Highlights of the Mississippi River Cruise

Pre-Cruise

On our Highlights of the Mississippi River cruise, we offer a Complimentary Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay in New Orleans, providing you will a seamless way to board the ship and explore the local area.

Pre-Cruise Hotel Stays must be reserved at least 30 days before your cruise date. 

Excursions & Entertainment

• 1-Night Pre-Cruise Complimentary Hotel Stay
  1-Night Pre-Cruise Complimentary Hotel Stay

  Each Mississippi itinerary comes complete with a Complimentary Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay, providing you with a seamless way to board the ship and explore the local area. Arrive the day before your scheduled cruise date and American Cruise Lines will handle the rest. The package includes a premium hotel stay, where you can enjoy the city at your leisure. On the morning of the cruise, meet in the hotel lobby after breakfast and we will transport you to the ship to begin your cruise. All luggage will be brought directly from the hotel and placed in your stateroom aboard the ship.

  Pre-Cruise Hotel Stays must be reserved at least 30 days before your cruise date. Call 1-800-460-4518 to reserve your space.

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Day 1 - New Orleans, LA

Welcome to New Orleans, world-renowned for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene, and unique cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American influences. This vivacious city is the perfect destination to begin your Mississippi River experience. Once on board, enjoy a special welcoming reception, a chance to mingle with fellow guests as you set sail for an incredible journey.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Welcome Aboard
  Welcome Aboard

  As you embark upon your journey, enjoy a Welcome Aboard Reception with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Meet the crew, your onboard experts, and fellow guests. Learn more about the wonderful adventure ahead of you.

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Day 2 - Houmas House, LA

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. 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.

Later, experience the opulence and natural wonder of the Oak Alley estate with its breathtaking parallel row of 28 ancient and massive live oak trees. Here, you can savor a complimentary taste of one of the best mint juleps in the South.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Houmas House & Gardens - Complimentary Excursion
  Houmas House & Gardens - Complimentary Excursion

  Admire the southern splendor of “The Sugar Palace” as you step into 16 rooms filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork. Once inside, permission is granted to use the home’s furniture for a truly authentic experience. Led by Ms. Davis who has a personality as big as the mansion itself, hear stories of the home’s many inhabitants who are brought to life through their unique collection of Louisiana art. Following your introduction to the Houmas House and its history, explore on your own and enjoy lush acres of gardens, ponds, and a majestic live oak alley.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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Day 3 - Baton Rouge, LA

Meaning “red stick,” Baton Rouge’s 1699 French name references an ancient geographical marker and reflects the city’s long history. As Louisiana’s state capital, the city still echoes with tales of the characters who lived here, most notably Governor and Senator Huey P. Long. Learn about his dramatic career at the magnificent 1852 Old State Capitol Museum and visit Long’s 1932 State Capitol building, an architectural marvel of granite and marble.

Explore many of the well-known downtown neighborhoods, while embracing the rich art, architecture, and nature along the route. If you feel adventurous, take a narrated boat ride through a Louisiana swamp.

Excursions & Entertainment

• A Walk Through The Capital City - Complimentary Excursion
  A Walk Through The Capital City - Complimentary Excursion

  Experience the sights, sounds, and wonders of Baton Rouge, the Capital City of Louisiana. Led by a local expert guide, admire iconic and historical landmarks as you explore many of the well-known downtown neighborhoods on foot. Enjoy fascinating stories of the area’s culture, politics, history, and legends, while embracing the rich art, architecture, and nature along the route.

  Activity Level: High | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• Baton Rouge City Experience with Rural Life Museum - Complimentary Excursion
  Baton Rouge City Experience with Rural Life Museum - Complimentary Excursion

  We begin our excursion at the LSU Rural Life Museum, dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of materials from the cultures of 18th and 19th-century rural Louisianans. The museum holds the largest collection of Louisiana vernacular architecture and the most extensive collection of material culture items from the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum includes 32 historic outbuildings that spread over 25 acres and are divided into four sections: the Working Plantation, the Upland South Region, the Gulf Coast Region, and an Exhibit Barn. After your exploration, view Governor’s Hall, New State Capitol, Old Louisiana State Capitol, Magnolia Mound, and more.  

