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Louisiana/Mississippi/Tennessee

The Best of the Mississippi River: Voyage Into Southern Heritage

Program No. 20994RJ
Explore the Mississippi River aboard a paddlewheel riverboat, attending jazz performances, learning about Civil War history and enjoying three nights in New Orleans!

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itinerary
Please Note:
The itinerary for this program is different on certain dates.
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Inside Ship Out Ship Balc
Accommodation Details

A cabin with no window, porthole or balcony.

Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2023
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 5,499
Ship Outside 7,299
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Aug. 19, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Itinerary Note

This date sails on the American Countess.

Oct 13 - Oct 23, 2023
Ship Inside 5,499
Ship Outside 7,299
Ship Balcony 8,099
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Sept. 01, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Oct 27 - Nov 6, 2023
Ship Inside 5,499
Ship Outside 7,299
Ship Balcony 8,099
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Sept. 15, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Mar 8 - Mar 18, 2024
Ship Inside 5,199
Ship Outside 5,999
Ship Balcony 7,299
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Mar 22 - Apr 1, 2024
Ship Inside 5,199
Ship Outside 5,999
Ship Balcony 7,299
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Apr 5 - Apr 15, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Apr 19 - Apr 29, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

May 3 - May 13, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

May 17 - May 27, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Sep 20 - Sep 30, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Oct 4 - Oct 14, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2024
Ship Inside 5,899
Ship Outside 6,699
Ship Balcony 7,999
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Inside Ship Out Ship Balc
Accommodation Details

A cabin with no window, porthole or balcony.

Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2023
SOLD OUT
Ship Inside 6,599
Ship Outside 8,599
Ship Balcony 10,399
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Aug. 19, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Itinerary Note

This date sails on the American Countess.

Filling Fast!
Oct 13 - Oct 23, 2023
 
Ship Outside 8,599
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Sept. 01, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Oct 27 - Nov 6, 2023
 
Ship Outside 8,599
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Sept. 15, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Mar 8 - Mar 18, 2024
 
Ship Outside 6,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Mar 22 - Apr 1, 2024
 
Ship Outside 6,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Apr 5 - Apr 15, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Apr 19 - Apr 29, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
May 3 - May 13, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
May 17 - May 27, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Sep 20 - Sep 30, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Oct 4 - Oct 14, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

Filling Fast!
Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2024
 
Ship Outside 7,999
 
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED: Enroll by Oct. 31, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities.

At a Glance

On this classic Mississippi River voyage, board a magnificent paddlewheel riverboat and get a front-row seat to experience a working river. Immerse yourself in the music, food, natural beauty and architectural grandeur of Dixie, historic Natchez and Vicksburg and small river towns. Plus spend three days exploring incomparable New Orleans in depth.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Please note that this program may require embarking and disembarking from the boat up and down steep embankments. Assistance is available if needed in each port. The ability to stand for up to an hour during field trips may be required.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy the music, food and architecture of New Orleans and enjoy a jazz show at Fritzel's Jazz Club.
  • Experience the antebellum South at sprawling plantations.
  • Tap your foot to Dixieland Jazz and themed shows on board the cruise ship.

