The Mississippi - With Free Shore Excursions

Regular readers will know we featured a wonderful Mississippi River cruise earlier this year, sailing on the brand new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines (it was featured in our Spring edition and extensively here on Time Spent At Sea in one of our signature day-by-day blogs).

Well, American Cruise Lines have just announced a great incentive to cruise the mighty Mississippi with them in 2014 - free shore excursions. Reserve a stateroom for ANY of their voyages on Ol' Man River next year by December 25, and cruisers will receive at least one free excursion for each port of call.

ACL's Mississippi cruises for 2014 include seven different itineraries, New Orleans to Memphis; St Louis to St Paul; Memphis to St Louis; Nashville to St Louis; St Louis to Cincinnati; Memphis to Nashville; and New Orleans round-trip.

The free excursions include some of the following:

Adubon Museum: Discover the life of John James Audubon during a guided tour of the Audubon Museum featuring his artwork and personal memorabilia framed within a timeline of world events.

Natchez City Tour: On a guided tour of Natchez, enjoy the influences and traditions of Native American, European, Southern, and African American cultures throughout the Natchez historic district.

Mark Twain Home Tour: Visit Mark Twain's boyhood home and museum, followed by a narrated trolley tour of Hannibal showcasing many of the locations that inspired his remarkable works. 

More info: call (in the US) 1800 460 4518 or visit www,americancruiselines.com.

Have you subscribed to World of Cruising magazine yet? We have a fabulous offer for all new subscribers this month ONLY - 50 per cent OFF the regular rate AND the chance to win a cruise in our free prize draw offer. See this link!

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Queen of the Mississippi, Part One

We’re sailing the Mississippi aboard the brand new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines. Follow along with us as we go from St Louis to Memphis…

It’s embarkation day on Queen of the Mississippi and it is immediately clear this is unlike any cruise we have done before. Our taxi drops us dockside along this recreated stern-wheel paddle-steamer and there is no photographer or welcoming committee. In fact, there is no embarkation fuss of any kind.

Assistant cruise director Theo walks up the short pathway to greet us and check us off on his clipboard, then we just follow him along the traditional bow gangplank and we’re all aboard. It’s that simple.

He shows us to our cabin on Deck 4 and, in no time at all, we’re settled into our balcony cabin with masses of room for a seven-day voyage. Unlike most river-cruise ships, where cabins tend to be stylish but functional, with only minimal room and a balcony that is usually a token effort, this sports genuine big-ship verandah style, with the cabin itself boasting 300sq ft of space, with a balcony to match.

There is ample closet and drawer space (although a closet door would be nice), a generous-sized bathroom with a huge shower (by most ship standards) and, while it wouldn’t live up to a genuine deluxe rating, there are some classy touches, like the individual Keurig coffee-maker, Judith Jackson Spa bathroom products and free wi-fi.

A quick tour of the ship (and, at just 295ft long over five decks, three of which are mainly accommodation, it IS a quick tour!), reveals some sumptuous public rooms and lounges, the one main dining room and a generous helping of coffee-making facilities, along with free fruit, snacks and soft drinks, throughout the vessel.

This immediately looks like a cosy and comfortable way to travel for at least a week (while we find some on board who have signed up for the full three-week journey from Minneapolis to New Orleans), and the friendliness of the crew is evident everywhere with smiling faces and inquries of “Can I help?”

No, we don’t need any help to start with. This is an extremely promising first impression, and we have seriously high hopes of a memorable seven days travelling in the 19^th century wake of Mark Twain, so you’ll have to excuse us while we unpack and get properly settled, especially as it will soon be time for lunch…! 

 

NB: For bookings in the UK, call 0808 101 2713; in the US, call 1800 460 4518.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Follow Us On The Mississippi!

It's time for another 'live' cruise with World of Cruising this month as we head out for a unique voyage along the mighty Mississippi on the brand new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines.

Our voyage goes from St Louis to Memphis for a look at the heart of America's greatest river, taking in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. This route is part of the great paddlesteamer era of the 19th century and offers a genuine view of some essential American heritage, from Native American history to the travels of Lewis and Clark and some of the essential Civil War battles.

Along the way, we will discover the likes of America's "most haunted city" (Alton, Illinois), a former French trading post (Cape Girardeau, Missouri), the Chicasaw village site of Paducah (Kentucky), the Civil War port of Columbus (Kentucky), the town that made history as the epicenter of the most powerful earthquake to hit the US (New Madrid, Missouri), the bustling historic town of Tunica (Missouri) and finally the City of Elvis, Memphis itself.

It promises to be a fascinating look at small-town America and the charms of a different age, when Mark Twain travelled the river and the world was a much slower, gentler place.

And we will also be travelling in some style. The Queen of the Mississippi was launched this August and is in her very first season of travels up and down the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. A classic-style stern-wheel paddlesteamer, she is built in retro style but with all mod cons and features, including larger-than-average staterooms, gorgeous lounges and public rooms, and a reputation for fine dining in the best traditions of American Cruise Lines.

It promises to be a fascinating and charming journey, so be sure to check in with us every day as we bring you a daily look at this genuine five-star travel experience.

It all starts on Saturday, November 3, and will last a full week (internet connection permitting!), and we hope to have some great photos to go with the daily blog. The full review, of course, will be in the Spring edition of World of Cruising.

And make sure you keep reading next month as we travel to wonderful Hawaii! 

Don't forget to subscribe to the magazine - if you haven't done so already - on this link.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.