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Partial

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• USS Kidd - Complimentary Excursion
  USS Kidd - Complimentary Excursion

  Known as the “Pirate of the Pacific,” this Fletcher-class destroyer is a memorial to the men and women that served in the American armed forces and was named for Medal of Honor recipient Isaac C. Kidd Sr., who was killed aboard his flagship USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Take a step back in time on a self-guided exploration as you view artifacts and aircraft from World War II.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• Louisiana Art & Science Museum - Complimentary Excursion
  Louisiana Art & Science Museum - Complimentary Excursion

  Housed in a historic railroad depot on the banks of the Mississippi River, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) offers educational entertainment for visitors of all ages. The art galleries showcase changing fine art exhibitions and selections from a permanent collection. The Ancient Egypt Gallery houses ancient artifacts and a Ptolemaic-era mummy that rests in a re-created rock-cut tomb. The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium features sky shows, large-format films, visual music shows, and galleries devoted to space science.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Cajun Pride Swamp Excursion
  Cajun Pride Swamp Excursion

  Enjoy a narrated boat ride in the Manchac Swamp, a privately owned wildlife refuge. Relax in a comfortable, covered boat, with walking room and open viewing from any seat. Swamp creatures are unafraid and responsive to our captain’s voice. In the safety and comfort of the boat, you will be able to get within a few feet of our “jumping gators.” Other animals to be on the lookout for include nutria, ibis, turtles, herons, raccoons, egrets, and more.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• The Battle for Baton Rouge
  The Battle for Baton Rouge

  Led by an expert Civil War historian, explore locations that were critical to the Battle of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson. Visit the historic Magnolia Cemetery and stand upon the very ground where the most intense fighting of the battle of Baton Rouge took place. Next, explore Port Hudson, the location of the longest military siege in U.S. history. View a film about the battles and siege, and admire original Civil War artifacts from Port Hudson. Be treated to an interpretive program conducted by Louisiana State Park Rangers.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• Baton Rouge Harbor Experience
  Baton Rouge Harbor Experience

  Experience the mighty Mississippi River from the unique perspective of your personal boat captain who has spent a lifetime on the river – a modern-day Mark Twain! Witness the bustling activity around Baton Rouge and hear countless stories and amazing facts about the Mississippi River’s round-the-clock towing industry. Marvel at the sheer size of the pana-max vessels operating in this part of the river and pass the nearby the Exxon facility where you are likely to see the ships loading petroleum for shipment overseas. Learn how the river barges are lashed together with ratchet straps and thick cables and how the experienced river tug captains safely navigate the river with numerous barges in tow. See the Dreyfuss grain elevators working in tandem with the barges being loaded and unloaded, fueling the country’s Midwest commerce. Pause underneath the towering I 10 Bridge en route to Mullato Bend and hear how the original community was washed away by the river, where the renowned Southern University now stands.

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Day 4 - Oak Alley, LA

Once serving as an antebellum sugar cane homestead, Oak Alley Plantation is named after its most distinguishing feature, a row of 300-year-old oak trees. This leafy canopy forms a quarter-mile path leading to the Mississippi River. Restored to its 19th-century grandeur, this classic Greek Revival-style antebellum mansion is breathtaking.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Oak Alley Plantation - Complimentary Excursion
  Oak Alley Plantation - Complimentary Excursion

  The perfectly aligned 300-year-old trees form a canopy which set a particularly grand entrance for our arrival. In small groups, explore the antebellum plantation’s many stately rooms and learn why it has earned the name “Grande Dame of The Great River Road.” Join us for a special gathering on the west lawn to sip mint juleps, before a visit to their popular gift shop which is known for its world-famous pralines.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA Accessibility: Yes

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Day 5 - New Orleans, LA

End your journey where it began, in this city filled with culturally significant art, history, and architecture. On your journey home, reflect upon your enriching travel experience and all the new friends made along the way.

Excursions & Entertainment

• New Orleans City Excursion
  New Orleans City Excursion

  Travel through three centuries of history, legends, and romance as you encounter “The City That Care Forgot!” on this exciting excursion. Exploring the highlights of New Orleans, you will see many of the major sights and attractions including the famous French Quarter, homes of former Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras, stately mansions, and the exclusive Garden District.

  Please Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in New Orleans, LA

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Continue the Journey
  Continue the Journey

  Why not stay an extra night or two to immerse yourself in the spirit of this vibrant city? Ask your onboard Hotel Manager for recommendations on area hotels, attractions, and more.

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