General Notes

Ships vary by departure date.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Brian Altobello
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s degree in U.S. History and 29 years of teaching experience. He is an Army veteran and author of three books, most recently “Whiskey, Women, and War: How World War I Shaped Jim Crow New Orleans” (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). Married to a travel writing teacher, Brian currently works as a curriculum specialist in the New Orleans area.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Brian Altobello
Brian Altobello View biography
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s degree in U.S. History and 29 years of teaching experience. He is an Army veteran and author of three books, most recently “Whiskey, Women, and War: How World War I Shaped Jim Crow New Orleans” (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). Married to a travel writing teacher, Brian currently works as a curriculum specialist in the New Orleans area.
Profile Image of Milton Carr
Milton J. Carr View biography
Milton Carr was born in Tremé, a cultural center of New Orleans. After studying in San Diego, Milton returned home to New Orleans where he worked for Domino Sugars. During his 33 years at Domino, he became interested in sugar cane’s connections to slavery and the economic history of the city. Milton has been a licensed New Orleans guide since 2001, and is a one-of-a-kind expert on the city's unique music, history, culture and heritage.
Profile Image of Lyndel Brauninger
Lyndel Brauninger View biography
Lyndel Brauninger, a native New Orleanian, is a retired educator who taught in the metropolitan New Orleans are for more than 30 years. Besides leading Road Scholar groups, she leads walking “foodie” groups in the French Quarter, where she’s been a licensed exploration leader since 1996. Lyndel enjoys experiencing and learning everything the Crescent City has to offer, particularly the architecture, history, music, food, and amazing theater. She is thrilled to share her passion for New Orleans with people from all over the world.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
All the Kings Men
by Robert Penn Warren
All the King's Men traces the rise and fall of demagogue Willie Stark, a fictional character loosely based on Governor Huey ""Kingfish"" Long of Louisiana. Stark begins his political career as an idealistic man of the people but soon becomes corrupted by success and caught between dreams of service and an insatiable lust for power.
The Mississippi Steamboat Era in Historic Photographs
by Joan W. and Thomas H. Gandy
Great if you are looking for old pictures - not only of steamboats but also from the steamboat era at all. I like this book very much because it gives you a great overview over this time history.
Tales of the Mississippi
by Ray Samuel, Leonard V. Huber, Warren C. Ogden
This book contains a collection of tales of the Mississippi in 19 chapters and more than 300 illustrations and photographs. The authors tried to write something new about the Great River instead of a conventional history book. So you will find deeper information about the discoverer Hernando DeSoto and the legendary Mike Fink, what made the Rob´t E. Lee and the Natchez race, the river gambler George Devol known as the hardest head on the Mississippi or the answer to the question what made the Mississippi River once flew upstream and a lot more.
Creole New Orleans Race and Americanization
by Arthur Hirsch and John Logsdon
This collection of six original essays explores the peculiar ethnic composition and history of New Orleans, which the authors persuasively argue is unique among American cities. The focus of Creole New Orleans is on the development of a colonial Franco-African culture in the city, the ways that culture was influenced by the arrival of later immigrants, and the processes that led to the eventual dominance of the Anglo-American community.
Upper Mississippi River History: Fact - Fiction -Legend
by Captain Ron A. Larson
Captain Ron A.Larson´s book starts with the early French explorers. He covers the history of paddlewheel steamboats from the first one until the last remaining steamboats of today on the Mississippi River. The book provides a lot of information about the upper Mississippi River such as paddlewheel steamboats, railroad bridges, log rafts, wing dams, locks and dams of today, river navigation aids and river towns. Added are river pilot stories about names or landmarks along the upper Mississippi River. You will find more than 200 pictures and illustrations. Captain Ron A. Larson, U.S.M.M. Ret., was working on the upper Mississippi River on towboats between St. Louis and St. Paul with an occasional trip on most of the other navigable rivers. Now during retirement he still does part-time piloting on river excursion boats as the Mississippi Queen, the Delta Queen, the Valley Queen, the Mississippi Bell, the Jubilee and the Mark Twain.
A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams
