12 Top Mississippi River Cruises Offered by American Cruise Lines

By Jackie Sheckler Finch

Cruising the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries has been my pleasure since 1976. Someone asked me once if it doesn’t get tiresome watching the river day after day.

For me, definitely not.

As America’s first highway, the Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world, starting as a trickle out of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and flowing 2,348 miles to surge into the Gulf of Mexico.

As the Mississippi River flows from north to south, it is joined by other rivers known as tributaries, which add to its volume and strength.

There’s only one cruise line — American Cruise Line — that operates numerous itineraries on the Mississippi and its picturesque tributaries, including the Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland rivers.

The Mississippi River starts at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and flows 2,348 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. * Map: ACL

My Top Mississippi River Cruises, Including Tributaries

I’ve been asked many times what cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries I recommend.

Since 1976, when I went on the inaugural cruise of the Mississippi Queen, I’ve enjoyed more than 75 cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries (with a few more planned for this year and next).

So I do know what I’m talking about!

I’ve cruised on many modern riverboats, traditional paddle steamers and even two barges that were joined together to make a river cruiser.

Like the magnificent Mississippi Queen, many of those boats and ships are now gone. But I’m still cruising and discovering new adventures with every trip on the Mississippi and its tributaries.

I must admit I’ve never met a ship or a river I didn’t like but some do seem to have more charms than others.

Watching the Mississippi river from the top deck of American Serenade. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

So much to see and do on river cruises. Big cities and small towns along the river welcome passengers and share what makes their places special.

When describing the 2025 Mississippi River cruises offered by American Cruise Lines below, I’ve also included tips about some of my favorite shore excursions on each itinerary.

Keep in mind that the itineraries also go in the reverse. In other words, if a cruise goes from Memphis to New Orleans, it also goes from New Orleans to Memphis. Up to you, which embarkation port you choose because you get to spend a pre-cruise night in that city; that’s part of American Cruise Lines’ all-inclusive package.

The American Cruise Lines Ships

What also keeps cruising the Mississippi and her tributaries interesting is the new ships that come along and the innovative itineraries that American Cruise Lines comes up with year after year.

Currently, American Cruise Lines has five ships that cruise the Mississippi River and its tributaries on 12 different itineraries:

Two classic paddlewheelers:

• American Heritage (150 pax, built 2015)
• American Splendor (180 pax, built 2016)

The American Heritage. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Three modern river boats (with unusual forward bows that open up and lower platforms for easy access walking to shore):

• American Melody (180 pax, built 2021)
• American Symphony (180 pax, built 2022)
• American Serenade (180 pax, built 2023)

The American Serenade with mouth-like bow. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

For each of the American Cruise Lines itineraries I’m highlighting below, I’m calling out one of my favorite shore excursions.

Keep in mind, each cruise stop has multiple shore excursion options; in some cases, it’ll be difficult to decide which to take. I know, I always want to do them all. Some people use shore excursions to help decide what cruise to take; that’s up to you.

So here we go, below I describe American Cruise Lines’ 12 top cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

1. Tennessee River Cruises (7 Nights)

The Tennessee River is 652 miles long and flows through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. In the 1903s, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) brought electricity and flood control which helped spur economic growth. The TVA’s system of dams, reservoirs and locks transformed the rivers with engineering marvels into the vital waterways of today.

On this cruise, a highlight of the journey is going through Wilson Lock and Dam, one of the tallest locks in the United States. With an elevation change of about 93 feet, passing through the lock showcases the power of harnessing the forces of nature.

An additional treat is a day cruising through Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River with beautiful views of rolling hills, open fields, old growth timber and picturesque bluffs.

Cruisers can admire the scenic beauty of places like Land Between the Lakes, a wooded peninsula nestled between the Tennessee River’s Kentucky Lake and the Cumberland River’s Lake Barkley.

Wooden quilt at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Tennessee River Cruise Itinerary

8 nights: 7-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee

Ports:

• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Decatur, Alabama
• Florence, Alabama
• Savannah, Tennessee
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Nashville, Tennessee

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Splendor

My Shore Excursion Pick: Helen Keller Home at Florence, Alabama

The toddler began walking and talking at an early age. Then, when she was 19 months old, the child became very sick, diagnosed with brain fever, perhaps scarlet fever. The illness left her deaf and blind.

For the rest of the story, take a shore excursion to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to a white frame cottage called Ivy Green. The child, of course, was Helen Keller. Born on March 3, 1887, young Helen became wild and uncontrollable as she was unable to communicate. She was lost in utter silence and darkness until the arrival of her 20-year-old teacher, Anne Sullivan,

One day, Helen went to the outdoor pump where Anne began pumping water. Putting the child’s hand under the spout, Anne repeatedly spelled into the other hand the word “w-a-t-e-r.”

