a good way to walk off dinner. Set Mr. Peabodys Wayback Machine to the year 1837.
Once a wealthy sugar plantation, Oak Alley was built on the backbone of slavery. Between 110 and 120 men, women and children lived in bondage at the plantation. Almost all Mississippi river cruises stop at Oak Alley.
Next morning, any apparitions disappeared with the light of day, or so I hoped. Tour guides in period costume guided us through many of the rooms, chatting up the history and events from the plantations nearly 200-year old existence.
After the tour, and roasting in the heat and humidity, everyone slowly sauntered back towards the Mississippi river. Our awaiting air-conditioned ship was a welcome sight.
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Evening Jazz Cruise With Dinner Option
Savor the beauty and romance of the New Orleans skyline aboard the Dinner Jazz Cruise. The Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS decks, engine room, and bars will be open for your enjoyment either before or after dinner depending upon your seating time. Included in the Dinner Jazz ticket price is the cruise, buffet dinner, and entertainment by the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz trio. Gratuities and alcoholic beverages are not included in the ticket price.
Cruise Highlights:
Sightseeing River Cruises In Louisiana
See the sights from a different perspective aboard a riverboat cruise offering sweeping views of the water and surrounding landscape.
Daily cruises on the Steamboat Natchez the only steamboat in New Orleans provide passengers an up-close look at this bustling port city. The paddle wheeler departs near historic Jackson Square twice daily, letting riders soak up the buzz of the city while listening to live jazz music and digging in to a lunch buffet.
During this two-hour cruise, youll learn why the city was founded on this beautiful crescent of the lower Mississippi River through live narration of the areas history. Smartphone signs on board direct you on a self-guided tour and the museum-quality Steam Engine Room is open to visitors.
A two-hour weekly Sunday Jazz Brunch Cruise offers the same sightseeing and live music, along with drinks and a mouthwatering brunch featuring local flavors like chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, a waffle station and bananas foster!
The American Queen departs from Baton Rouge.
The American Duchess in Baton Rouge.
New Orleans’ deluxe paddle wheeler, Creole Queen.
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Dinner & Dancing River Cruises
River cruises take on an even more romantic feel as the sun goes down, with evening dinner and dancing tours that make for a great date night with someone special or a perfect, floating backdrop for a celebration with family and friends.
In New Orleans, the deluxe 800-passenger paddle wheeler Creole Queen offers a daily Mississippi River Dinner Jazz Cruise with live music and a lavish Creole feast. After dinner, you can enjoy a signature Louisiana cocktail and take a stroll on the deck or a spin on the dance floor.
The renovated 2,500-passenger Riverboat Louis Armstrong operates as a floating jazz club and restaurant, with three interior levels and an open air deck that offers the best views from the river. Fun fact: The boats name was inspired by the jazz greats own life story. Too young to play trumpet in the city’s bars, Armstrong instead played on the docks near where steamboats stopped along the Mississippi River, eventually making his way on board.
Culture & History Of The New Orleans Cruise Port
Theres no other city in the U.S. quite like New Orleans thanks to its unique heritage. The city was founded in 1718 by French colonists and was part of France until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 when it joined with the U.S. Since then, it has gained a multi-cultural ambiance that combines French and Spanish Creole with southern roots and an eclectic arts and music scene. The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and took a long time to recover, but today it has gotten its groove back and is a great place to visit on a cruise.
From a cultural standpoint, youll find that locals are passionate about the citys jazz music and Creole cuisine. The other thing that defines this citys culture is the annual Mardi Gras festival, a celebration that occurs 47 days before Easter. Its one of the largest celebrations in the U.S. with parades, concerts, food, and those famous Mardi Gras beads.
New Orleans Port Facilities & Location
New Orleans cruises pull into port at the Julia Street Cruise Terminal Complex, which was originally built for the 1984 Worlds Fair that took place in New Orleans. It became a cruise terminal in 1991 and has undergone many makeovers over the decades. Today, it has an air-conditioned gangway, covered drop-off and pick-up area, and two berths that span enough space to accommodate large cruise ships. Julia Street Cruise Terminal is located right by shops and restaurants and is just a mile away from Bourbon Street.
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Complete Mississippi River Cruise
On this 16-day Complete Mississippi River Cruise from Minneapolis to New Orleans, watch landscapes, cultures and even language transform each new experience as rare and beautiful as the last. Traversing the entire Mississippi River is a true bucket-list experience.
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