Lower Mississippi River Cruise 11/22 to 11/30 2024

 I have thought about taking a river cruise and decided this might be a good time. I took a couple one day river cruises in Germany but wanted to have the overnight experience. American Cruise was offering air fare from home to Memphis and from New Orleans back home, Home being the Syracuse airport. They  planned a Thanksgiving menu on the 28th.

American Symphony

Ports of call 

Rough start as most of NY and PA had a Winter Weather Warning so I drove to Syracuse so I would not have as big a trouble getting to the airport in the morning. 

The flights went well. I was able to get assistance between terminals at Atlanta that involved 2 long concourses, 2 elevators and a 4 minute train ride!

This tree greets you in the lobby of the Inn

The hotel, "The Inn at Graceland" is a beautiful hotel with tasteful pictures and memorabilia of Elvis, It is located on Elvis Presley Blvd.

My dinner at the Inn was Salmon and chipped potatoes on a bed of creamed Spinach.  

Not bad for $32. Oh wait - There was some good bread with strawberry butter.

Breakfast in the same restaurant was $17. Tough sausage patties and no Orange marmalade. The eggs were good as was the fruit. I will stick with Broadway.

American Cruises bussed all the cruisers to meet the ship American Symphony and on the way we passed this huge glass pyramid which appeared to be solar panels but it actually a Bass Pro Shop due to complete in 2025. 

On the way to the dock we passed several places where you could get an e-scooter or an e-bike. It appeared to be a park-like area along the river.

 

To minimize flooding from the river, levees have been constructed along miles of the river that are as much as 40 feet high and are very steep. Each dock therefore is at river level (which varies due to rain etc) and passengers need to walk or be transported in ATV's or golf carts to the top of the levee, where busses or other forms of transportation are parked. American and other cruise lines contract for them to be used for passengers with disabilities to get to the top of the levee to meet the bus. American has busses that travel daily following us to each of our stops to transport us to the city or other site on the trip. After we reach New Orleans, they will again follow a group who are traveling the same route in reverse. i.e. New Orleans to Memphis. One day while we were disembarking and ATV's and people were going up the levee, a produce delivery came and the kitchen staff were out with dollies fetching crates of food and drink from local suppliers. The logistics of the whole cruising operation is astounding.

My Cabin with veranda

The bath (Obviously)

Lunch today- Seafood salad wrapped with thinly sliced cucumber and

 topped with 2 shrimp, The yellow is a slice of baked cheddar. It was just right for lunch.It included some bread rolls.  

Dinner which I failed to take a picture of was sliced prime rib on scalloped potatoes, It was delicious.

For both meals I sat with other couples from all over and enjoyed the conversation. One guy was even older than me- 88. Very interesting

Sunday 11/24

We went to a Grammy Museum in Cleveland Mississippi.This is the only Grammy Museum other than in California. It has memorabilia from those who won or were nominated for a Grammy award. It was very interesting especially the interactive sessions where you could select decades and get the music history of that decade, from the 50's to this decade. also was a display which played current music videos using the technology of the past starting with Wax Cylinders, gramophones, vinyl, cassettes, surround sound and headphones. It was amazing to hear how good the old methods actually were.

She is everywhere!

In the afternoon we went to a Model Railroad museum also in Cleveland. In addition they had memorabilia from the time when trains were more common.

A house fire being fought, notice the smoke?

One of our favorites!

Monday 11/25/2024

We had a bus tour of the battlefield outside Vicksburg Mississippi. The battle was a 47 day siege of the city. There were a number of locations where the Confederates were defending with US Grant directing the siege. 140,000 combatants were involved in this battle for control of the Mississippi River as a supply line to each of the armies. The land terrain was extremely rugged and the Confederates had the high ground .

Monument to the Illinois brigade. 47 steps, 1 for each day of the siege. 

(I didn't climb them)

This home was on the battlefield, adjacent to where the Illinois memorial now stands and the woman and her small boy refused to leave. Sadly the son was killed with cannon fire.

A major force in deciding the battle was naval bombardment from the river from ships like this, USS Cairo. armed with cannons that shelled the city for 47 days.