“I stood still,” Helen later wrote,” my whole body’s attention fixed on the motions of her fingers as the cool stream flowed over my hand. All at once here was a strange stir within me — a misty consciousness, a sense of something remembered. It was as if I had come back to life after being dead!”

The house where Helen was born and died of a heart attack on June 1, 1968, at 87 years old is preserved much as it was when Helen lived there. The iconic water pump remains as a beloved symbol of when seven-year-old Helen, as she said, came “back to life.”

The water pump at Helen Keller’s home. * Photo Jackie Keller Finch

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2. Ohio River Cruises (7 Nights)

At 981 miles long, the Ohio River begins in Pittsburgh and flows to Cairo, Illinois, where it empties into the Mississippi River. The Ohio River flows through or borders six states — Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

America’s founding father Thomas Jefferson once said that “The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth. Its current gentle, waters clear and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids, a single instance only excepted.”

Top Mississippi River Cruises include the Ohio, which starts or ends in Pittsburg. * Photo: ACL

Ohio River Cruise Itinerary

8 nights: 7-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• Louisville, Kentucky
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ports:

• Louisville, Kentucky
• Madison, Indiana
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Maysville, Kentucky
• Marietta, Ohio
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion Tip: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati

Hearing the number of runs that Pete Rose hit during his baseball career is impressive. Seeing them is mind boggling. A 50-foot-tall “wall of balls” at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum brings home that staggering fact. Arranged in rows, the three-story wall has 4,256 baseballs for the record set by Rose in 3,562 games over 24 seasons.

The place is not only for Reds’ fans. It is for anyone who loves baseball. It’s easy to find the museum. A large statue of Rose sliding into base honors “Charlie Hustle” in front of the stadium located on Pete Rose Way.

Rose was an integral part of the famed “Big Red Machine,” the Reds team that from 1970 to 1976 won five division titles, four NL pennants and two World Series championships. Learn so much more at this fascinating museum and ballpark.

3. Historic Mississippi River Cruises (7 Nights)

Often called the Historic Mississippi River Cruise, the name sure makes me want to do this one. And in fact, I have done it several times on several different ships.

After all, the mighty Mississippi River was America’s first highway. Appropriately, this cruise goes roundtrip from New Orleans, once one of the busiest ports in the world. In fact, the first steamboat — named the New Orleans — arrived in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1812.

If you can, plan to stay a few extra days before or after your cruise in the Big Easy. Listen to the jazz, eat some jambalaya, stroll through the French Quarter, admire the Garden District and pay homage at the National World War II Museum. Never a lack of exciting things to see and do in “The City That Care Forgot.”

Jackson Square in New Orleans. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Historic Mississippi River Cruise Itinerary

8 nights: 7-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Point:

• New Orleans

Ports:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Oak Alley/Houmas House, Louisiana
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Natchez/Vicksburg, Mississippi
• St. Francisville, Louisiana
• New Orleans, Louisiana

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Serenade
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion Tip — Haunted Myrtles

Built in 1796 and surrounded by centuries-old live oaks, Myrtles seems like such a peaceful place. However, it is reputed to be one of the most haunted homes in America. Take a tour during a stop in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and decide for yourself.

The Myrtles, one of America’s most haunted homes. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

One of the ghostly apparitions is said to be a former house slave named Chloe who was caught eavesdropping on the owner, a prestigious judge. As punishment, the judge had one of Chloe’s ears cut off. To hide her shame, Chloe wore a green turban.

As a result, Chloe made a cake with a lethal dose of poisonous oleander leaves which killed the judge’s wife and two of his children. Other slaves took revenge by hanging Chloe and throwing her body into the Mississippi river.

Since then, photographs have reportedly captured Chloe’s ghost around the house and fingerprints on a mirror reappear whenever they are cleaned off. When I was touring the house, we were listening to a tour guide explain the mysterious sightings when suddenly an antique cabinet door opened.

No one could explain why but the guide quickly exited the room. And we quickly followed.

Antique cabinet door that opening during my visit to haunted Myrtles. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

4. Lower Mississippi River Cruises (7 Nights)

The Mississippi River is usually referred to in two parts — the Upper Mississippi and the Lower Mississippi. The Lower Mississippi flows from St. Louis downriver to New Orleans and the gulf.

