Enjoy An Exciting Mississippi River Cruise This Year

The Mississippi River stretches from northern Minnesota all the way to the gulf of Mexico.  Passing through Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi itself, it is the longest river in America and one of the longest rivers in the World.  In fact, it is only outdone by the Nile, the Amazon, and the Yangtze, all of which are not that much longer than it.  The backdrop for much of Mark Twain’s writing, you can see all of America’s natural beauty from a Mississippi River cruise, rubbing elbows with your fellow Americans and seeing the towns and cities of the country’s middle along the way. River cruises are more popular with an older crowd given their smaller ship size and slightly higher cost per person than ocean-liner cruises.

American Cruise Lines operates vacation-length cruises on the Mississippi.  They have a large selection of cruises on the river to choose from.  They have a number of great promotions including $1,500 off certain cruise packages, plus free airfare on select cruises.  Cruises feature jazz musicians that help play the tunes of America’s history, along with delicious food and information about Civil War history.  Shore excursions ensure you get to see the country and all that the legendary Mississippi has to offer.  ACL has direct-booking cruises ranging from 8 days to 23 days, and they aren’t as expensive as you might think.  Some 12 day cruise options are even cheaper than 9 day cruises, when discounts are taken into consideration.  Travel Agencies also offer 5-day cruises. There are cruises which go along the upper Mississippi from Missouri to Minnesota, along the lower Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans, and round trip cruises from New Orleans.  There is even a “Complete River” cruise option for 23 days which goes from New Orleans to St. Paul Minnesota, offering free airfare and $4,000 off.  ACL has three ships, the American Serenade, the American Symphony, and the American Melody.  All built since the year 2021 and each with a 180 guest capacity, this is not your typical Bahamas cruise with thousands of people aboard and colorful waterslides.  There are, however, walking tracks and fitness centers, multi story glass atriums, elevator access to all passenger decks, and a ramp for easy boarding for the mobility-impaired.  Depending on the route, you may stop in Dubuque Iowa, St. Louis Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, Baton Rouge Louisiana, Red Wing Minnesota, Natchez Mississippi, and other towns.

Viking River Cruises also operates aboard the great Mississippi.  Viking Cruises have a host of itineraries aboard the upper and lower river, as well as complete cruise options from the Big Easy all the way up to St. Paul Minnesota.  Cruises range from 8 days to 22 days, and Viking offers specials with reduced airfare or free airfare depending on the cruise itinerary.  They also have a $25 deposit special.  Viking’s “Viking Mississippi” is a large 193-room, 386-person capacity cruise ship, with all outside staterooms so you won’t be stuck inside with no windows in gen pop.  Specifically designed for the Mississippi River, this ship displays Scandinavian design, and first sailed in February 2022.  Viking offers free wi-fi, self-service launderettes, a sun terrace with infinity plunge pool, a quiet sitting area at the front of the ship, an indoor and outdoor viewing area for outdoor dining, a lounge and bar with two story panoramic views of the river, and 147 crew members to cater to your every need.  Viking also does not allow children under 18, beer and wine with lunch and dinner are included, and there is no smoking aboard the ship.  While they insist there are no white gloves, it is positioned as an upscale experience.

While this list is not exhaustive, with such attractive itineraries, you really can’t go wrong. All major cruise operators have implemented generous policies on rescheduling and cancellation (be sure to check their fine print) in order to assuage customer’s concerns regarding booking and potential future health outbreaks. New health & safety protocols for your peace of mind and elevated standards of sanitation and cleanliness allow you the cruise rider to rest easy. There are also a host of cruise lines, companies, and cruise websites that offer cruises for seniors (with varying age qualifications), given the popularity of cruising amongst older people. So, get back out there and enjoy your river cruise holiday, and compare all options for best pricing available.