8 Night Roundtrip New Orleans Cruise from New Orleans

Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. For your convenience, American Queen Voyages Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and the friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Representatives from AQV and a local port/city partner will be available to provide you with dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

Indigenous people inhabited the rich lands between the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain for the same reasons that would later attract Europeans: ecological resources and a network of navigable rivers, bayous, and bays. La Nouvelle-Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718 upon the slightly elevated banks of the Mississippi approximately 95 miles above its mouth. Engineers laid out a grid of streets with a Place d'Armes (Jackson Square) that would become known as the Vieux Carre (Old Square), or today's French Quarter. New Orleans's Creole, Cajun, and other diverse residents blended to develop art, cuisine, music, and general culture unlike any other in the United States. Whether you have a few days here or just a few hours, uncover the treasures of the city as you explore the unique sites and attractions lining the historic streets as seen in the famous French Quarter or admire the architecture of the stunning Garden District.

Watch small river towns and lush landscapes slowly become lost in the horizon as sunlight plays upon the deck. Take hold of a literary classic, curl up on a plush chair in a cozy corner, and relish in the moment of tranquility. Experience the fulfillment that river cruising offers.

St. Francisville today is a testament to the lifestyle of a bygone era, with its cache of charming pre-war homes and striking architecture. With over 140 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, sprawling estates nestled in the countryside, and bustling main street shops, this quaint port situated on the Mississippi has a style all its own. This oldest town in the Florida Parishes, St. Francisville has been called the town two miles long and two yards wide; it lies on a loessal ridge created by the dust storms of the Glacial Period. Swept in from the western plains, this soil formed vertical cliffs sometimes 90 feet high which rested on the sand and clay bottom of an ancient sea. These formations occur only in a narrow strip of land extending from Baton Rouge into Tennessee; the ridges are the actual foothills of the Appalachians. This bluff attracted Spanish Capuchins in need of a highland burial ground. They received a land grant from their king and built a wooden monastery between 1773 and 1785. The settlement which straggled up around the cemetery and monastery took its name from the order's gentle patron. By 1785 the number of land grants taken up by settlers prompted the Spanish leaders to create the district comprising the instep of the boot that is Louisiana today. St. Francisville has survived and reflects the growth and character of the surrounding countryside. A stroll through its historic center awakens a sense of place and an awareness of two centuries of architecture and lifestyles.

Natchez is known for its elegance, hospitality, and impressive preservation of historic homes - found on every street corner. It seems as if history fell asleep and awoke unscathed by the changing of times in this magical port. Natchez is home to over 1,000 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the homes survived the American Civil War and their history flows in abundance along the Mississippi. Natchez has a long and fascinating history, dating back to 1716, making it the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi. Even before Natchez was settled by Europeans, the area was home to the Natchez Indians, noted for being the only Mississippian culture with complex chiefdom characteristics to have survived long into the period after the European colonization of America began. The Natchez District, along with the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia, pioneered cotton agriculture in the United States. The city recovered from its post-war decline to become one of the state's leading industrial centers. Today the production of wood pulp, lumber, petroleum, and natural gas form the basis of the economy; tourism - including casino gambling - and the manufacture of tires are also important. Shops and restaurants now occupy the site of Natchez Under-the-Hill, a 19th-century town of bordellos and taverns that was a haven for outlaws and boatmen. During your visit, explore the unique shops, restaurants, museums, and historic homes, all of which inspired Hugh Bayless to include Natchez in his book "The 100 Best Towns in America".