Picking up sediment as it goes, the Mississippi becomes a powerful muddy-colored river as it heads south. The river reaches its deepest point near Algiers Point in New Orleans, measuring 200 feet deep — a far cry from its 18-inch depth near its headquarters in Minnesota.

Upper and Lower cruise itineraries for American Cruise Lines are so noted and are quite different. Each river section has its own characteristics making it well worthwhile to cruise both or, if possible, to enjoy a cruise of the whole Mississippi River.

Lower Mississippi. * Map: ACL

Lower Mississippi River Cruise Itinerary

9 nights: 8-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• Memphis, Tennessee
• New Orleans, Louisiana

Ports:

• Memphis, Tennessee
• Cleveland, Mississippi
• Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Natchez, Mississippi
• St. Francisville, Louisiana
• Oak Alley/Houmas House, Louisiana
• New Orleans, Louisiana

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Serenade
• American Splendor
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion Tip: Houmas House, Louisiana

The circa-1840 Greek Revival mansion is located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans on Louisiana’s historic River Road. Houmas House, the famous 16-room “Sugar Palace,” showcases the immense wealth this sugarcane farm boasted during the 1800s.

If the house looks familiar, it was the filming site for the famous 1964 Bette Davis/Joan Crawford movie, “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.” Make that the Bette Davis movie.

“Joan and Bette got into a fight,” Houmas House guide Danielle says. “Joan packed her bags and went back to Hollywood. They got Olivia de Havilland to replace Joan and had to reshoot all Joan’s scenes.”

A Houmas House bedroom is where Bette stayed. Her hat and purse are placed on the bed as though she has just stepped out for a cocktail and plans to return.

Houmas House. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

RELATED: A review of a Lower Mississippi River cruise aboard the American Melody.

5. Upper Mississippi River Cruises (7 Nights)

The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the river upstream from St. Louis to Minneapolis and St. Paul. The weather is generally cooler in the Upper Mississippi than in the Lower Mississippi making it more pleasant during the summer.

In the Upper Mississippi, river bluffs and surrounding forests offer natural beauty and are home to many species of birds, fish and land mammals. Enjoy watching the ship navigate through a labyrinth of islands and get up close to the ingenious engineering of dams and locks.

Upper Mississippi River. * Map: ACL

Upper Mississippi River Cruise Itinerary

8 nights: 7-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• St. Louis, Missouri
• St. Paul, Minnesota

Ports:

• St. Louis, Missouri
• Hannibal, Missouri
• Dubuque, Iowa
• Winona, Minnesota
• Red Wing, Minnesota
• St. Paul, Minnesota

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Serenade
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion tip: Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, Missouri

Visit the actual home that Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) grew up in, which is surrounded by the legendary whitewashed fence of Tom Sawyer. Also see the Becky Thatcher House, Huck Finn Home and Tom and Huck statue at the top of Cardiff Hill.

Mark Twain Boyhood Home. * Photo: ACL

6. Music Cities Cruises (7 Nights, on 3 Rivers)

This cruise certainly lives up to its name. Starting in Memphis — known as the birthplace of both the blues and rock ‘n’ roll — and ending in Nashville — known as music city and the country music capital of the world — this cruise is perfect for a music fan.

River lovers will be happy to journey on three majestic rivers plus a lake on this journey — the mighty Mississippi River, the beautiful Ohio River, the tranquil Cumberland River and the scenic Lake Barkley.

The last night of the cruise includes a complimentary visit to the Grand Ole Opry to hear new country artists as well as longtime favorites.

The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Music Cities Cruise Itinerary

8 nights: 7-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• Memphis, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee

Ports:

• Memphis, Tennessee
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Dover, Tennessee
• Clarksville, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Splendor

Shore Excursion Tip: Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

A special year for cruises from Memphis. This would have been Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday and Graceland is definitely the place to be. American Cruise Lines offers a terrific pre-cruise in Memphis. All passengers get that one extra night at The Guest House at Graceland. But you can pay for an extra night plus much more. My grandson and I paid $550 each for the Graceland Pre-Cruise Package.

The package includes that extra night at The Guest House plus two Guest House breakfast vouchers, welcome reception with cocktails and hors oeuvres and an after-hours shuttle ride to Graceland to see and touch rare Elvis memorabilia usually kept away from the public eye.

The next day features a visit to Graceland plus a lunch voucher at Graceland. Remember that at age 22, Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for $102,000 in cash after topping his record-breaking music success with the film “Love Me Tender.”

At the last Graceland tour stop, visitors walk though Meditation Garden where Elvis is buried along with his parents, his 54-year-old daughter Lisa Marie, who died of cardiac arrest on Jan. 12, 2023, and his 27-year-old grandson Benjamin Keough, who committed suicide on July 12, 2020.