The USS Cairo is cradled in these structures after being rescued from the river. If you look closely at the pictures most of the wood looks dry but rotted,

Because of the heavy shelling the citizens were forced into digging caves into the hills and living inside till the surrender was finally accomplished, July 3rd 1863. Up to 47 days in a cave! 500 caves were made! We could walk into this one and it was about 10 feet deep and 20 feet wide.

 

Tuesday 11/26/2024

The view from the "Bluffs of Natchez". Louisiana is just across the river.

Our boat is the furthest while the Viking cruise line is in the foreground

We visited a beautiful R.C. church here in Natchez

The Rosalie Mansion, built in 1823 and named for a French Fort in the area that had been named for a French Countess of Pontchartrain. 

                                                    

The back door!

The Back Yard and Side Yard

11/27/2024

This morning we are in St. Francisville, Louisiana.  We will be in that state for the rest of the cruise.

The river is and has been for many years a highway for goods and travel. We see barges like this daily being pushed up or down river.

This plantation, called "The Myrtles" at one time had 2000 acres and hundreds of slaves in their employ.

It is said to be haunted due to murder that took place in the 1800's

The entrance has this 350 lb. Chandelier.

The dinning room

The mirror is said to have a reflection of a long passed person. Not seeing it!

11/28/2024 Thanksgiving Day

Stayed on board this morning . I attended a lecture on the Music of the South. It was interesting.

After lunch I took a bus tour of Baton Rogue; governors mansion, capital building, and LSU campus.

Baton Rogue is the capital of the state

State Capital building

The mascot for LSU is a tiger, this is Mike, 7th live mascot they have had. He has a 1500 sq ft. with an outside and indoors portion. Also has A/C and a swimming pool. It was hard to get a good picture with all the vegetation and tourists.

Thanksgiving meal on board. It was delicious!

Top row, Prime rib, Turkey, Squash 

Middle row, Lobster stuffed Ravioli, Sea Bass, Candied sweet potato

Bottom item, Cornmeal stuffing.

Of course there was dessert- Pumpkin, apple and pecan pie, Chocolate cake and sweet potato bread which was like bread pudding but more dense.

11/29/2024 Friday's tour

The Houmas House Burnside La.

The Sugar plantation was established in the late 1700s, with the current main house completed in 1840. It was named after the native Houma people who originally occupied this area of Louisiana.

The Houmas has been the filming house for a variety of motion pictures, television series and commercials. Louisiana ranks 3rd in locations for filming.

11/30/2024 Saturday

Oak Alley Plantation

Front entrance facing the Mississippi

Almost every place we were at we saw giant Virginia Live Oaks. One was 1000 years old.

The saying is they "take 200 years to grow, 200 years to live, and 200 years to die."

This is the rear entrance facing the highway.

We passed a cemetery on the bus. Because the city of New Orleans is  only 4 feet higher than the sea level, it is impossible to bury in a traditional grave so family mausoleums and larger "community" type  are used

We passed the superdome on the bus as well.

Cafe DuMonde is a popular cafe and coffee in New Orleans

 Beignets are a French donut; yeasted dough, deep-fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. They were sold in 3's for $3.85. Beats the Cider Mill price.

Prior to being taken to the airport we drove around some beautiful neighborhoods. 

Just a sample below, taken from the bus.

I flew from Louis Armstrong airport to LaGuardia, had 2 gate changes and was in LaGuardia from 4:40 to 10:40 and arrived at Syracuse at 11:30 PM. Stayed in a hotel and drove home in the morning. I left my car in the parking garage at the Syracuse airport. For 8 days, $198.I thought it was  a bit high but don't have a lot of experience with that sort of thing.

It was a great trip and I recommend American Cruises. The staff was most accommodating, friendly and helpful. The food was outstanding and everything was included, no nickel diming at all, even the laundry soap and dryer sheets were furnished for the free washers and dryers. Alcohol drinks were included. 

All cruising was done at night so I suggest you not pay extra for a balcony. Most stops had local guides on the tour. Some were difficult to understand due to the difference in our dialect and the roar of the bus.

Open dining seating makes for getting acquainted with your fellow travelers. That was to me one of the highlights, meeting other travelers.

No fear of motion sickness. I had to look out to see if we were moving.

Good trip. Lots of nice people and staff.