We will be open at 9:00 am. Call 020 7590 0610
The American Queen

American Queen Steamboat Cruise on the Mississippi

13-day river cruise & stay from £4,440 pp incl. flights

Summary

Short description

Sail the Mississippi in paddleboat style between luxury stays in Memphis and New Orleans

British Airways Sale

The British Airways Sale is now on, The British Airways Sale is now on, with Club World and Club Europe savings to a wide range of destinations. Book by 19 March 2024.

Highlights

  • Sail the Mississippi in all-inclusive luxury aboard an opulent paddleboat
  • Showcase the region’s heritage with a wide choice of optional excursions
  • Begin with a luxury stay among Memphis's musical legacy
  • Enjoy a post-cruise stay and tour of vibrant New Orleans

In Brief

  • 2 Nights Memphis
  • 7 Nights Onboard American Queen
  • 2 Nights New Orleans

About

Recommended for:
City | History & culture | River cruise

Evoke all the grandeur of yesteryear with a trip down the Mississippi aboard a luxurious paddlewheeler, all Victorian antiques and wrought iron. Onboard, you’ll enjoy full-board dining, expert lectures and Broadway-worthy shows as you stop off at the river’s historic towns. At each, you’ll enjoy a full spread of included excursions, with expert guides bringing you between grand mansions, Civil War sites and state capitol grandeur. Either side, you'll have the chance to complement luxury stays in Memphis and New Orleans with a full range of optional extras – there's everything from city tours and VIP attraction passes to showpiece dinners.

Day by day itinerary

Days 1-2
UK/Memphis

Begin in style with complimentary airport lounge access before your day flight to Memphis where you’ll make your way to your central accommodation. To help you explore, perhaps pre-book a three-day trolley and attraction pass, so you can knit together the Smithsonian’s Rock ‘n’ soul Museum, National Civil Rights Museum and birthplace of rock – Sun Studio – with the city’s historic tram network. Other options include an authentic Memphis barbecue dinner and a walking tour of Beale Street’s blues bars to the Peabody Hotel’s famous duck parade and an iPad-led tour of Elvis’s Graceland. Speak to our specialists to tailor-make your stay in this vibrant, musical city.


Stay: The Peabody, Memphis (Superior)

Meals: B

Day 3
Memphis/Mississippi River

Today, an included shared transfer will bring you to the American Queen – a classic Mississippi steamboat decorated in 19th-century Victorian style. As the largest steamboat ever built, her grandeur is unmatched, making it the perfect home from which to take in the ever-changing landscapes, grand antebellum mansions and unique culinary flavours of the southern Mississippi River. Alternatively, for a sleeker, smaller and more contemporary ship, the brand-new American Countess is the ideal choice. Whichever you pick, you'll check into your opulent suite before enjoying your first taste of your ship's renowned on-board entertainment and superb full-board dining as you set sail towards Greenville.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 4
Port of the Mississippi Delta

The Mississippi Delta is more than a geographical region. It is a way of life - a true cultural experience based around agriculture, music and history. These small river towns have been the inspiration for authors, musicians and artists for centuries. Voyages include a unique glimpse into a Port of the Mississippi Delta.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 5
Vicksburg

Then, it’s on to Vicksburg, a river port described by Lincoln as ‘The Key to the South’. And, you can trace its crucial Civil War past in battlefields, tours of its grand antebellum mansions and a string of superb museums, all part of your included shore excursions.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 6
Natchez

Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi, shares its heritage between the Natchez Indians and French explorers. It’s a unique blend, showcased in a series of excellent exhibitions and remembered by a string of grand mansions. Nearly 700 antebellum mansions line its leafy boulevards, with everything from Greek revival flourishes to stunning gardens on display. Your guided tour will bring their highlights to life.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 7
St. Francisville

