zAlong the Mississippi
New Orleans to Memphis

Your driver will await you at the airport to chauffeur you to the Higgins Hotel, named for Andrew Higgins whose company invented and then produced more than 20,000 shallow-draft ‘swamp boats’ that were critical to the success of the Normandy Landings on D-Day. Attached to the National Word War II Museum, this modern hotel in a restored building carries forward the Art Deco atmosphere of the 1940’s. There’s time to explore the French Quarter, enjoy the unique cuisine of the city or tour the museum. Should you wish more time on your own in New Orleans, we’re pleased to book extra nights at the Higgins for you.

Following breakfast, we’ll check-out and gather your luggage before departing on a guided tour of New Orleans to explore some of its neighborhoods, the storied French Quarter, St. Louis Cemetery, Jackson Square and City Park. After sightseeing we’ll head to the pier where the elegant American Countess awaits. Settle in to your spacious outside stateroom as we begin our voyage up the Mississippi. With flexible open seating in the dining room throughout the cruise, enjoy the ship’s fine dining anytime between 5 and 8pm enhanced with complimentary house wine and spirits. Of course, the open bar is always at your disposal. Meals B+D

After an extensive breakfast, we’ll wind our way along historic River Road to La Place, deep in the heart of Louisiana plantation country, while our expert guide offers colorful insight and historic anecdotes about the region when cotton and sugar were king. Arriving at the edge of the Manchac Bayou, we’ll meet our resident Cajun Captain who’ll guide us in his boat deep into these wetlands – where lush vegetation and moss-draped cypress provide prime habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. American alligators, nutria, ibis, herons and egrets are some of the species we might encounter.

Following lunch back on-board, we’ll experience a bit of antebellum life. Surrounded by manicured gardens, Nottoway is a historic 3-story residence with grand, columned verandahs and a lavishly decorated interior including the White Ballroom, entirely white with gold gilding. The White Castle of Louisiana is the perfect example of plantation life of that pre-Civil War era. Returning to the ship in the late afternoon, there will be time to relax before dinner is served. Meals B+L+D

On a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, this lovely town has a colorful early history as the oldest in what are known as Louisiana’s Florida Parishes. In 1810, an adventurer fought off the Spanish to control a group of parishes on the East Bank of the river and designated them the Republic of West Florida. Although the Republic didn’t last long, the identity of the Florida Parishes has persisted to this day. Settled initially as Bayou Sara, floods and fires destroyed the settlement and the hearty residents simply hauled their surviving homes up the bluff to establish themselves anew as the town of St. Francisville. With hop-on, hop-off touring, we’ll explore this historic town with 140 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Admire the homes along Royal Street and stroll the Old Market Hall, established in 1819. The West Feliciana Historical Society Museum and Grace Episcopal Church are other notable highlights. Meals B+L+D

After breakfast on-board, our guests will enjoy a guided visit to The Towers, one of the most elegant private homes in this historically rich town, the oldest along the entire Mississippi. Restored recently by Ginger and James Hyland, they will personally accompany our visit as they present the history, architecture and extensive collections of antiques and fabrics that fill the residence. In the afternoon, following lunch on The Countess, we’ll enjoy independent hop-on, hop-off sightseeing with extensive opportunities to explore antebellum life. Among the stops and places you can explore at your own pace are the Rosalie Mansion, built in 1823, and the remarkable William Johnson House Museum. Mr. Johnson was born a slave who gained his freedom at the age of eleven and built this 3-story brick home during his career as the town’s barber. Both Magnolia Hall and Stanton Hall are other Greek Revival architectural gems to include in your visit. A great place to cap the afternoon is the Museum of African-American History and Culture covering the 300 years of the struggle for equality in the environs of Natchez. Meals B+L+D

Abraham Lincoln wrote to his commanders early in 1863 “… see what a lot of land these fellows hold, of which Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in your pocket.” Thus began one of the most consequential campaigns of the Civil War for control of the entire length of the Mississippi. Waged over the course of more than three months in the spring and summer of that year, the terrible Siege of Vicksburg gained the Union success albeit with tremendous losses on both sides. The rich character of the city remains, however, as our hop-on, hop-off independent touring will reveal this morning. The stained-glass windows of the Church of the Holy Trinity, built after the war in 1869, are magnificent. Built in 1830, the nearby Anchuca Mansion was the war hospital during the Siege and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The antebellum 1858 Old Court House, the Lower Mississippi Museum and Old Depot Museum are interesting inclusions this morning. Surprisingly, the first bottles of Coca-Cola in the world were filled in 1894 at the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, a fun addition to your ramblings in Vicksburg.

Following lunch on-board, our guests will depart for a guided excursion to the picturesque Vicksburg National Military Park where we’ll learn the riveting stories of what soldiers endured over the three months of battle to capture the city. The National Military Park houses 27 major monuments erected since 1903 to commemorate all the states that lost soldiers during the Siege, including one that honors the Union’s Mississippi Black Infantry. We’ll visit the Illinois State Monument which ranks among the many here as America’s most impressive military memorials. Before returning to ship, we’ll also visit the USS Cairo, an iron clad river boat that was commissioned in 1862 and raised from the river bottom in 1964. Meals B+L+D

Today, we’ll arrive in Greenville in the late morning. Following lunch, we’ll depart The Countess for our included guided excursion to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in neighboring Indianola, Mississippi. Dedicated to its native son, our guided tour of this wonderful museum documents B.B. King’s life and presents his key role in introducing the Blues to the world. We’ll finish this memorable afternoon at the Club Ebony, a musical venue that hosted greats like Albert King, Ray Charles and, of course, B.B. King. Meals B+L+D

Take this day to relax and enjoy the passing scenery as it shifts from bucolic countryside to small, lively river towns. Enriching on-board talks, an Open Bar, elegant dining with wine, and a chance to engage with your fellow passengers highlight this pleasant day on the river and aboard a beautiful ship. Meals B+L+D

Following breakfast, we’ll gather our luggage and disembark by coach for a guided trip through the city. We’ll walk along famous Beale Street following the footsteps of iconic musicians before a fully-guided tour of Graceland.
For those who wish to spend more time in Memphis, we can provide extra nights at The Peabody or we will transfer you to Memphis International Airport for your onward journey. Meals B