Widely considered a landmark play, A Streetcar Named Desire deals with a culture clash between two characters, Blanche DuBois, a relic of the Old South, and Stanley Kowalski, a rising member of the industrial, urban working class. American playwright Tennessee Williams received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948.
Why New Orleans Matters
by Tom Piazza
In the aftermath of Katrina and the disaster that followed, promises were made, forgotten, and renewed. Now what will become of New Orleans in the years ahead? What do this proud, battered city and its people mean to America and the world? Award-winning author and longtime New Orleans resident Tom Piazza illuminates the storied culture and uncertain future of this great and neglected American metropolis by evoking the sensuous rapture of the city that gave us jazz music and Creole cooking; examining its deep undercurrents of corruption, racism, and injustice; and explaining how its people endure and transcend those conditions. And, perhaps most important, he asks us all to consider the spirit of this place and all the things it has shared with the world: its grace and beauty, resilience and soul.
Beyond the Bridges - Rediscovering America´s Waterways
by Jerry M. Hay
Are you planning to go on your first river cruise on a steamboat? This is the book you have to read! You´re an experienced river cruiser? Read it! Author Jerry M. Hay has spent more than 40 years on the rivers. He travelled the whole Mississippi river in a canoe. He explored the Wabash and White rivers for publishing river guide books. Jerry tried out nearly every kind of watercraft. And he spent a couple of years as a river historian abord the paddlewheel steamboats Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen. In this book Jerry does not only share his funny river stories we have listened to on the steamboats over and over always longing for more. Learn more about Gilligan Goose who became famous in a children´s book. Did you ever see a Boeing 727 in a river? What kind of important delivery did the John Deere tractor make during high water? The book also provides loads of valuable information about the history of travelling on the rivers from flatboats to modern towboats, about reading the rivers, about river navigation, about the anatomy of a river or about the language of the rivers. Jerry M. Hay´s favorite quote is, "I don´t make the same mistake twice. I´m too busy making new ones." This book is definitely not one of his mistakes but a wonderful resource of information combined with some of the most funniest river stories.
Life On The Mississippi
by Mark Twain
An invaluable companion to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi is Mark Twain's inimitable portrait of 'the great Father of Waters'. Part memoir, part travelogue, it expresses the full range of Twain's literary personality, and remains the most vivid, boisterous and provocative account of the cultural and societal history of the Mississippi Valley, from 'the golden age' of steamboating to the violence wrought by the Civil War.
Rising Tide
by John Barry
An American epic of science, politics, race, honor, high society, and the Mississippi River, Rising Tide tells the riveting and nearly forgotten story of the greatest natural disaster this country has ever known -- the Mississippi flood of 1927. The river inundated the homes of nearly one million people, helped elect Huey Long governor and made Herbert Hoover president, drove hundreds of thousands of blacks north, and transformed American society and politics forever.
Steamboating on the Upper Mississippi
by William J. Petersen
William J. Petersons book is almost as comprehensive as the one above, but concentrating on the upper Mississippi. It is a doctoral dissertation about steamboats. The authors father was associated with the Diamond Jo Line Steamers in Dubuque, Iowa, so Peterson is familiar with steamboats business from boyhood days. Book was first published in 1937.
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11 days
10 nights
27 meals
9 B 1BR 8 L 9 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
New Orleans, Louisiana
D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration & Orientation: 4:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, check the message board for the location to register with the Road Scholar program staff, which is also where the Orientation session will take place. You will get any updated information. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. In addition to Road Scholar exclusive lectures and field trips, you are welcome to enjoy activities and events separate from the Road Scholar program during free time aboard the American Queen. The vessel’s daily program will be delivered to cabins each evening with a schedule of the next day’s activities. Meals in the J. M. White Dining Room will feature cuisine that blends local flavors and fine culinary traditions. There is a more casual atmosphere in The Front Porch. Dinners aboard will include complimentary house wines, house-select beers, coffees, teas, soft drinks. Ground travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. As a special bonus, you will have vouchers to use at a popular New Orleans jazz club and the Louisiana State Museum.

