Show Boat on the Mississippi with New York

Show Boat on the Mississippi with New York

• OVERVIEW

  Remember Scarlett O’ Hara, complete with crinoline, sweeping down a Southern Mansion staircase in Gone with the Wind? And do you remember Show Boat and the chorus singing Ol’ Man River, well that river was the great Mississippi.

  Now it’s your chance to emulate Scarlett as we visit the Antebellum Mansions of the South and cruise the Ol’ Man River on our luxury paddle steamer reliving the Southern charms of yesterday in a region rich in history.

  Our musical journey takes us through lively Bourbon St in New Orleans, home of jazz and blues, Memphis, home of Elvis and New York, home of Broadway, neon lights and great shopping! But it’s our paddle steamer journey on a Show Boat ‘look alike’ which allows us a glimpse at the past with mansions, American ‘castles’, historic towns and insights into the Civil War, the history of slavery and a past way of life. As Rhett Butler would say “frankly I don’t give a damn! And nor will we, as we cruise along, into another realm without a care in the world!

• HOUSTON

  (2 nights) ~ Hotel Icon
  Largest city in Texas, famous for the Space Center and also houses the world renowned Houston Grand Opera, which we will attend dependent on availability.

  HIGHLIGHTS in Houston include:

  • Morning city tour.
  • Space Center Houston, including NASA Johnson Space Center for a behind the scene look at real space exploration, plus more than 400 things to see and do, including many exhibits, films, live shows, artefacts, galleries, Independence Plaza, NASA Tram and more!
  • Welcome dinner and music from Tizane and Alex. 
• MEMPHIS

  (1 night) ~ The Peabody Hotel

  HIGHLIGHTS in Memphis include:

  • Free time to wander at leisure.
  • Evening dinner and show at BB Kings.
  • Board the American Duchess paddle-wheeler, our home for the next 7 nights.
  • (Note that tours in Memphis are included under the steam boat section we will stay on board and tour from the ship). 
• AMERICAN DUCHESS PADDLE STEAMER

  (7 nights)
  American Duchess is an elegant, all-suite boutique paddlewheeler, offering an intimate experience for overnight cruising through America’s heartland. 

  We will be treated to the highest standard of service in our verandah suites with private balconies, entertainment and shore excursions and a pre cruise night at the iconic Peabody Hotel.

  HIGHLIGHTS on the American Duchess include:

  • Live musical performances, big screen movie events, Broadway calibre entertainment each evening.
  • Daily lectures by the Riverlorian, resident history and culture expert. 
• MEMPHIS (continued)
  HIGHLIGHTS today include:
  Premium Excursion (note: this premium shore excursion is included in your cost).
  The Kings Memphis with Graceland Pre Cruise tour
  

  • Graceland Mansion, the Jungle Room homage to Elvis’s love of Hawaii, the Trophy Building with hundreds of awards and accolades, the Meditation Garden, The “King’s” final resting place.
  • Iconic Beale Street, time for your own lunch, a driving tour of Memphis with iconic landmarks such as Sun Studio, National Civil Rights Museum and more. 
• HELENA, ARKANSAS

  Birthplace of the blues, situated directly beside the Mississippi, location of the great civil war battle.

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  Premium Excursion (note: this premium shore excursion is included in your cost).

  Mississippi Delta Gospel and the Birthplace of the Blues

  • Experience the blues, visit the Greater First Baptist Church and hear a rousing gospel choir performance, as renditions of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” will have us swaying back and forth and clapping along.
  • Visit Clarksdale, Mississippi which is so passionate about its Blues roots that the buildings and sidewalks ooze that gritty feeling evoked by the music of the region, known as the “Birthplace of the Blues!”
  • Visit the Delta Blues Museum.
  • Visit actor Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club for an exclusive live musical performance by a local Blues legend offering a unique cultural experience to complete our cultural experience of the birthplace of the Blues. 
• VICKSBURG

  Vicksburg 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.

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  • Visit Church of the Holy Trinity which is more than 125 years old and houses six Tiffany stained-glass windows.
  • Anchuca Mansion is our next stop - one of the most significant antebellum homes in Vicksburg and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1830 and provided shelter for those suffering during the War.
  • Old Court House Museum, built in 1858, this building stands as the most historic structure in Vicksburg, hosting speakers and guests like Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt.
  • Yesterday’s Child & Doll Museum with over 1,000 dolls and toys dating back to 1843.
  • At Biedenhard Coca-Cola Museum enjoy the wide variety of Coca-Cola memorabilia in an authentic candy store and soda fountain setting. 
• NATCHEZ

  Natchez, the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River, has more antebellum houses than any other place in the United States.

