Steamboat Adventure: Voyage the Length of the Mississippi
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Overview
Highlights
- Experience authentic America along the river, from jazz in New Orleans to the boyhood home of Mark Twain in Hannibal, Missouri
- Learn from top instructors during Road Scholar exclusive lectures on topics including southern culture, the Civil War and steamboat history
- Explore the site of St
- Louis's original settlement, Leclede's Landing, with a local expert before visiting the Cathedral Basilica's world-class collection of mosaics
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- 22 nights of accommodations
- 12 expert-led lectures
- 22 expert-led field trips
- 1 performance
- An experienced Group Leader
- Customary gratuities throughout the program
- Road Scholar Assurance Plan
- Taxes
Itinerary
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Embassy Suites Bloomington
Arrive, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Afternoon: Program check-in: 12:00-4:00 p.m. When you arrive at the hotel, proceed to the lobby to register with the group leader, get your welco...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Embassy Suites Bloomington
Minneapolis, MN
Activity note: Prepare luggage to be picked up for boat.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After breakfast we will enjoy a pre-cruise field ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Saint Paul, MN
Activity note: Embark on the American Duchess
Breakfast: Breakfast aboard the boat. Juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water included.
Morning: Explo...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Red Wing, MN
Activity note: Please note that the boat does not overnight in Red Wing. We will take the Eagles tour and the American Duchess will meet us in Wabasha and continue to our next port.
Breakfast: Aboard...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
La Crosse, WI; LaCrosse, WI, U. of Wisconsin Library
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Free time
Lunch: Aboard ship.
Afternoon: This afternoon, we will visit th...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Dubuque, IA
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: After arrival in Dubuque, we will disembark and walk to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, an affiliate of th...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Bettendorf, IA
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: This morning we will take a field trip to the home and Presidential Library of our 31st President, Herbert Hoover, in Wes...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Burlington, IA
Breakfast: Aboard the American Duchess.
Morning: This morning we'll arrive in Burlington, IA and disembark for a chance to explore this historical town along ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: This morning we arrive in Mark Twain’s boyhood hometown, Hannibal. We’ll disembark and ride the Twainland Express trolley for a journey infused wit...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Alton, IL
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Disembarking in Alton, we will depart by motorcoach from Alton to St. Louis. With a local expert, we’ll visit the city’s original ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
St. Louis, MO
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Today we will explore St. Louis, MO, also known as the Gateway City. St. Louis is home to diverse neighborhoods and their cult...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Chester, IL
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: As we continue our Mississippi River journey, we will learn about the power of the river to shape whole communities. Known as th...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Cape Girardeau, MO
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Fort Donelson was the Confederacy’s last attempt at control over the state of Tennessee after the Union Army captured For...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Paducah, KY
Breakfast: Aboard the American Duchess.
Morning: This morning you are welcome to explore Paducah using the American Duchess's complimentary hop-on/hop-off buses....
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
New Madrid, MO
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: This morning we'll visit historic Fort Pillow, which was the site of a brutal massacre of Union troops by Major General N...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
River Cruising
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: Free Time. Enjoy shipboard activities, spend time with new Road Scholar friends, or just relax. The details for activitie...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Memphis, TN
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: Experience Memphis through the eyes of The King himself on an exclusive experience through this musical southern city. Join ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Helena, AR
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: Enjoy a lecture this morning from your Study Leader relevant to the local area.
Lunch: Aboard the boat.
Afterno...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Vicksburg, MS
Breakfast: Aboard ship.
Morning: Our instructor will lecture on a topic relating to the history of Vicksburg. We will then encounter a unique blend of old and ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Natchez, MS, Longwood & Choctaw Hall, Gospel Choir
Activity note: Longwood and Choctaw Hall mansions are short walks from the motorcoach; standing in mansions.
Breakfast...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Baton Rouge, LA
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: This morning we will use the hop-on/hop-off bus to visit the Louisiana State Capitol and the Old State Capitol.
L...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
St. Francisville, LA, Angola Prison
Breakfast: Aboard the boat.
Morning: The quaint town of St. Francisville, situated on bluffs of the Mississippi River, has more than 140 ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: American Duchess
Nottaway Plantation
Breakfast: Aboard the boat
Morning: Nottoway Plantation, the South’s largest remaining antebellum mansion. This stunning historical plantation lies betwe...
Meals: Breakfast
Program Conclusion- Disembark
Breakfast: Aboard the boat
Morning: Disembark the ship. You can be transferred to either the ship's hospitality suite at a local hotel or directly to the airport. This concludes our program. A special...
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:
Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:
--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.
--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.
--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.
--Excellent value.
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There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.
Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Our Most Popular Tours:
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Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.
Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.
National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.
Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.
Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.
Why Road Scholar?
You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."
Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.
Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.
Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.
Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.
You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."
We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.
Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.
Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.
Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.
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Logistics
Accommodation
24 Breakfasts, 22 Lunches and 23 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegetarian
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