Enjoy their complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is to become acquainted with the city. The hotel provides a Hospitality Desk for their convenience, where the friendly staff can assist with general questions about their upcoming cruise and reserving premium experiences. The local port/city partner will be available to offer dining, entertainment, and sightseeing options, ensuring the most of the time there.

Indigenous people inhabited the rich lands between the Mississippi and Lake Pontchartrain for the same reasons that would later attract Europeans: ecological resources and a network of navigable rivers, bayous, and bays. La Nouvelle-Orleans was founded by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville in 1718 upon the slightly elevated banks of the Mississippi approximately 95 miles above its mouth. Engineers laid out a grid of streets with a Place d’Armes (Jackson Square) that would become known as the Vieux Carré (Old Square), or today’s French Quarter.

New Orleans’s Creole, Cajun, and other diverse residents blended to develop art, cuisine, music, and general culture unlike any other in the United States. Whether visitors have a few days or just a few hours in the city, they can uncover the treasures of the city by exploring the unique sites and attractions along the historic streets, such as the famous French Quarter, or by admiring the architecture of the stunning Garden District.

The trip features an exclusive port at Nottoway, situated in White Castle, LA, on the south bank of the Mississippi River, as part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. The estate of sugarcane magnate Randolph Nottoway can be visited here – it is the largest standing pre-war mansion in the South, spanning 53,000 square feet, and boasts intricate architecture with impressive detail. The home showcases a blend of original furnishings and era-appropriate antiques, creating an atmosphere that preserves the original ambiance. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and a luxurious aesthetic, providing an authentic Southern experience that is not to be missed. The town of White Castle, which emerged in the 1880s due to the logging industry in the cypress swamps of the region, surrounds the estate. After the depletion of cypress wood, the sugar cane industry, established in the late 18th century, became the primary economic activity. Individual plantation sugar mills gave way to larger mills that served multiple plantations. As of 1970, White Castle housed three major sugar mills: Cora Texas, Cedar Grove, and Catherine/Supples, with only Cora Texas still in operation today. In the 1950s, the chemical industry entered the area, concentrating along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This industry brought economic growth to White Castle, which continued into the 1980s. Dow Chemical established itself north of Plaquemine, Georgia-Gulf and Hercules settled north of White Castle, and Ciba-Geigy positioned itself on the east bank of the Mississippi.

 

St. Francisville stands today as a testament to the lifestyle of a bygone era, boasting a collection of charming pre-war homes and striking architecture. With more than 140 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sprawling estates nestled in the countryside, and vibrant shops along Main Street, this picturesque port on the Mississippi River possesses a distinctive style of its own. As the oldest town in the Florida Parishes, St. Francisville has earned the nickname "the town two miles long and two yards wide," as it rests on a loessal ridge formed by dust storms during the Glacier Period.

This unique soil, brought from the western plains, gave rise to vertical cliffs reaching heights of up to 90 feet, resting upon the sand and clay bottom of an ancient sea. These formations can only be found in a narrow strip of land extending from Baton Rouge to Tennessee, representing the foothills of the Appalachians. The bluff caught the attention of Spanish Capuchins seeking a highland burial ground, leading to a land grant from their king and the construction of a wooden monastery between 1773 and 1785. The settlement that gradually grew around the cemetery and monastery took its name from the order's benevolent patron. By 1785, the increasing number of land grants claimed by settlers prompted Spanish leaders to establish the district encompassing the instep of present-day Louisiana. St. Francisville has endured and mirrors the growth and character of the surrounding countryside. Exploring its historic center takes visitors on a cruise through time, evoking a strong sense of place and an appreciation for two centuries of architecture and diverse lifestyles.

 

As the adventure concludes, guests have other opportunities to explore the town. Whether opting for a premier post-cruise experience or requiring a quick transfer to the airport for the final trip home.