Mississippi River Cultural Tours & Trip Packages

Mississippi River Cultural Tours & Trips

39 Mississippi River trips. Tours from 21 tour companies. 10 reviews.

24 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Cultural
Music Cities USA featuring Memphis & Nashville
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5/5 Excellent
51 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Memphis, Nashville

Highlights

  • Step into Southern culture and discover America's Famed Music Cities
  • Experience the Life & Fame of Elvis at Graceland
  • Nothing says Kentucky like Bourbon Tasting Experience
  • Take an inside look at horse culture & Churchill Downs
  • Sway to the Blues and let your soul be moved at the Blues Hall of Fame & Rock and Soul Museum

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Education / Learning, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"We loved this trip. Our guide was excellent. We really enjoyed all the included highlights. Our favorite was Biltmore Estate. It is a must!"

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans & Mississippi River Country 2024
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • You don't just hear music in New Orleans and Louisiana's 'Cajun country'… you feel it
  • indelibly woven into the fabric of life. The strains of every genre you can think of – smoky blues
  • pulsating Caribbean rhythms
  • acoustic
  • country
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans & Mississippi River Country 2023
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4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • You don't just hear music in New Orleans and Louisiana's 'Cajun country'… you feel it
  • indelibly woven into the fabric of life. The strains of every genre you can think of – smoky blues
  • pulsating Caribbean rhythms
  • acoustic
  • country
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Lower Mississippi River Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
37 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Memphis, New Orleans

Highlights

  • Enjoying the shade of the leafy canopy greet us on arrival and are our guides for the day
  • Visits to its gardens, historic homes, and museums.
  • Explore his eclectic collection of period-specific artwork and one-of-a-kind antiques.
  • Enjoy the warmth of the Mississippi River sun as we cruise from Vicksburg to Memphis.
  • Explore fascinating exhibits such as Elvis’ museum, estate grounds, the jungle and trophy rooms, his gravesite, and much more.

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"AMERICAN CRUISE LINES STOLE FROM ME I am a dedicated hard working single father of two young daughters and worked for American cruise lines from February-August of 2023 first starting out as an engineer and eventually was asked and promoted to IT dept in May. Was offered a $3000 sign on bonus which i would use to move my daughters and myself from Tampa, Fl to Portland, OR. The company and supervisors knew IT would be a new role and there would be a learning curve for me but given some time i would easily grasp the position but regrettably i caught covid in July and was terminated two weeks later on July 28th after being incredibly ill with covid, but was told i was let go for (loss confidence). I returned to Tampa, FL and when i received my final two-week paycheck and without notice received.35 cents. I was told my sign on bonus was deducted which was 100% wrong the only stipulation for my sign-on bonus was i had to work for at least 30 days which i did. I was using those funds to move my daughters and myself the 3000+ miles from Tampa to Portland. This has been an incredibly costly and frustrating as one could imagine for a single father. American Cruise Lines is a very large and profitable corporation for them to do this to an employee i think is despicable. Date of experience: July 28, 2023"

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans-New Orleans
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5/5 Excellent
37 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit their popular gift shop which is known for their world-famous pralines.
  • Enjoying the shade of the leafy canopy greet us on arrival and are our guides for the day.
  • Visits to its gardens, historic homes, and museums
  • See why this show is called "Becoming Jelly Roll."
  • Enjoy the local flavors, like chicory coffee, sweet beignets, and famous New Orleans jazz music.

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"AMERICAN CRUISE LINES STOLE FROM ME I am a dedicated hard working single father of two young daughters and worked for American cruise lines from February-August of 2023 first starting out as an engineer and eventually was asked and promoted to IT dept in May. Was offered a $3000 sign on bonus which i would use to move my daughters and myself from Tampa, Fl to Portland, OR. The company and supervisors knew IT would be a new role and there would be a learning curve for me but given some time i would easily grasp the position but regrettably i caught covid in July and was terminated two weeks later on July 28th after being incredibly ill with covid, but was told i was let go for (loss confidence). I returned to Tampa, FL and when i received my final two-week paycheck and without notice received.35 cents. I was told my sign on bonus was deducted which was 100% wrong the only stipulation for my sign-on bonus was i had to work for at least 30 days which i did. I was using those funds to move my daughters and myself the 3000+ miles from Tampa to Portland. This has been an incredibly costly and frustrating as one could imagine for a single father. American Cruise Lines is a very large and profitable corporation for them to do this to an employee i think is despicable. Date of experience: July 28, 2023"

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans & Mississippi River Country 2022
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • You don't just hear music in New Orleans and Louisiana's 'Cajun country'… you feel it
  • indelibly woven into the fabric of life. The strains of every genre you can think of – smoky blues
  • pulsating Caribbean rhythms
  • acoustic
  • country
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans & Mississippi River Country 2021
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