Dinner: Dinner will be served at Hotel Monteleone this evening. During dinner, we will enjoy a private jazz performance.

Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
City Field Trip, Garden District, Cooking School
New Orleans, Louisiana
B,L,D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 26 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Walking about 8 blocks and standing during field trip; city streets and sidewalks.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Morning: We’ll take a field trip via motorcoach with expert on-board commentary for an overview of the city. We’ll make stops at highlights such as Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou St. John, City Park with its magnificent oak trees and Sculpture Garden, and one of the famed and mysterious above-ground cemeteries where the departed — from pirates to voodoo queens — are interred.

Lunch: Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, off a select menu.

Afternoon: With our local expert, we’ll ride down famous St. Charles Avenue under beautiful old oak trees. We’ll then go on a walking field trip in the aptly named Garden District, one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the country. It was laid out in 1832 for incoming, well-to-do Americans who were not interested in mingling with native New Orleanians. The feeling was mutual! Grand houses were built on large lots.

Dinner: This evening, we will go to the world-renowned New Orleans School of Cooking where an expert local chef will teach us how to cook Creole and Cajun and explain the difference. We’ll see the preparation of traditional dishes, then have them for dinner. Recipes will be included.

Evening: At leisure. Experience nightlife in the French Quarter. If you’re a music aficionado, there are lots of options. We have provided a voucher (drink included) for Fritzel’s European Jazz Club. The French Quarter has something to offer for almost every interest and taste.

DAY
3
World War II Museum, Free Time
New Orleans, Louisiana
B,L
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking according to personal preference at World War II Museum and during free time.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to the National World War II Museum. Formerly known as the D-Day Museum, the National World War II Museum was founded by eminent historian Dr. Stephen Ambrose, author “Band of Brothers” and other best-sellers. During our self-directed exploration, we will be able to walk through three buildings that house exhibits highlighting the role of participants from world leaders to the everyday men and women whose contributions helped to win the war, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Many items in the vast collection — such as uniforms, weaponry, vehicles, medals, diaries, letters, artwork, photographs, and other mementos — are on display while thousands of records and archives are available to scholars for ongoing research. We’ll also see the film “Beyond All Boundaries” narrated by Tom Hanks. Through first-person accounts and amazing special effects, we’ll take a self-directed journey through the war that changed the world.

Lunch: Lunch will be served at the museum.

Afternoon: At Leisure You can use vouchers we’ve provided to explore the Cabildo and Presbytère — key components of the Louisiana State Museum — flanking St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. All were constructed during the Spanish period (1795-1799). The Cabildo displays artifacts of American history as well as rarities such as Napoleon’s death mask. The Presbytère’s interactive exhibit on Mardi Gras traces the annual celebration from its origins to the present day with an exquisite collection of artifacts and memorabilia. Another exhibit expresses Louisiana’s saga of resilience in the face of disasters. You might also like to stroll along Royal Street with its antique shops, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, sit back and have café au lait and beignets at the 24-hour Café du Monde, or any of the many other opportunities to experience the people, cultures, and celebrations of New Orleans.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. We have provided restaurant suggestions in your account. Your Group Leader will also be happy to offer suggestions. From fresh seafood to Po’ Boys and so much more, the city is justly famous for its eats. Please note, that if you plan to eat at one of the more popular restaurants in the city, advanced reservations are highly recommended.

Evening: At leisure. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow. Have luggage ready for pick-up and transport to the American Queen in the morning.

DAY
4
Brunch, New Orleans History, Mardi Gras World, Cruise
New Orleans, Louisiana
BR,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Walking about 4.5 blocks to/from restaurant. Getting on/off motorcoach, on/off riverboat.

Morning: Have luggage ready for pick-up and transport to the American Queen before walking to brunch.

Brunch: At the celebrated Court of Two Sisters, we’ll experience a true New Orleans delight: the Jazz brunch. The elaborate buffet offers tasty hot and cold New Orleans favorites from eggs any style to Creole jambalaya, grits and grillades, gumbo, classic desserts, and much more; coffee, tea, water included, other beverages available for purchase. Tap your toes to the music of the restaurant’s resident Jazz trio. We’ll then walk back to the hotel and have a private lecture on New Orleans history.

Afternoon: We’ll set out on a field trip and ride to Mardi Gras World, where we’ll begin with a film that documents the making of floats. A local expert will introduce some of the amazing floats that have appeared in Mardi Gras parades and some the artists are working on for the next year. We’ll also have some time to explore independently and take photographs. From the Museum, we’ll reboard the motorcoach, ride to the Port of New Orleans, and board the American Queen. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and relax. We will participate in the mandatory safety briefing with everyone on board when announced.

