Steam Boating on the American Queen

from New Orleans to Memphis

Departure date: March 26th, 2023

Tour Highlights:

24 Meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners
Roundtrip airport transfers
Spend on night in New Orleans, “The Big Easy”
Narrated city tour of New Orleans including St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square and the Garden District
Lunch at the New Orleans School of Cooking and learn about Cajun cooking in a fun and informative atmosphere
Tour of the 1859 Greek Revival and Italianate-style mansion, Nottoway Plantation, the larges antebellum plantation house in the South.
Call at the quaint town of St. Francisville, with over 140 buildings on the National Register and beautiful plantation homes nestled in the rolling countryside
Visit Natchez, Mississippi, the center of the Antebellum South and home to restored mansions Stanton Hall and Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the U.S.
Call at Vicksburg, Mississippi, the “Red Carpet City of the South”, blending Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions
Visit the historic Port of the Mississippi Delta region, the inspiration of authors, musicians and artists for centuries
Experience the nostalgic days of Steam Boating along the Mississippi River aboard the beautifully restored American Queen
Spend one night in Memphis and visit the 14-acre Graceland Estate of Elvis Presley including the home tour, meditation garden and car museum
$50 in Mayflower money

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Louisiana: Arrive in New Orleans today and transfer to your hotel. Meet your tour manager and traveling companions at 6:00 P.M. for a welcome orientation.

Day 2 New Orleans Touring and Board the American Queen: This morning a local guide conducts a tour of “The Big Easy”. You’ll see historic Jackson Square, featuring St Louis Cathedral, the French Quarter as well as the Garden District. Then visit the New Orleans School of Cooking. Enjoy lunch and learn about Cajun cooking in a fun and informative atmosphere. Later, board the incredible American Queen, your home for the next 7 nights. Tonight, you are welcomed aboard with a fabulous dinner. Meals: B,L,D

Day 3 Nottoway Plantation, Louisiana: Stop at the exclusive port of Nottoway to visit the historic sugar sugarcane estate. This 1859 Greek Rivival and Italianate-style mansion which is the largest antebellum plantation house in the South. Original furnishings mingle with era-appropriate antiques to create atmosphere that does justice to the home’s original ambiance, an experience that you will not want to pass up. Meals: B,L,D

Day 4 St. Francisville, Louisiana: Today, continue down the Mississippi River to the quaint town of St. Francisville. With over 140 buildings on the National Register,, beautiful plantation homes nested in the rolling countryside, bustling Main Street shops and an ideal location on the bluffs above the Mississippi, St Francisville is your window to the past. Your included tour features Grandmother’s Buttons, a Victorian button museum and jewelry boutique, Grace Episcopal Church and the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum. Once you are refreshed, hop aboard the “Steamcoach” which will take you back to the ship. Meals B,L,D

Day 5 Natchez, Mississippi: Enjoy a “Hop-On Hop-Off” day to explore Natchez, Mississippi, the center of the Antebellum South. Your included transportation allows you to hop off at the Old South Trading Post for some shopping and three of Natchez’s grandest Antebellum mansions, Stanton Hall, Rosalie and Magnolia Hall. You may also visit the Museum of African American American History and Culture and explore the quaint downtown shops. One of the optional tours offered here explores the cotton fields and cotton gin of Frogmore, Plantation and a visit to beautiful Longwood Mansion. Meals B,L,D

Day 6 Vicksburg, Mississippi: Known as “The Red Carpet City of the South”, Vicksburg, Mississippi perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions. Your “Hop on Hop off” day here includes Anchuca Mansion, the Old Courthouse Museum, the Old Depot Museum and Bierdenham Coca Cola Museum. Optional tour here is to the Vicksburg National Military Park site of the “Siege of Vicksburg” which President Lincoln called “the key to victory” for the union army. Meals B, L, D

Day 7 Port of the Mississippi Delta, Mississippi: The Mississippi Delta is more than a geographical region, it is a way of life. Your “Hop on Hop off” options today include Greenville History Museum and the Hebrew Union Temple. Also visit the 1927 Flood Museum and the E.E. Bass Cultural Center home to the 1901 Steam Carousel. Take the optional tour today to visit the B.B. King Museum which honors the “King of Blues” as well as the Grammy Museum, which spans all genres of music. Meals: B,L,D

Day 8 Steam Boating on the Mighty Mississippi: Today is a full day of leisurely steam boating along the mighty Mississippi. Settle yourself into a comfortable rocking chair and just let the picturesque scenery glide on by. Or join in the fun of the numerous activities onboard the American Queen. Meals: B,L,D

Day 9 Disembark in Memphis and Graceland: The American Queen docks in Memphis where a local guide conducts a panoramic tour of the musical city. The afternoon is devoted to Elvis Presley’s Graceland. You will tour the mansion, the heart of the 14-acre estate and see the living rooms, music room and “jungle” den. You will also see the meditation garden where “The King” is laid to rest. See Elvis’ two custom airplanes, tour the car museum, The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum as well as the new state-of-the-art Visitor Engagement Complex. Tonight, enjoy some Memphis’ famous bar’be’que. Meals B,D

Day 10 Travel Home: After breakfast a group transfer is available to Memphis International Airport for flights out after 12:00 P.M.

Hotel Accommodations

Day 1- Hilton Riverside, New Orleans, Louisiana

Days 2-8- Steam Boating aboard the American Queen

Day 9- Hilton Garden Inn, Memphis, Tennessee

Pricing

Deluxe Outside Stateroom $5,598/person double occupancy

Outside Stateroom with Open Veranda $5,458/person double occupancy

Outside Stateroom with Open Veranda $5,098/person double occupancy

Deluxe Outside Stateroom with Bay Window $4, 728/person double occupancy

Inside Stateroom $3,998/person double occupancy

$400/person deposit is due at time of reservation. Travel Protection Insurance is also available for $499/person and must be paid for when signing up if you choose to purchase it.

Due to a very limited number of cabins that are available we recommend signing up very soon!