  • You don’t just hear music in New Orleans and Louisiana’s “Cajun country”… you feel it
  • indelibly woven into the fabric of life. The strains of every genre you can think of – smoky blues
  • pulsating Caribbean rhythms
  • acoustic
  • country
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
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Life on the Mississippi - Southbound 2022
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

  • Channel your inner Huckleberry Finn as you cruise down the Mississippi River aboard a modern-day paddle wheeler that caters to your comfort with some of the largest accommodations on the river. Visit places immortalized in American history and song from the Blue City of Memphis to the Big Easy in New Orleans as you explore the sights with local experts and savor multi-cultural culinary traditions along the way. Cast off for a storied adventure as iconic as America itself as you explore daily life along the great Mississippi River! This 11-day adventure includes 7 nights aboardAmerican Duchess; overnight stays at premier hotels in Memphis and New Orleans bookend a 7-night river cruise aboard the boutique-styled paddle wheelerAmerican Duchess
  • evoking the graceful traditions of the era of steamboat travel with a modern-day flair.Discover the inspiration behind the Blues in Memphis
  • the Delta blues in Helena
  • Civil War struggles at Vicksburg National Battlefield and history in Natchez. Immerse in the multi-layered cultural traditions of the Louisiana bayou
  • the politics of Huey Long in Baton Rouge
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour. 

5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for. 

Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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24 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Cultural
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Mississippi River Reviews

J

J Lamb

Aug 2023

Written on

Great Itinerary and Value

We loved this trip. Our guide was excellent. We really enjoyed all th...

V

Vic

May 2023

Verified Authentic
This review is by a verified traveler who went on a trip with this operator and wrote the review on Travelstride

Everything was 5 star!

Our room rivaled those my wife and I have enjoyed in many an upscale hotel. The food and table settings were both five-star. The lengthy list of available activit...

M

Marvelous Mississippi

Nov 2022

Written on

This was a 7 day round trip from New Orleans and back.

This was a fabulous trip. The American Symphony is a new ship, beautiful. The sta...

A

American Cruiseline Splendor

Jul 2022

Written on

Had the best time on the MIssissippi River Cruise on American Cruiseline Splendor

We just got off the ship American Cruiseline's Spendor. Waiting at the airport now and cannot wait to write a review. We had so much fun. First of all the crew, d...

L

LCCR

Jun 2022

Written on

Thanksgiving Travel

We wanted a nice relaxing cruise for the holiday, someplace where the temps were moderate for that time of year and somewhere in the US. We chose the American Crui...

Write a Review

Mississippi River Tour Selection Trips

  • Most small ship cruises sail either the lower Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans, or the upper Mississippi from St. Louis to the Minneapolis area.
  • Some cruises offer shorter alternate routes, such as from Memphis to St. Louis.
  • A cruise aboard an old-fashioned style paddle wheeler – even if it was built just a few years ago – adds an authentic feel to your voyage.
  • Cruise ships that sail the Mississippi range from luxury to budget rates.
  • If choosing a luxury cruise, expect fine food and service and alcohol and shore excursions included in the price.
  • If you’re particularly interested in music, Civil War history, or antebellum architecture, choose a cruise that plies the lower Mississippi.

Additional details

River cruises along the Mississippi are usually history focused. The river held tremendous importance to the formation of the United States, from several different cultural and economical factors.

Mississippi River cruises last anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. In some cases your Mississippi River cruise will be a portion of a larger trip, rather than the main theme or mode of transport.

What to wear on a Mississippi River cruise

Most Mississippi River Cruises have a down home feel, without sacrificing a few luxury amenities, food and drink quality, or customer service. These kinds of river cruises are not the “dress for dinner” kind of experience, but note that the primary age group will be older, and they may take this approach.

The Weather Along the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River covers a lot of ground, from the hot and humid southern United States to the dryer northern midwest.

Light drizzles are common - but are rarely cold. In fact they will be a welcome respite from the heat! It can get windy along the Mississippi, so if you get cold easily be sure to bring layers.

You may also experience a thunderstorm or two when traveling on a Mississippi River Cruise. These can be spectacular displays, but often happen without a lot of warning.

Other Ways to See the Mississippi

Note that not all Mississippi River tours will be an extended cruise along the river itself. Your tour may include a crossing of the river before continuing on to explore more of the Southern and Eastern United States.

There are also some Mississippi River cruise itineraries that included other rivers. These include the Ohio River - a great choice if you’re looking to experience the vibrant town of Louisville, Kentucky - and the Cumberland River.

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