The steamboats have all gone. Though the Mississippi River is still as attractive as ever as a cruise destination. Here is a guide to cruising the Lower Mississippi, where the ships stop along the river, what it costs and when to go.
Since
2009
Travel Boating Lifestyle has been published since 2009 by Australian travel writer Fiona Harper, a 20 year-plus veteran of the travel media industry.
Mississippi River cruising: the facts
| Who sails it | Viking and American Cruise Lines. Both run overnight cruises on the Lower Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans |
| Typical length | 8 days / 7 nights Memphis to New Orleans, in either direction. Full-river itineraries from St Paul run 15 to 22 days |
| Usual ports | Memphis, Tunica, Greenville or Cleveland, Vicksburg, Natchez, St Francisville, Baton Rouge, New Orleans |
| Indicative cost | From around US$4,300 to US$6,500 per person for a seven-night lower river sailing. Full-river transits run US$15,000 and up. Check current fares |
| Best time to go | Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to November). Summer is hot and humid, and the river is at its lowest in late summer and autumn |
| No longer operating | American Queen Voyages, which ceased trading on 20 February 2024. There is no steam-driven paddle wheeler in overnight service on the Mississippi |
Tow boats are the traffic on the Mississippi, pushing their barge trains upstream and down, day and night, seven days a week. The deck of American Queen provides an ideal platform to watch the passing parade. It’s one of the fascinating aspects of a Mississippi cruise, and there’s plenty of time to soak it all in.
I sailed this stretch in May 2023, from Memphis to New Orleans over nine days, on a ship that no longer plies this waterway. The American Queen ceased operating in February 2024 and has not sailed since.
Who cruises the Lower Mississippi now?
Viking
Viking Mississippi carries 386 guests and was purpose-built for the river, launched in 2022. Fares are all-inclusive in the Viking manner: river-view stateroom, one complimentary shore excursion in every port, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, wi-fi, destination lectures and onboard performances. The core Lower Mississippi product is the eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer, Memphis to New Orleans or the reverse.
Viking also runs the full river, St Paul to New Orleans, over 15 days.
American Cruise Lines
The largest river cruise operator in the United States, and the company that bought the American Queen fleet out of collapse. Its Mississippi ships are the modern riverboat class, including American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade, carrying around 175 guests each. Smaller ships, more of them, and a wider spread of itinerary lengths, including a 16-day St Paul to New Orleans run and shorter New Orleans to Memphis sailings.
New ships are arriving on a steady schedule, with Encore in 2026 and Anthem in 2027.
What you will not find on the Mississippi
Sadly, there are no more authentic steamboats cruising the river. The last one in overnight service was the American Queen, and she is currently a stripped hull looking for someone to bring her back to life. Both American Cruise Lines vessels and Viking Mississippi have paddle wheels of a sort at the stern, but they are diesel-electric ships with a nod to the tradition rather than steam-driven paddle wheelers.
Memphis to New Orleans: the ports
Actual calls vary by operator, direction and river conditions, but the spine of the route is consistent.
| Port | State | Why you stop |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | Tennessee | Graceland, Sun Studio, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel |
| Tunica | Mississippi | Gateway to the Delta. Tunica RiverPark and the blues country beyond it |
| Cleveland / Greenville | Mississippi | GRAMMY Museum Mississippi at Cleveland, the only GRAMMY Museum outside Los Angeles when it opened in 2016 |
| Vicksburg | Mississippi | Vicksburg National Military Park, the Old Court House Museum, Anchuca. Site of the 47-day siege that ended 4 July 1863 |
| Natchez | Mississippi | The oldest city on the Mississippi, with more than 200 historic estates. Magnolia Hall, Rosalie, Longwood |
| St Francisville | Louisiana | More than 140 sites on the National Register of Historic Places in a town of under 2,000 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | State capital. Usually a southbound-only call |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | Jazz, the French Quarter, and the reason nobody schedules anything for the day after disembarkation |
When is the best time to cruise the Mississippi?
Spring, April to early June. When it’s warm without being punishing, and river levels are generally high enough that voyages do not get rerouted.
Autumn, September to November. Cooler, quieter, and the light is often softer if you are photographer. The trade-off is low water in late summer and autumn, which in bad years has forced itinerary changes on the Lower Mississippi.
Summer, July and August. Hot and humid in a way that Queenslanders recognise and most other people find debilitating. It’s generally cheaper for this reason.
Winter. Limited sailings. Cold, bare trees, and the Delta looks like it’s not quite as vibrant as other seasons.
What does a Mississippi River cruise cost?
Indicative, and moving constantly, so treat these as a guide only.
- 7 nights, Lower Mississippi: from roughly US$4,300 to US$6,500 per person
- 15 to 16 days, St Paul to New Orleans: generally US$9,000 and up per person
- 22-day full-river itineraries: US$15,000 to US$25,000 and beyond
American river cruising is expensive relative to Europe. The ships are small, the crews are American, the season is short and there is no competitive pressure with few cruise operators.
What is usually included: shore excursions in each port, most or all beverages depending on line, wi-fi, onboard entertainment and lectures. What is usually not: airfares, pre and post hotel nights, premium excursions, gratuities.
Is a Mississippi River cruise worth it?
It depends entirely on whether your ideal cruise involves plenty of time taking in the views from the ship. Voyages unfold at a leisurely pace that won’t suit everyone.
Nothing on this river happens quickly. There is no drama on the water. The interest is in what the ports hold, in the music, in the food, and in the peculiar experience of moving slowly through the American South while the country’s freight economy works past in the opposite direction.
If you want wild landscapes and spectacular scenery, go to Alaska. If you want to hear blues played by people who grew up on the ground where it was invented, the Mississippi might be for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can you still cruise the Mississippi River?
Yes. Viking and American Cruise Lines both run overnight cruises on the Mississippi, including eight-day Memphis to New Orleans itineraries and full-river voyages from St Paul. American Queen Voyages ceased operating in February 2024, but its collapse did not end Mississippi cruising.
Are there still steamboats on the Mississippi River?
Not in overnight cruise service. The last was the American Queen, which stopped sailing in February 2024. Current riverboats are diesel-electric ships styled after paddle wheelers rather than steam-driven vessels.
How long is a Memphis to New Orleans river cruise?
Typically 8 days and 7 nights in either direction. Longer itineraries link the Lower Mississippi to the Upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers, running 15 to 22 days from St Paul or Pittsburgh.
What is the best month to cruise the Mississippi River?
April, May and October are the strongest months. Spring gives warm weather and reliable river levels, autumn gives cooler temperatures and better light. July and August are hot and humid, and low water in late summer can force itinerary changes.
How much does a Mississippi River cruise cost?
Around US$4,300 to US$6,500 per person for a seven-night Lower Mississippi sailing, and US$15,000 or more per person for a 22-day full-river transit. Fares generally include shore excursions, wi-fi and onboard entertainment, but not airfares or gratuities.
Which is better, Viking or American Cruise Lines, on the Mississippi?
Viking Mississippi carries 386 guests with all-inclusive fares and a single, consistent product. American Cruise Lines runs smaller ships of around 175 guests with more departures, more itinerary variations and more American-domestic ports. Choose Viking for scale and consistency, American Cruise Lines for smaller ships and itinerary choice.
