COMPLETE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CRUISE
22 May - 14 June 2025
I booked a 21-day cruise on American Cruise Lines. It began in New Orleans, Louisiana and ended in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Thursday 22 May – I chose to fly to New Orleans a day early. My hotel, the “Intercontinental Hotel,” was booked by ACL. The rest of Thursday and all day Friday were spent enjoying one of my favorite cities. I enjoyed beignets at “Cafe du Monde,”
I went to “Mother’s Restaurant” for a ham dinner one night and for Cajun food the next.
As expected, the “French Quarter” was pretty much the same. “Aunt Sally’s Pralines” was still turning out their sweet treats
and the jazz combo was playing across from “Jackson Square.”
Saturday 24 May - Embarkation Day - Once aboard the "American Melody," I checked out my stateroom (619) and went to lunch.
After the mandatory egress drill, there was a sail away party.
Then I returned to the stateroom to change before HH and dinner. Chris Hall, the onboard lecturer, spoke on the “Early History of the Mississippi River.”
Sunday May 25 - Vacherie, LA – My morning tour was “Ca c’est non - Cajun Culinary Lagniappe Experience at the Cajun Village” at 9:30. When the captain gave a briefing at 8, he said the temperature would be in the 90s today and that it would be humid. Duh! Once there, Bruce entertained with some Cajun jokes and facts. We stood on the back porch as he explained various ways to catch crawfish and frogs. Returning inside, we paired up to cook T-pot Jambalaya. When it just needed to simmer, we left and walked from that building down a wooden walkway, and behind the “Black Market Trading Company” to watch as a lady threw meat to two huge alligators. About 11:30, the jambalaya was done. We sampled it—not bad—and Corn Maque Choux which Bruce’s wife made; beignets and chicory coffee were served. At noon we reboarded the motor coach for the return drive to the riverboat.
At 5, I went to hear Chris give an overview of Baton Rouge and Thania talked about tomorrow’s tours. Then I went to cocktail hour and dinner. After dinner, “Flashback” performed “Boogie Nights” with 70’s music.
Monday 26 May - Baton Rouge, LA - It was Memorial Day. The tour to the “Louisiana Museum of Rural Life” began at 9. During the short drive, Erica, our guide, provided commentary. Upon arrival, we were on our own until 11:15. This gave me plenty of time to see some exhibits I missed last year as well as to take a closer look at some other exhibits. It was hot and humid but the heat wasn’t oppressive.
When I finished, I sat in a rocking chair on the front porch. We returned to the riverboat, and I went to put things in my stateroom before going to the Memorial Day Buffet: watermelon, coleslaw, baked beans, bbq brisket, Bloody Mary, coffee. Chris spoke about the Mississippi River at 4. During her talk, she explained navigating it, dredging the channel, and the locks on the upper river. She also covered historic floods and levees. She emphasized the economic impact of the cargo transported via the waterway.
Next Chris talked about St. Francisville, tomorrow’s port. After cocktail hour, dinner was with the same table mates as last night. Colin gave a brief Memorial Day tribute before Thania recapped tomorrow’s tours. Judy Whitney Davis was the speaker of the evening; she was as wonderful and entertaining as I remembered. Her thought provoking remarks and message to care for others were delivered in an often humorous but effective manner.
Tuesday 27 May - St. Francisville, LA - I awoke to thunderstorms; you’d have thought I was in Texas. The sun was shining by 8:30. Can you spell HUMIDITY? After breakfast, I sat in the lounge until the housekeeper finished. Lunch was Cochon de Lait, a Cajun pig roast, served in the dining room. My afternoon tour included “Rosedown” and “Catalpa” plantations. Brenda was our local guide but really only rode the bus with us and made sure we kept to the schedule. “Rosedown,” built by Daniel and Martha Trumbull, was our first stop. It hasn’t changed much since my visit over 25 years ago. It now belongs to the State of Louisiana and is operated by the parks department. We enjoyed an excellent tour.
