What’s included:
- 3/4* Hotels in Memphis and New Orleans
- 9 Breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 7 dinners
- Wine and beer with dinner on the cruise portion
- Shore excursions in every port, Riverlorian lectures and Nightly entertainment
- 3 Transfers
What’s not included:
- Airfare to and from tour. Contact us for the best prices from your home town.
- Entrance fees not indicated
- Additional meals and drinks not indicated in Itinerary.
- Any internal country fees, taxes or permits
- Gratuities
Day 1 – Arrive in Memphis and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day on your own.
Try world famous “Central BBQ”, ”B. B. Kings Restaurant”. Visit Sun Studio and of course Beale Street with its sights and sounds of the past. All situated right in the heart of the city next to your hotel.
Beale streets heyday was during the roaring 20’s when it took on a carnival atmosphere, the street filling up by mid evening with gamblers, prostitution, blues men, and pickpockets like the famous Little Ora.
Machine Gun Kelly peddled whiskey here before moving on to big time crime.
One club The Monarch was known as the castle of missing men because gunshot victims were
disposed of by the undertaker sharing the back alley.
Take a stroll during the evening and feel the street come alive with history.
Day 2 – Hotel area pick-up for your tour of Graceland 10 a.m.
Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland on this bus tour from Memphis. Located about 30 minutes from Downtown Memphis, Graceland is a step back to the days before the King’s early death.
Enjoy an audio tour of the Mansion including the famous Jungle Room, and see Elvis’ gravesite in the Meditation Garden. Stroll through the auto museum to see more than 30 unique vehicles owned by Elvis, step aboard Elvis’ private jets, and grab Elvis’ favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich (or, if you prefer, a hamburger) at the Chrome Grille.
Day 3 – Transfer to board your river cruise in the afternoon.
Day 4- River cruising. Sit in your rocker and enjoy the world flowing by.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of river cruising as you spend a leisurely day onboard.
Day 5 – Vicksburg MS The Red Carpet City of the South charms with its diversity of old and new.
Discover a unique blend of old and new in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Take in the diversity from National Historic Landmarks to the Waterways Experiment Station. Billed as the “Red Carpet City of the South,” Southern hospitality is alive and well and awaiting your arrival.
Included Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
Vicksburg, Mississippi is a place bursting at the seams with local culture, character, art, entertainment and outdoor adventure. With sweeping views of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg perfectly blends Southern culture and heritage with exciting modern-day attractions. Board our deluxe Hop-On Hop-Off motorcoach as it heads towards its first stop at the Vicksburg’s shopping district. Next we will stop at The Church of Holy Trinity; a place of spiritual refreshment to Vicksburg for over 125 years. Followed by a stop at Anchuca Mansion, named from the Choctaw word meaning “happy home,” Anchuca is one of the most significant homes in Vicksburg, Anchuca is an impressive Greek Revival antebellum home. As we come back into the downtown area, we will continue to the Old Court House Museum, which showcases thousands of artifacts from pre-Columbian times to Civil War implements. Then we will stop at Washington Street for some more shopping as well as an included admission to Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum and the Yesterday’s Child Doll and Toy Museum. Next stop; the Lower Mississippi River Museum, where we can find out how different communities, farming families, and the US Army Corps of Engineers have all utilized the river. Finally, The Old Depot Museum, a preservation museum run by the Vicksburg Battlefield Museum and highlights the Siege of Vicksburg.
Day 6 – Natchez MS Site of many restored mansions including Stanton Hall and Rosalie Mansion
Step into the plantation lifestyle of the antebellum south in Natchez, site of numerous restored mansions. Visit historic Jefferson College, or just amble down the Natchez Trace.
Included Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
Natchez is the center of the Antebellum South. From Spring Pilgrimage to Christmas, there’s no shortage of excitement in this small town as we tour the antebellum mansions of this quiet river town. First, we will stop at the Natchez Visitors Center for their gift shop, bookstore and exhibits including a film about this historic port. Or, if you’d rather, relax and simply enjoy the spectacular views of the Mississippi River. A narrated tour of the city includes admission to the antebellum mansions: Magnolia Hall, Stanton Hall, Rosalie Mansion and the William Johnson House. While in route through the historical town, we’ll pass by Twin Oaks, home of the American Queen’s Culinary Director; Regina Charboneau. As we head back to the boat, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Downtown Natchez as well as a stop for some shopping opportunities at the Eola Hotel as well as included admission to the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture Museum.
Day 7 – St. Francisville LA On the bluffs of the Mississippi River with over 100 Buildings on the National Register
This quaint town located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River is your window to the past. With over 140 buildings on the National Register, beautiful plantation homes nestled in the rolling countryside, and bustling Main Street shops, you’ll find plenty to keep you on the go in St. Francisville.
Included Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
Hop on our deluxe motorcoach, and begin your tour at Royal Street where you can hop off at our first stop; The Republic of West Florida Site. Choose to enjoy the park or stroll into Grandmother’s Buttons, a unique southern boutique. Next, we can visit the Old Market Hall and explore the art, jewelry, handmade items and music of the region. When we reach Commerce Street, hop off for lunch, snacks, spirits, coffee or ice cream from one of the many cafés and restaurants they have to offer. After that, hop back on the bus to the Spring Creek Shopping Center. Finally, we will visit the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum on Ferdinand Street and the Grace Episcopal Church.
Day 8 – Baton Rouge LA The Capital of Louisiana offers a seamless blend of the past and present.
The capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the center of all the great things the state has to offer—visitors delight in the seamless blend of past and present experiencing authentic Louisiana at every turn. With its semi-tropical climate, the outdoors is tempting and the attractions abound. No wonder this is one of the south’s fastest growing cities.