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  • Rosalie Mansion, built in 1823, this was a Union headquarters for Natchez during the Civil War built in 1823.
  • Natchez Visitor’s Center to learn about the river in this beautiful southern town.
  • Magnolia Hall, a fully restored mansion owned by a wealthy cotton broker and merchant. This Greek Revival mansion was built in 1858.
  • Stanton Hall, a magnificent, Antebellum Greek Revival Mansion built on an entire city block of Natchez.
  • Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro- American Culture Museum, where we view photographs and artifacts or hear the history of African-American heritage in Natchez. 
• BATON ROUGE

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  Premium Excursion - Grand Southern Plantation Tour (cost included in your cost).

  • Houmas House, its beauty confirms exactly why it is known as “The Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road.” Beyond its stunning architecture and perfectly manicured gardens, the Houmas House also offers its guests an incredible opportunity to delve into a deep, rooted history.
  • Experience culinary traditions of the region in a southern-style buffet lunch followed by free time to explore the home one last time at your leisure.
  • Head south through the sugarcane fields that helped build Louisiana and visit Oak Alley Plantation. 
• ST FRANCISVILLE

  A nationally recognised historic district can be found in the quaint town of St. Francisville, situated along the banks of the Mississippi River.

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  • Royal Street - walk over to The Republic of West Florida Historical Site or choose to stroll into Grandmother’s Buttons, a very unique southern boutique.
  • Old Market Hall and stop at Harrington Gallery to experience one-of-a-kind paintings and beautiful pieces by local artists.
  •  West Feliciana Historical Society Museum - learn about St. Francisville and Louisiana’s history and culture.
  • Grace Episcopal Church: originally built in 1827, this restored Gothic structure is one of the oldest Protestant churches in Louisiana. We learn about its significance during the Civil War and its historical Civil War cemetery. 
• NOTTOWAY

  Nottoway Plantation is the South’s largest remaining antebellum mansion and rests majestically on the Great Mississippi River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

  HIGHLIGHTS today include:

  •  Visit Nottoway Plantation and see the White Ballroom, painted entirely in white with elaborate gold décor. The mansion has 365 openings – one for each day of the year.
  •  Enjoy a guided walking tour of an American Castle as we explore within the pristine walls of Nottoway, followed by a stroll through the lush grounds and gardens. 
• NEW ORLEANS

  (3 nights) New Orleans Roosevelt Hotel

   

   

  New Orleans is a Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the “Big Easy,” it’s known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures.

  
  HIGHLIGHTS in New Orleans include:
  

  • Once our ship docks, we are taken from the wharf to horse drawn royal carriages for a special tour of New Orleans. 
  • Discover the history and mystery of French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré.
  • See prominent landmarks such as the St. Louis Cathedral, French Market, Spanish Cabildo, Pontalba Buildings, Place D’Armes, etc.
  • Learn about important events such as the Great Fire of 1788 and Battle of New Orleans.
  • Admire the architecture of Creole Esplanade, old slave quarters, French coffee houses, Spanish patios, and ironwork balconies.
  • Tea Room Café for lunch after which the horse and carriages will meet us again and take us to our hotel.
  • Rest of afternoon free to settle in. 
  • Dinner at Arnaud Jazz Bistro, where we enjoy Dixieland Jazz and classic Creole cuisine in this lively setting with windows overlooking Bourbon Street. 
  •  Enjoy a Cajun Pride Swamp tour in their privately owned swamp with native Cajun captains showing off the primitive beauty of the moss-draped cypress trees, the American Alligator and abundant wildlife.
  • Guided tour of Laura Plantation, historical home to slavery and to sugar plantation.
  • Free time to wander around Bourbon Street and hear the music and atmosphere.
  • Full free day to explore at leisure.
  • Evening drink at Fountain Lounge followed by dinner.
• NEW YORK

  (4 nights) Renaissance Times Square Hotel New York

  Epicenter of the arts. Dining and shopping capital. Trendsetter. New York City wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all.

  HIGHLIGHTS in New York include:
  • City tour which will take us to some of the major sights of the City, including Midtown Manhattan, 42nd Street, Times Square, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden the world’s most famous arena, Greenwich Village, Bowery, Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center Towers once stood.
  • Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art which has launched a complete reconstruction of its four-blocklong plaza along Fifth Avenue—one of New York City’s iconic spaces, housing a huge array of art.
  • Free time to make your own tours of New York, shopping, sightseeing and also time to enjoy your own Broadway shows or the Opera.
  • Dinner and Broadway show included in your cost.
  • Final night dinner and music from Tizane and Alex.
  • Fly to Houston and then on to Auckland.