Graceland in Memphis. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

7. Mississippi Explorer Cruises (11 Nights)

New in 2025, the Mississippi Explorer Cruise stops at some of the best ports on the Mississippi River. Passengers can leisurely explore what makes these places special. The captivating journey cruises past verdant shores, cottonwood trees, bustling cities and small towns. Catch a glimpse of graceful blue herons, soaring bald eagles and shy white pelicans.

Mississippi Explorer Cruise Itinerary

12 nights (11-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night)

Start/End Points:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Memphis, Tennessee

Ports:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Oak Alley/Houmas House, Louisiana
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• St. Francisville, Louisiana
• Natchez, Mississippi
• Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Cleveland, Mississippi
• Tunica, Mississippi
• Memphis, Tennessee

ACL ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Serenade
• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion tip: Cochon de Lait in St. Francisville, Louisville

The Cochon de lait is a double treat. This shore excursion features a traditional pig roast with all the delicious dishes that go with it, plus live Cajun music and dancing.

To make it even better, the event is held on Bayou Sara at a popular local restaurant, The Oyster Bar, which is closed to the public for our lunch.

Lunch was ready when we arrived including the pork, Louisiana boudin, potato salad, green beans, vegetable salad, bread, crackers and sauces, plus beer, wine and soft drinks. Pronounced “boo-dan,” boudin is a cooked sausage made from pork meat and rice, along with various vegetables and seasonings, all stuffed in a natural pork casing.

8. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cruise Land Combo (11 Nights)

Now, this is a wonderful way to visit one of the nation’s treasures – Great Smoky Mountains National Park. America’s most visited national park stretches across the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.

The mountain peaks are shrouded in a misty veil that looks like smoke and gives the range its name. The land tour with stays at hotels meets the ship on itinerary Day 5 in Chattanooga.

In Cades Cove, passengers travel in a caravan of Jeeps with narrators who share the history of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains. * Photo: ACL

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Combo Itinerary

11 nights: land and cruise combo

Start/End Points:

• Knoxville, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee

Ports:

• Knoxville, Tennessee
• Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Decatur, Alabama
• Florence, Alabama
• Savannah, Tennessee
• Paducah, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee

Ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Splendor

Shore Excursion Tip — Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

For excellent photographs when the weather cooperates, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At the observation tower on the summit, you can enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the Smokies and beyond.

On a clear day, you can see seven states from Clingmans Dome — Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama.

9. Complete Mississippi River Experience (22 Nights)

This epic 23-day exploration of America begins in New Orleans and traverses the entire length of the Mississippi River stopping at all the most iconic ports in the region.

Complete Mississippi River Experience Itinerary

23 nights: 22-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• St. Paul, Minnesota

Ports:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Oak Alley, Louisiana
• Houmas House, Louisiana
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• St. Francisville, Louisiana
• Natchez, Mississippi
• Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Greenville, Mississippi
• Tunica, Mississippi
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Cape Girardeau, Missouri
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Hannibal, Missouri
• Muscatine, Iowa
• Dubuque, Iowa
• Winona, Minnesota
• Red Wing, Minnesota
• St. Paul, Minnesota

Ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Serenade
• American Melody

Shore Excursion Tip — B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi

A very timely shore excursion to the B.B. King Museum in tiny Indianola (pop. 9,003) since the legendary musician was born 100 years ago on Sept. 16, 1925. King chose his hometown for the museum and for where he is buried. King died in his sleep on May 14, 2015, in Las Vegas. He was 89 years old.

As a shore excursion from the Greenville port stop, the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center is a fascinating place. Born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Mississippi, King picked up his nickname in Memphis where he was known as the “Beale Street Blues Boy,” later shortened to B.B.

The museum is carved out of an old brick cotton mill where King once worked as a teen and the town where he played for spare change on a street corner. Seems meant to be as the most fitting site for his museum and grave.

The B.B. King Museum. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

10. Grand Heartland Cruises (15 Nights)

Journey on the Mississippi River on this long two-week-plus cruise through the heartland of America where many of the towns still hold the charm of bygone eras. Each day is a new chapter in the story of American history and the importance of the mighty Mississippi to the founding of America.

Grand Heartland Cruise Itinerary

16 nights — 15-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• St. Paul, Minnesota
• New Orleans, Louisiana

Ports:

• St. Paul, Minnesota
• La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Dubuque, Iowa
• Davenport, Iowa
• Hannibal, Missouri
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Tunica, Mississippi
• Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Natchez, Mississippi
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• New Orleans, Louisiana

Ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Serenade
• American Symphony
• American Heritage
• American Melody

Shore Excursion Tip — Gateway Arch in St. Louis 

The tallest man-made monument in the U.S., the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a beauty to behold.