Included Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
In Louisiana’s capital city, we’ll see something unique at every turn! Our day will begin with a stop for the military enthusiast at the USS Kidd, a WWII Fletcher-class destroyer, and the adjoining Veterans Memorial Museum. Then, we will stop and visit the Old Governor’s Mansion; built in 1930 by Governor Huey P. Long as “Louisiana’s White House.” The next stop is the beautiful St. Joseph Cathedral; built in 1853. Followed by a stop at the Main Street Market for lunch and shopping. Enjoy the wide variety of restaurants including down-home Southern cooking, sandwiches and salads, even Chinese, Greek and Lebanese. Also, pick up a few authentic Louisiana souvenirs while you are there.
Next, stroll across the intricate Capitol gardens and tour the Capitol Park Museum, a Louisiana State Museum. Here we can step onto a simulated Mardi Gras float, discover the difference between Cajun and Creole and lose ourselves in multimedia presentations. Hop off at Louisiana’s current State Capitol, standing proud as the nation’s tallest capitol building. Get a birds-eye view of the city and Mighty Mississippi River from the 27th floor observation deck. We will continue the loop around Capitol Lake and through Arsenal Park for a beautiful view of the current Governor’s Mansion, built in 1963 when Jimmie Davis was Governor. Stop by the Old Arsenal Museum, built in 1838 and used by the US military during the Mexican and Civil Wars.
For the art lovers, our next stop is the LSU Museum of Art, located inside the Shaw Center for the Arts and featuring a diverse art collection. The last stop on the loop is Louisiana’s Old State Capitol. The 160-year-old statehouse has withstood war, fire, scandal, bitter debate, abandonment and an occasional fistfight.
Day 9 – Plantation Road LA Experience living history through the Romantic Antebellum Mansions
Enjoy an included tour of Nottoway Plantation, the South’s largest remaining antebellum mansion. This stunning historical plantation lies between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and offers a view of a truly grand plantation. Enjoy a guided tour of an American Castle as we explore within the pristine walls of Nottoway followed by a stroll through the lush grounds and gardens.
Day 10 – Disembark in New Orleans Transfer to your hotel and on your own
Day 11 – Choice of one of 2 tours:
Paddle and Wheel combo
After your exciting Super City Tour by Motorcoach, board the historic Steamboat Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River. This two-hour day cruise takes you back to a time when cotton was king and life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi River.
The Port of New Orleans
Enjoy the Captain’s narration of the highlights of one of the world’s busiest ports. New Orleans is the gateway between the oceans of the world and the American Midwest via the Mississippi River. This vast network provides the nation with steel, coffee, plywood, and manufactured goods, while also providing a pathway for over half of the country’s grain exports.
Steam-Powered Boat…and Music
Tour the Historic Steam Engine Room and learn how steam powers the engines to turn the Paddlewheel and provide the energy for the delightful tunes of the calliope, a pipe organ with thirty-two notes. Enjoy a Steam Calliope Concert daily, a sound that you’ll quickly come to associate with the city of New Orleans.
Experience American History
Not only will you have the chance to see the beautiful French Quarter from the river, but you’ll also cruise past the Chalmette Battlefield, where Jean Lafitte and his buccaneers joined forces with Andrew Jackson to defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
Enjoy a Creole lunch, which is included.
OR
Super city and Plantation tour
Travel Through Three Centuries of history, legends and romance as you encounter “The City That Care Forgot!”
Absorb the sights & sounds of the world famous French Quarter and historic Jackson Square, home of the Cabildo and Presbytere Museums.
Visit one of our historic cemeteries, referred to as “Cities of the Dead,” and learn about this unique above ground burial system.
Marvel at stories of voodoo and piracy on Bayou St. John, the waterway used by Jean Lafitte and his band of pirates, as we make our way to City Park, the 5th largest urban park in America. Here you may visit either the Morning Call Cafe or the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
Follow the path of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, the oldest continuously operating passenger railway system in the world (until service was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina).
See the homes of former Kings & Queens of Mardi Gras, stately mansions and the world-famous, exclusive Garden District.
View Tulane and Loyola Universities across from Audubon Park, home to one of the top five zoos in the nation, The Audubon Zoo.
Feel the gentle breeze of Southern hospitality on a tour that takes you back to the glory of the Old South! You’ll experience a bygone era in one of the South’s most beautiful settings-Oak Alley Plantation, built in 1839.
Marvel at the unbelievable quarter-mile long alley of 28 magnificent Oak trees, each over 250 years old, and view the Majestic Cypress Trees in Louisiana’s swamps bordering the Mississippi River.
Your guided tour will reveal the fascinating stories of the home and its history. Perhaps the most photographed plantation ever, Oak Alley has been the setting for such motion pictures as Interview with a Vampire, Primary Colors, and the wedding of Bo and Hope from the daytime soap opera, Days of our Lives.
You can purchase a snack, salad or sandwich in the Plantation Café to enjoy at the picnic tables or aboard the coach (Cost is not included in tour price).
Note: Due to the home’s historic nature, access to the second floor is by stairs only. Walking the grounds is an integral part of this experience. No video is allowed inside the plantation home.
Day 12 – Transfer to the airport for your flight
Enquire regarding other dates.
This cruise tour may be done in reverse, starting in New Orleans
May 16/May 30 $3,971.00 U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy
Above pricing includes taxes where stated. In Canada, GST/HST included. Country taxes that must be paid locally are not included. Prices listed were correct at time of publication. Prices can change to reflect exchange rate changes. Custom World Vacations reserves the right to amend prices at any time without prior notice. All vacations are subject to availability.
