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Example 8 Day Cruise aboard MS Louisiane
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Sail the rarely navigated Illinois River on this 8-day remarkable adventure where the riverbanks are almost close enough to touch and friendly canoeists escort the Louisiane along the river. Look for bald eagles in Grafton, visit the remarkable Peoria Riverfront Museum, and discover Native American culture at Havana's Dickson Mounds State Museum. Hike a trail in Peru's Baker Lake Park and in Beardstown, see where a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln practiced law. From the refined pioneer spirit of St. Louis to the towering skyline of Chicago, a short drive from Ottawa, this voyage between two of America's greatest cities is one you never forget.
Highlights
  • Wonder at the St. Louis Arch, an unequaled architectural statement
  • Tour a local winery in the charming Grafton Historic District
  • Visit the historic Beardstown Courthouse, site of the famed 1858 debate
  • Take a hike along one of the trains in Baker Lake Park at Peru, Illinois
Activities
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: St. Louis, Missouri

  • 1 Dinner
Arrive in St. Louis and check in to your deluxe hotel, which is adjacent to the city’s attractions. Wonder at the St. Louis Arch, an unequaled architectural statement that defines this storied town, then continue your architectural tour at the imposing Cathedral of St. Louis. Indulge a less lofty American pastime at the Anheuser-Busch brewery, an American classic.

Day 2: St. Louis, Missouri | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your fare includes breakfast this morning at your 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 St. Louis farewell as the Louisiane departs and you immerse yourself in the joys of life on the river. Bon voyage!

Day 3: Grafton, Illinois

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Check out the charming Grafton Historic District, one of several areas and buildings on the national Register of Historic Places, shop for handcrafted gifts, or tour a local winery. Keep a sharp lookout and you just might see one of the area’s bald eagles soar through the sky.

Day 4: Breadstown, Illinois

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Step into living history at the Beardstown Courthouse, where a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln once practiced law and which was the site of a famed Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858, then ponder the town’s importance during the Black Hawk War of 1832.

Day 5: Havana, Illinois

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Grab your binoculars and go bird-watching at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, discover Native American culture at the nearby Dickson Mounds State Museum, or head a bit farther down the road to Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Day 6: Peoria, Illinois

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit the remarkable Peoria Riverfront Museum just a few steps from the Louisiane. Check out the enormous and sophisticated equipment at the exceptional Caterpillar Visitor Center, and inhale the sweet fragrance of Luthy Botanical Garden’s colorful blooms.

Day 7: Peru, Illinois

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Stroll the quaint streets of this town which was once an important steamboat hub and also a center for the manufacture of alarm clocks for nearly a century. Take a hike along one of the trains in Baker Lake Park and listen for a summer band concert in Centennial Park.

Day 8: Ottawa, Illinois | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Bid adieu to the Louisiane and after a transfer to Chicago to explore this first-class metropolis.

Ship/Hotel

MS Louisiane

MS Louisiane French Quarter Lounge
MS Louisiane Veranda
MS Louisiane Currents Spa

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,799

Notes

All fares, including land and hotel, are capacity controlled, subject to change at anytime without notice, and do not guarantee availability.

A Single Supplement of 50% is available only for the Deluxe, French Balcony, Promenade, and Veranda Staterooms.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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