But the spectacular 30-mile panoramic view from atop the arch is something to see — if you’re not claustrophobic or afraid of heights or have mobility issues.

The woman next to me described it as climbing into a gigantic clothes dryer and slamming the door shut. She had a point. The famous trams to the top of the arch seat up to five people for the clanking and creaking four-minute ride up and three-minute ride down.

Like a gigantic steel rainbow, the arch showcases amazing sights from the top. The 64-foot observation room has 24 windows with visitors trying to photograph everything they see. If you are worried about that tram, there is a model one that you can sit in to see how you feel before climbing into one of the real trams to ride to the top.

The St. Louis Arch. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

11. Mississippi River Gateway Cruises (11 Nights)

This exploration on the Mississippi River through America’s heartland shares interesting stops and stories about our history, music, cuisine, sports and much more, stopping at well-known sites and cities like Memphis and Vicksburg.

Mississippi River Gateway Cruise Itinerary

12 nights: 11-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Louisville, Kentucky

Ports:

• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Oak Alley/Houmas House, Louisiana
• Vicksburg, Mississippi
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Louisville, Kentucky

Ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Heritage

Shore Excursion Tip — Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky

The museum is easy to find — just look for the world’s largest bat. Propped outside the downtown Louisville Slugger Museum is a 120-foot-tall steel bat, an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat.

Inside the museum, visitors can stand next to life-like statues such as Derek Jeter for photo ops. In a case of honor is the bat Babe Ruth, the greatest power hitter of all time, used during his 1927 season with 21 notches carved for each homer sit.

In the Hold a Piece of History exhibit, visitors can hoist bats used in Major League Baseball games by legends. These are genuine artifacts and real pieces of history that visitors get to hold and, of course, get photographs taken. Mickey Mantle’s bat is said to be among the most chosen.

Visitors also can take a guided tour of the plant to see how a Louisville Slugger bat is made. After the factory tour is over, visitors can leave with an appropriate souvenir — a free miniature Louisville Slugger.

12. Grand Ohio River Cruises (15 nights)

Cruising along the grand Ohio River, passengers can see the serene beauty of America’s heartland. Enjoy the gentle sweep of greenery along riverbanks and catch a glimpse of the diverse array of wildlife that thrives in this region’s rich ecosystem.

Majestic white-tail deer, smart red foxes, adorable cotton-tail rabbits and more add to the captivating tapestry of life along the Ohio River. This cruise offers an interesting view of towns many people only know from the highway side.

While the itinerary begins and ends with big cities, the Grand Ohio River Cruise focuses on small-town USA where townspeople enjoy welcoming guests to their little river world.

The Grand Ohio River. * Map: ACL

Grand Ohio River Cruise Itinerary

16 nights: 15-night cruise plus 1 pre-cruise hotel night

Start/End Points:

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• St. Louis, Missouri

Ports:

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Marietta, Ohio
• Maysville, Kentucky
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Madison, Indiana
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Henderson, Kentucky/Evansville, Indiana
• Paducah, Kentucky
• St. Louis, Missouri

Ships that cruise this itinerary:

• American Symphony
• American Melody
• American Heritage

American Symphony plies the Ohio River. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Shore Excursion Tip — National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky

Two men standing in front of a quilt at the National Quilt Museum were debating what they were seeing. Finally, a museum guide assured the men that the sign about the quilt was accurate. The quilt is made of basswood.

Wooden quilt at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Never know what you might see at the National Quilt Museum. Founded in April 1991, the museum is a mecca for quilters from around the world. With more than 13,000 square feet of exhibit space, the museum is the largest quilt and fiber art museum in the world.

The quilt exhibits change frequently throughout the year so there is something new to see on repeat visits. An additional tip is that a wonderful perk of an American Cruise Lines cruise is that we get to enjoy hop-on hop-off motor coaches in the destinations where we dock.

What I often like to do is ride the whole loop and listen to a local guide so I can get a nice look at the town or city before I decide where I want to get off first. In Paducah, the National Quilt Museum is easily walked from where our ship docked down by the city’s artistic flood walls or you can hop on that cruise bus.

An American Cruise Lines cruise coach. * Photo: Jackie Sheckler Finch

Hope You Enjoyed a Rundown of American’s 12 River Cruises on the Mississippi and Its Tributaries

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