Dinner: Our first dinner aboard the American Queen will be at 5:15 p.m. in the J. M. White Dining room. Meals will feature cuisine that blends local flavors and fine culinary traditions.

Evening: Each evening, the American Queen staff will provide professional entertainment in the Grand Saloon. Later, enjoy music and dancing in the Engine Room Bar or a piano sing-a-long in the Main Deck Lounge.

DAY
5
Road Scholar Lecture, Nottoway Plantation
White Castle, LA
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Golf carts available from boat across levee; walking to plantation through gardens and standing during field trip; 3-story house with elevator.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served in the J. M. White Dining Room; early riser coffee is also available in Front Porch Café.

Morning: We’ll gather for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture. The remainder of the morning will be free to enjoy the relaxing beauty of the river as we roll along.

Lunch: Lunch is served aboard the American Queen.

Afternoon: We will step off the boat for an expert led exploration of Nottoway — a literal “white castle” — with opportunities for taking pictures. Completed in 1859, it is the largest surviving antebellum mansion in the South and one of the most elegant. Its 64 rooms cover 53,000 square feet. Sugar planter John Hampden Randolph intended his home to be the finest anywhere and no expense was spared. Randolph filled Nottoway with extravagant features including running water, modern bathrooms, and gas lighting. The mansion sits about 200 feet from the Mississippi River levee surrounded by oaks, magnolias, and pecan trees. At a time when Greek Revival was considered the ultimate architectural style, Nottoway is distinguished by Italianate features, with square columns that reach all three levels yet look delicate from a distance. The east front of the house with its grand balconies faces the river, while the adjacent north front with its semi-circular portico overlooks gardens. The ballroom, accented by Corinthian columns and marble mantels, is all white including the floor. Returning to the American Queen, the remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy the relaxing beauty of the river as we roll along.

Dinner: Aboard the American Queen.

Evening: Enjoy great performances every evening.

DAY
6
Louisiana State Prison Field Trip, Road Scholar Lecture
St. Francisville
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Golf carts available from boat to the steamboat company’s motorcoach, driving approximately 1/2 hour, getting on/off motorcoach several times.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: We will visit the Louisiana State Penitentiary, the state’s maximum-security prison on 18,000 acres in Angola, widely known as The Farm. We’ll be joined by a local expert who will tell us about this penitentiary that was once a plantation, its troubled history, and how it operates today. Aboard our motorcoach, we will ride through farmland where inmates harvest more than 4 million pounds of produce annually in addition to enterprises including a license tag plant, printing services, a mattress/broom/mop shop (including suicide prevention mattresses), and a herd of 1,600 cattle. Led by a warden, we will explore the prison museum, the Red Hat cellblock, and the largest chapel where we will have an opportunity to hear the enlightening stories from current inmates. The museum was the brainchild of a warden whose stated goal was to document the history of Louisiana’s prisons and not repeat the horrors of the past. After more than a century of terrible conditions, abuses, corruption, and real attempts at reform, Angola achieved accreditation in 1994 from the American Correctional Association. ACA accreditation acknowledges “policies and procedures necessary for the operation of correctional programs that safeguard life, health and safety of the personnel who work in juvenile and adult facilities and programs; as well as the offenders who are a part of the correctional system.” Angola has partnerships with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Ashland University, and the Louisiana Department of Education that offer opportunities for inmates to participate in educational programs. Since 1965, the prison has held a professional rodeo to entertain its inmates, employees, and the public. A portion of the proceeds support the Louisiana Penitentiary Inmate Welfare Fund. Angola also has its own magazine and radio station.

Lunch: Aboard the American Queen.

Afternoon: We’ll gather for another Road Scholar exclusive lecture, followed by a private cocktail party.

Dinner: Aboard the American Queen.

Evening: Entertainment is provided by the ship crew this evening.

