The Largest Steamboat Ever Built Has 4 Festive Holiday Cruises Through the American South
American Queen Voyages is offering merry and bright itineraries along the lower Mississippi River this year — and there's still time to book.
Courtesy of American Queen Voyage
Looking for a holiday escape this year? If you're itching for an adventure on the water, but are hoping to stay stateside, American Queen Voyages has you covered with its Holidays on the River sailings on the lower Mississippi River.
From November through December, American Queen Voyages will offer four holiday-themed itineraries aboard the American Queen, the largest steamboat ever built. American Queen is 418 feet in length with six decks, across which you'll find a 19th-century-style opera house, elegant dining rooms and lounges, and a fitness center and pool. Onboard, all meals and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included as is live entertainment, with caroling on the holiday sailings.
Courtesy of American Queen Voyage
Sean McVeigh/Courtesy of American Queen Voyage
The holiday itineraries include sailings from Nashville to Memphis; Memphis to New Orleans; and New Orleans to Memphis, as well as a round-trip sailing from New Orleans. Each is nine days long, during which the ship will make port in the Mississippi's historic cities and towns, from Natchez, Louisiana, to Paducah, Kentucky. Walking or hop-on-hop-off tours are offered at most ports, and guests can book premium excursions, from golf outings to tours of historic sites. Plus, the holiday voyages include a pre-sailing hotel stay, which gives guests even more time to explore their embarkation ports, many of which will be transformed into (mildly warm) winter wonderlands for the festive season.
In celebration of American Queen Voyages' 10th anniversary, these special itineraries also include an exclusive Creole Réveillon dinner, hosted by the cruise line's culinary ambassador Regina Charboneau, who will also host cooking demonstrations. The Réveillon is a 19th-century holiday dining tradition that features Creole, Cajun, and other Southern dishes.
So, this holiday season, if the Christmas markets on the European rivers seem just out of reach, head for one of our own backyard gems: the Mississippi. Spaces are still available on the holiday sailings and can be booked here; rates start at $2,099 per person.
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