Mississippi River Cruises
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| Trip Name | From | Days | Next Departure | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Mississippi River | $15,890 | 23 | May 23, 2025 | Discover the Mighty Mississippi on a 23-day cruise covering 10 states aboard American Melody. Immerse in history, culture, and cuisine from New Orleans to Minneapolis, exploring charming ports along the way. |
| Lower Mississippi River Cruise | $5,275 | 9 | Apr 04, 2025 | Experience a 9-day cruise aboard American Melody from Memphis to New Orleans, discovering historic sites, Civil War stories, and charming towns along the Mississippi River. Experience rich history, music, and southern hospitality. |
| Mississippi Explorer | $7,275 | 12 | Apr 12, 2025 | Set sail on a 12-day Mississippi river cruise aboard the American Symphony, from New Orleans to Memphis, visiting Southern landmarks like Oak Alley, Houmas House, and Vicksburg National Military Park. Explore Baton Rouge's history, Natchez's antebellum homes, and Cleveland's musical heritage. |
| Historic Mississippi River Cruise | $4,255 | 8 | Nov 28, 2025 | The American Melody hosts this 8-day Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans. Explore historic plantations, Civil War sites, and charming towns. Immerse in the rich culture, cuisine, and music of the Deep South. |
| Music Cities Cruise | $4,915 | 9 | Apr 22, 2025 | Set sail on a 9-day cruise on the American Symphony from Memphis to Nashville, traversing the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland rivers—Immerse in local music, nightly entertainment, and Southern cuisine amid America's heartland's scenic beauty. |
| Upper Mississippi River | $5,635 | 9 | Aug 06, 2027 | Explore the segment of the Mississippi River on this 9-day cruise from St. Louis to Minneapolis American Symphony. Begin in St. Louis, Missouri, and through Alton, Hannibal, Muscatine, Dubuque, Winona, and Red Wing. Visit Mark Twain's boyhood home, explore historic towns, and marvel at the diverse landscapes. |
| Upper Mississippi River | $4,530 | 9 | Sep 05, 2025 | Explore the segment of the Mississippi River on this 9-day cruise from St. Louis to Minneapolis American Heritage. Begin in St. Louis, Missouri, and through Alton, Hannibal, Muscatine, Dubuque, Winona, and Red Wing. Visit Mark Twain's boyhood home, explore historic towns, and marvel at the diverse landscapes. |
Mississippi River cruises cost between $1,300 and $5,000 per person, but the average price of a Mississippi River cruise is about $2,400 per person for a 9-day itinerary.
The best time to cruise the Mississippi River is during the months of spring (March, April, May) or fall (September, October, November) to avoid the extreme hot and cold temperatures in summer and winter. The Mississippi is so long that giving overall advice can be difficult, as the temperatures in Minnesota are much colder than those in Louisiana on the same day. Additionally, there is a higher chance of flooding in the spring and a potential need to reroute or reschedule.
The top 10 destinations you can visit on a Mississippi River cruise are Red Wing by Minneapolis, Dubuque, Bettendorf, Hannibal, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Memphis, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and of course New Orleans!
Mississippi River cruises are a great value if you're hoping to really explore the whole region and get to know the local culture, food, and historic destinations that have shaped the mighty Mississippi. These cruises are definitely geared towards more mature audiences, so while inquisitive teens might enjoy these, they are crafted with adults in mind who enjoy activities like walking and biking tours, city & historic tours, nature experiences, and museums. These are not ideal for families with young children who are looking for a lot of onboard entertainment for kids of all ages.
At 2,340 miles in length and up to 11 miles across at its widest point, the Mississippi River is the longest and most important river in North America, covering more than one million square miles and pulling in water from tributary rivers in 33 states. But even the mightiest river in North America has humble origins - in a babbling brook that you could easily skip across!
In the US, every school-age child learns how to spell it - M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. But where did the name come from? The name "Mississippi" actually owes its origins to the indigenous Anishinabe people (Ojibwe Indians), who called the river the "Messipi", meaning "Father of Waters" or "Big River."