DAY
7
Natchez-MS, Longwood, Choctaw Hall, Natchez City Cemetery
Natchez, Mississippi
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: From the landing at Natchez-Under-the-Hill, there is a ramp up to the street; golf carts are available if needed. Short walks from motorcoach to mansions; standing inside.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: The numerous antebellum mansions of Natchez recall a bygone era. This morning we will take a tour of Choctaw Hall. Built around 1836, the mansion features a blend of Greek Revival and Federal styles. The four story home is characterized for its swirling oval staircase, double porches, white columns, and beautiful gardens. We will also take a field trip to explore the Natchez City Cemetery, where we will learn about the lives of the city's historical figures.

Lunch: Aboard the American Queen.

Afternoon: We will have another exclusive Road Scholar lecture. We'll continue our exploration of Natchez by visiting Longwood Plantation. Longwood was an exotic departure from typical homes of the period, octagonal and in Oriental Revival style. Begun in 1860 but interrupted by the Civil War, only nine of its 32 rooms were finished.

Dinner: Aboard the American Queen.

Evening: Nightly entertainment is provided on the American Queen ship.

DAY
8
Vicksburg-MS, Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach at several stops.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: This morning we will have another private lecture.

Lunch: Lunch is served aboard the American Queen.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we will take a field trip to Vicksburg National Military Park. The Vicksburg campaign was waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. The Union victory was one of the decisive moments in the Civil War. Congress commemorated the battlefield as a national military park in 1899. There are 1,325 historic monuments and markers, 20 miles of reconstructed trenches and earthworks, 144 emplaced cannon, the restored Union gunboat USS Cairo and its museum, and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Led by a local expert, we’ll make three stops: at the Visitor Center, where Park Rangers are ready to answer questions, one of the larger monuments; and the Cairo, sunk in 1862, raised from the depths of the Mississippi in 1964, and later reconstructed. Its museum displays artifacts including weapons, munitions, naval stores, and personal gear of the sailors who served on board.

Dinner: Dinner is served aboard the American Queen.

Evening: Nightly entertainment is provided on the American Queen ship.

DAY
9
Birthplace of the Blues, Greenville-MS
Greenville, MS
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: This morning we will have another exclusive lecture. The rest of the morning will be free to enjoy the river vistas.

Lunch: Lunch is served aboard the America Queen.

Afternoon: In Greenville, one of the most “literary” towns in the country, we’ll have an opportunity to take advantage of the ship’s hop-on/hop-off bus to explore. Significant sites include the Greenville History Museum; the Hebrew Union Temple, built in 1906, with its original stained glass windows and organ; and the Flood of 1927 Museum that presents the history of one of the worst natural disasters in American history when the Mississippi flooded the Delta for four months.

Dinner: Dinner is served aboard the American Queen.

Evening: Nightly entertainment is provided by the ship crew.

DAY
10
Day Aboard the Queen
Cruising on the Mississippi River
B,L,D
American Queen Voyages' American Queen

Activity note: Full day on board the American Queen.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: We’ll gather for another Road Scholar exclusive lecture. The rest of the morning is free for you to relax or engage in activities of your choice.

Lunch: Lunch is served aboard the American Queen.

Afternoon: We’ll gather for a final exclusive lecture. The rest of the afternoon will be left open for you to enjoy the mighty Mississippi as we head to Memphis.

Dinner: Dinner is served aboard the American Queen. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We will have one final evening of great entertainment. Then prepare for disembarkation after our arrival in Memphis, Tennessee, and final transfer in the morning.

DAY
11
Arrive Memphis-TN, Disembarkation, Program Concludes
Departure
B

Activity note: Check-out and disembarkation by 9:00 a.m., followed by motorcoach transfer to the Memphis Airport.

Breakfast: Breakfast is served aboard the American Queen.

Morning: After disembarking, we’ll board a motorcoach and transfer to Memphis International Airport with arrival expected by approximately 10:30 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys back home!






Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.