New Orleans & Southern Charms

Board your ship and settle into your stateroom and get ready for your trip. Begin in New Orleans, known as the birthplace of American jazz. The city has a lively atmosphere, especially along Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, where music and entertainment are constant. If you visit during Mardi Gras, expect parades, costumes, and large crowds celebrating the event. Founded by French colonists in 1718, New Orleans was once a territorial capital before becoming part of the U.S. through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. A key landmark is St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the country, named after King Louis IX of France. The city’s culture reflects a mix of French, African, and Caribbean influences, seen in its music, traditions, and Creole cuisine. Local dishes like gumbo and beignets are popular and worth trying. Whether you're interested in history, music, or food, New Orleans has plenty to offer.

Explore Darrow, known as the gateway to the historic mansions of the Lower Mississippi region. Visit well-preserved estates that reflect early Southern American history. As you tour the area, notice the grand homes set among moss-draped oak trees and open farm fields. Learn how steamboats once delivered goods directly to these impressive properties. Several of the houses you see are recognized as National Historic Landmarks for their architecture, landscaping, and historical significance.

Included Excursion:
Houmas House & Gardens
Explore a stunning historic mansion—one of the finest in the South—and its spectacular gardens.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Laura Plantation
Visit a historic Creole mansion and see how the French, native Acolapissa and West African people intertwined.

Whitney & St. Joseph
Visit two historic homes for a candid look at how Louisiana’s estates operated.

Oak Alley
Step back in time at this iconic 200-year-old mansion, named for its impressive alley of 28 live oaks.

Cajun Swamp Experience
Explore the teeming ecosystems and hear the lore of Louisiana’s bayou country on a boat tour of Manchac Swamp.

Houmas House Cooking Demonstration
Enjoy a special cooking demonstration of traditional Louisiana cuisine at a historic estate.

Sugarfield Distillery
Savor the flavors of Louisiana during a tour and private cocktail-making workshop at the Sugarfield Distillery.

Historic Homes of Louisiana
Explore a historic Creole mansion and an iconic estate, learning the stories of those who lived and worked there.

The Great River Road Museum
Gain insight into what early life was like along the lower Mississippi at The Great River Road Museum.

 

Boasting more than 140 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, St. Francisville is set along one of the most historic bluffs of the Mississippi. The town is said to be “two miles long and two yards wide” because it was originally built on a narrow ridge overlooking the river. Founded in 1809, it is the oldest town in Louisiana’s Florida Parishes. Remarkably, many of St. Francisville’s structures are not its own; rather, they were moved upriver from Bayou Sara in the 1920s after the small settlement was destroyed by years of flooding.

Included Excursion:
Rosedown Plantation
Explore one of the South’s most intact manor homes, the Rosedown Plantation, and stroll its exemplary gardens.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Audubon’s Oakley Plantation
Discover the Oakley Plantation, where John James Audubon created 32 bird paintings.

The Myrtles & Greenwood
Visit two of St. Francisville’s more unusual homes—one soaked in legend, the other in familial charm.

Port Hudson Nature Hike
Stroll along the forested trails of a National Historic Landmark-designated battlefield.

Afton Villa Southern Living
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty and rich history of Afton Villa’s enchanting gardens.

Natchez has one of the highest concentrations of historic Southern estates in the country. More than 200 perfectly preserved homes line its avenues. It is the oldest city on the Mississippi, established in 1716 by French colonists and named for the Natchez tribe who once called it home. With its ideal locale, the city became a crossroads among Native American and European cultures. Famously, Natchez was the southern terminus of the Natchez Trace, the overland route to Nashville that allowed traders to bypass the strong upriver currents. Today, it evokes small-town America.

Included Excursion:
The Best of Natchez
Learn about local history during a tour of Natchez that visits the city’s top sights.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Frogmore Plantation & Longwood Estate
Uncover the history of two historic Southern homes while exploring their well-preserved grounds.

Lansdowne and Joseph Stone House & Concert
Enjoy classical music and Southern cuisine at two historic homes in Natchez.

Soul Food & Music
Savor a meal of Southern-inspired soul food and enjoy an inspiring Privileged Access a cappella gospel performance.

Natchez Architecture & Design
Discover Natchez’s enduring architectural legacy during a panoramic drive and visit to Choctaw Hall.

Located on a high bluff where the Yazoo River flows into the Mississippi, Vicksburg is the epitome of Southern heritage and charm. It was incorporated in 1825 and, with its prime locale on the Mississippi, grew into an important port. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called it “the key to the South.” And it indeed proved to be the site of the conflict’s most pivotal battle, the Battle of Vicksburg, after which the Confederates surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. The Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the battle site’s rolling green fields and grand monuments.

​Included Excursion:
Vicksburg National Military Park
Visit the Civil War site where the Battle of Vicksburg ended, turning the tide of the war in favor of the Union.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Vicksburg by Foot
Enjoy Privileged Access to several historic sites during a guided walking tour of downtown Vicksburg.

Vicksburg’s Historic Neighborhoods
Stroll the charming streets of historic Vicksburg and explore the city’s stately homes.

Baton Rouge paints a historic picture on the eastern bank of the Mississippi. Its early success was due to its flood-free location upon the first natural bluff north of The Delta. French explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville, named the city after a red-hued pole that marked the area’s tribal hunting grounds. Its cultural diversity—from its Cajun and Creole music and cuisine to its art offerings—reflects the influences of those who settled and lived here throughout Baton Rouge's history. The city boasts the tallest capitol building in the United States.

​Included Excursion:
Panoramic Baton Rouge
See Baton Rouge’s most important sights during a panoramic drive and visit the Capitol Park Museum.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
Coastal Protection & Restoration Center at LSU
Experience the wonders of river and coastal dynamics at the Louisiana State University Center for River Studies.

Baton Rouge by Foot
Discover the history of Baton Rouge during a guided walk through the city’s downtown district.

Cajun Heritage
Gain insights into Cajun culture with Privileged Access to the Rural Life Museum of Louisiana State University.

The USS Kidd
Step on board USS Kidd, the only Fletcher-class destroyer restored to her World War II configuration.

Atchafalaya Basin Swamp by Airboat
Sail through the Atchafalaya Swamp by airboat in search of wildlife and native flora.

Often referred to as “The Big Easy,” the city of New Orleans radiates charm and is renowned for its Southern hospitality. Steeped in a proud musical tradition, some of the finest jazz and blues musicians can be seen performing each night at the many historic venues found throughout the city. New Orleans is also home to the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, and its four classic lines offer a convenient way to explore the city’s historic homes, parks and museums, which include the New Orleans Museum of Art and the National WWII Museum.

​Included Excursion:
Panoramic New Orleans
Get acquainted with New Orleans and see some of its most vibrant neighborhoods.

Optional Excursions (Extra Cost):
French Quarter Walking Tour
Stroll through the famous French Quarter for an intimate look at New Orleans’s oldest, most evocative neighborhood.

National WWII Museum
Revisit the contributions of Allied forces in World War II on a tour of this acclaimed museum.

New Orleans Jazz Experience
Experience the best of New Orleans, from jazz to jambalaya, with local jazz musician Kevin Clark as your guide.

The Battle of New Orleans
Gain insight into the Battle of New Orleans during a visit to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve.

Coastal Wetlands by Pontoon Boat
Experience the beauty and history of the Mississippi River delta wetlands during an immersive pontoon boat ride.

Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of the extensions.