Vicksburg perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern attractions. As a major battle site during the Civil War, this port carries a history unlike any other. Learn about the historic conflicts of the city, taste its cuisine, visit the many museums, and pick out the perfect souvenir. Vicksburg's best-known contribution to history is probably the part she played in the American Civil War. It is the final resting place for 17,000 Union soldiers, 13,000 of whom are unknown. In 1899, the Vicksburg National Military Park was created to commemorate and preserve the infamous siege line and the historic heritage. Visitors can climb the 47 steps to the entrance of the marble Illinois Monument, featuring a domed roof, pillars, and sculpted bronze bald eagle. Also at the park is the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum - a historic warship that was torpedoed and later raised after spending over 100 years at the bottom of the Yazoo River. Today, visitors can climb aboard to see some original weapons and gear used by the soldiers. Other attractions of note include the Lower Mississippi River Museum and Vicksburg Riverfront Murals. Painted on Mississippi River floodwalls, these impressive murals begun in 2002 capture the past, present, and future of Vicksburg and its defining roles in history, culture, and religion. Visit the Lower Mississippi River Museum to find out how Vicksburg ancestors lived along the river during the 19th and 20th centuries, including interactive exhibits. The museum also offers an aquarium featuring local fish species.

The Baton Rouge cruises have something to offer everyone, from hop-off-hop-on tours of historical sites to strolling the lively streets of New Orleans. These cruises to Baton Rouge are all-inclusive, with beverages and cuisine onboard, transportation to the vessel from a hotel, onboard entertainment, and more. Beyond the typical attractions and activities available on a Baton Rouge river cruise, you can also explore the capital's rich history through its cuisine. With each stop on cruises from Baton Rouge you'll find new eateries to try, exciting excursions, and cities with hidden gems on every corner. Baton Rouge Cruises: History of the Area: Baton Rouge grants a strikingly different experience from those of the small-town stops throughout your voyage. In 1699, French visitors called the spot "red stick" (baton rouge) because of a boundary marker pole, stained with animal blood, on the river bluff. This energetic port houses over 300 years of history, seen in the unique architecture and through the unique arts and culture scene. Here, history-facing museums and landmarks fraternize with forward-looking art and industry to showcase all that Baton Rouge has to offer. Choose to hop on one of our deluxe motorcoaches to explore the diversity of this city, take a walk down the river path alongside the boat, or meander through the city streets. Politics is engrained into the culture of Baton Rouge. The contrast can be seen in the accounts of past settlers on display at the Old Louisiana State Capitol and inside the corridors of the current capitol - an Art Deco skyscraper. As the home of the Louisiana State University main campus and several smaller colleges, Baton Rouge buzzes with a youthful zeal of a college town while holding fast to its graceful Southern traditions. During the fall, LSU's home football games pack the immense Tiger Stadium, and the revelry is known to spill into the streets. A revival has begun in the city center; sites of interest include a riverfront casino, the USS Kidd floating museum, and Shaw Center for the Arts, an ultra-contemporary complex that clusters an art museum, gallery spaces, theaters, and restaurants in the heart of downtown.

American Queen Voyages features an exclusive port at Nottoway, located in White Castle, LA, on the south bank of the Mississippi River, part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. Here you can visit the estate of sugarcane magnate J. H. Randolph - the largest standing pre-war mansion in the South (53,000 square feet) - an intricate building with impressive detail. Original furnishings mingle with era-appropriate antiques to create an atmosphere that does justice to the home's original ambiance. It is fascinating history and a luxurious aesthetic - an authentic Southern experience you will not want to pass up. The surrounding town of White Castle was established as a town in the 1880s with the influx of people and business brought by the logging industry in the cypress swamps of the area. When the cypress wood was depleted, the main economic activity reverted to the sugar cane industry which had been established in the latter part of the 18th century. Individual plantation sugar mills gave way to larger mills servicing many plantations. By 1970, White Castle had three major sugar mills: Cora Texas, Cedar Grove, and Catherine Supple Plantation. Only one, Cora Texas, is still in operation. During the 1950s, the chemical industry entered the area, congregating around the Mississippi between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This industry brought economic growth which took White Castle into the 1980s. Companies establishing chemical plants in the area near White Castle were Dow Chemical north of Plaquemine, Georgia Gulf and Hercules north of White Castle, and Ciba-Geigy on the east bank of the Mississippi.

As your American Queen Voyages journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town - whether it's an optional premier post-cruise experience or a quick transfer to the airport for your final trip home - your AQV team can pre-arrange everything for you.