From the oldest settlement on the Mississippi to the oldest town of the Florida Parishes, St. Francisville enjoys a similarly diverse past. The opulent homes of its plantation millionaires are paired with a certain bohemian charm. It’s perhaps best surmised by Grandmother’s Buttons, a fin-de-siècle bank that today sells jewellery made from antique buttons. And, between 200-year-old market halls, Gothic churches and manicured parks, it’s not difficult to fall in love with this Southern belle.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 8
Baton Rouge

Arriving into Lousiana’s capital, your included tours will bring you between Baton Rouge’s premier highlights. There’s a WWII-era battleship converted into a museum, the excellent LSU Museum of Art and the Louisiana State Capitol – the tallest of its kind and an Art Deco masterpiece. However, it’s perhaps its elder brother that’s most impressive; the Old State Capitol is a great Gothic monument that boasts bluff-top views of the Mississippi River.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Day 9
Nottoway

As the South’s largest – and most glorious – antebellum mansion, Nottoway is the perfect introduction to plantation life. Its three-storey rotunda and oak-draped lawns have been lovingly restored to their former glory, offering a peek into this grand era. The numbers are impressive, too, with 64 bedrooms, 53,000 square feet of living space and 22 columns that have given Nottoway its nickname – ‘The White Castle’. You’ll take it all in on an expert-led guided tour.

Stay: American Queen (Deluxe) or American Countess (Deluxe)

Meals: B L D

Days 10-11
New Orleans

You'll leave the ship this morning, making your own way to the contemporary luxury of your central hotel. It’s the perfect launchpad for a full spread of optional excursions, from driving tours of New Orleans’ diverse delights, to guided trips through the French Quarter’s fading European beauty, Bourbon Street’s famed bars, the ornate tombs of St. Louis Cemetery and Jackson Square’s turreted cathedral. There's also the chance to stop for that New Orleans favourite – coffee and beignet pastry. It's also well  worth booking a streetcar and attraction pass, giving you the flexibility to explore. There’s Mardi Gras World and the WWII Museum to Audubon Zoo and the Old US Mint. Lastly, why not indulge with a traditional N’Orleans dinner, packed full of creole flavour?

Stay: Intercontinental New Orleans (Deluxe)

Meals: B

Days 12-13
Depart for UK

Make your way to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

Meals: B

Map

Pricing

Any element of this cruise can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.

American Queen or American Countess (Inside Stateroom)

Low Season

from £4,440 pp. incl. flights

High Season

from £5,435 pp. incl. flights

Includes:

  • Complimentary UK airport lounge access
  • Scheduled flights from London to Memphis and New Orleans to London
  • 7 nights aboard the American Queen on a full-board basis (Inside Stateroom) including port fees and gratuities; complimentary wine and beer with dinner
  • Transfer from Memphis hotel to the port
  • Transfer from the port in New Orleans to the New Orleans hotel
  • 4 nights accommodation in 4* (Superior) hotels on a B&B basis

Optional pre- and post-cruise packages (not included):

  • Pre-cruise city stay:  including Memphis Premium excursion ('The Elvis experience' including Graceland), Memphis attraction pass, authentic Memphis BBQ meal, visit to the Peabody to witness the famous 'duck parade' and 3-day Memphis trolley pass
  • Post-cruise city stay: including New Orleans Premium excursion 'New Orleans Highlights tour', New Orleans attraction pass, New Orleans traditional dining experience, coffee and beignet, 3-day jazzy pass

Terms & Conditions

Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.

Meet our experts

Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7590 0610

Meet the team

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0610 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

Expert advice & support

Visit us in our London office

Let our travel specialists curate the perfect holiday:

  • Inspirational ideas based on experience
  • Established for over 50 years
  • Tailor a holiday to your precise requirements
  • Personalised quotes and documentation

Every step of the way

Every step of the way

Our services are with you from start to finish:

  • Dedicated personal consultants
  • Free airport lounges on qualifying bookings
  • Care and guidance pre, post and during holiday
  • Full financial security: ABTA & ATOL protected