Southern Spirit

Arrive in New Orleans and check in to your deluxe hotel, which is right in the French Quarter. Take the time to explore New Orleans at your leisure. Amble along the festive streets of the "Big Easy", where the scent of Creole dishes and the strains of jazz mingle within stately French Quarter homes. Hop on a streetcar to further uncover this most European of American cities.

Your fare includes breakfast this morning at the hotel as well as a transfer to the Louisiane and all porterage. Settle into your stateroom or suite, head to The Veranda for a light snack, and then bid New Orleans farewell as the Louisiane departs and you immerse yourself in the joys of life on the river. Bon voyage!

Linger at one of the most photogenic sites in America, majestic Oak Alley Plantation, and stroll its allée, lined by 28 massive oaks more than 300 years old. Tour the Big House and investigate the buildings dotting the lovely grounds.

Climb aboard the USS Kidd, an elegant WWII and Korean War veteran, before heading into the proud and lively Louisiana state capital. Take time at the new and old State Capitols, both handsome and striking edifices in their own right.

Get lost among over 500 gallant antebellum buildings in this magnificent town, one of America's most historically significant national treasures. Chat up the friendly locals in the thriving entertainment district Natchez-Under-the-Hill, which Mark Twain once described as having a "desperate reputation, morally."

Hear the distant echoes of Ulysses S. Grant's call to arms as he lay a 47-day siege to the city, now immortalized at the essential Vicksburg National Military Park, which houses the ironclad USS Cairo, victim of the first torpedo.

Delve into the shrouded past at Winterville Mounds, an archaeological site that offers a rare look into the lives of early American peoples. Grasp how the Mississippi Delta played a key role for natives centuries before Europeans stumbled upon it.

The pleasures of the Louisiane become apparent as you start your day with a made-to-order beignet and café au lait in The Veranda. Read a book, talk to the Illuminator, the onboard historian, and then enjoy made-to-order crêpes for lunch. Spend the afternoon with new friends and sip a pre-dinner aperitif in the Bar Royale. Then indulge in the Southern and Continental cuisine of The Crescent Room followed by stimulating entertainment before retiring to your suite or stateroom for a restful night’s sleep.

Take in the sounds of Memphis, where a stroll on soulful Beale Street, a tour of Graceland, or a visit to the Stax Museum of Soul Music and the Rock 'n' Soul Museum have you feeling the beat.

Bid adieu to the Louisiane and begin your journey home.