River Cruise Itinerary

1. Day 1
   St. Louis, Missouri

   Thu, Sep 05, 2024

   During the 19th century, St. Louis was a gateway into the Louisiana Territory. In 1904, the city gained recognition as host of a world's fair (officially called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), whereby some accounts the ice-cream cone was introduced. Today, it is home to rich architectural treasures-among them, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with its 41-million-piece mosaic; the Renaissance Revival City Hall; the 19th-century Old Courthouse; and the Gateway Arch, standing along the Mississippi as a monument to westward expansion.

2. Day 2
   St. Louis, Missouri

   Fri, Sep 06, 2024

   During the 19th century, St. Louis was a gateway into the Louisiana Territory. In 1904, the city gained recognition as host of a world's fair (officially called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition), whereby some accounts the ice-cream cone was introduced. Today, it is home to rich architectural treasures-among them, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with its 41-million-piece mosaic; the Renaissance Revival City Hall; the 19th-century Old Courthouse; and the Gateway Arch, standing along the Mississippi as a monument to westward expansion.

3. Day 4
   Hannibal, Missouri

   Sun, Sep 08, 2024

   Hannibal is the childhood home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, or Mark Twain, and the inspiration for his beloved stories of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Prior to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and arrival of European settlers, a variety of indigenous Native American tribes called the area home. Hannibal grew into the primary port for steamboats and flatboats traveling the Upper Mississippi. “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” the early 20th-century socialite, philanthropist and survivor of the Titanic tragedy, was also born here.

4. Day 5
   Burlington, Iowa

   Mon, Sep 09, 2024

   The US flag was first raised over Iowa in Burlington—in 1805—by Lieutenant Zebulon Pike during his Mississippi explorations. Later, it became an outpost for the American Fur Company, a trading enterprise founded by John Jacob Astor. In 1834, it took its present name after the Vermont birthplace of its first settler, John Gray. During the steamboat era, it was a major port along the river. Today, the city is home to many magnificent buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including the art deco Capitol Theater and the Gothic Revival St. Paul’s Church.

5. Day 6
   Quad Cities, Iowa

   Tue, Sep 10, 2024

   Straddling the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, the Quad Cities area comprises Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois. As the only section of the Mississippi that flows from east to west, it is geographically unique. Its tightly knit riverside towns thrived due to thoughtful planning and effective leadership. Today, the Quad Cities rest amid the fertile farmland known as “America’s Breadbasket”—the nation’s most expansive and scenic agricultural region—and is home to agribusiness giants including John Deere.

6. Day 7
   Dubuque, Iowa

   Wed, Sep 11, 2024

   One of Iowa’s few cities laid out among rolling bluffs, Dubuque is called the “Masterpiece on the Mississippi” for its 19th-century ingenuity and modern-day cultural evolution. Timber and boatbuilding were central to the city’s growth, with wood harvested in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The spirit of this river town lives on in the Cathedral Historic District, dotted with well-preserved buildings and authentic period lampposts. Today, the city is praised for its livability and for its riverside developments, including a museum and aquarium dedicated to the Mississippi River.

7. Day 8
   La Crosse, Wisconsin

   Thu, Sep 12, 2024

   La Crosse has a deep connection to the towering bluffs and rolling farmland of the Norskedalen, or "Norwegian Valley.” Here, a Norwegian immigrant population has created a unique culture over generations. Historic immigrant villages dot the valley still, a collection of preserved homesteads reflecting a frontier way of life. Today, La Crosse boasts numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Its important architectural landmarks, along with an array of engaging statues along the riverfront, make La Crosse feel like a vast open air museum.

8. Day 9
   Red Wing, Minnesota

   Fri, Sep 13, 2024

   Red Wing is known for its Red Wing Shoes, which produced footwear for soldiers in both world wars. The city was named after a Sioux chief whose red-dyed swan wing indicated his rank. The first settlers—many from New England—arrived in the mid-1800s. German, Irish and Scandinavian immigrants followed, bringing skills in tanning, shoemaking, pottery and more. The city boasts a diversity of legacies including Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery, founded in 1877 as the nation’s first commercial potter. Today, Red Wing enjoys a place in the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

9. Day 11
   Twin Cities, Minnesota

   Sun, Sep 15, 2024

   Minnesota's two largest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, are located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Known as the "Twin Cities,” they are independent municipalities with distinct characters. Minneapolis, occupying the western side of the Mississippi, is known for its thriving arts scene and cosmopolitan vibe, with sleek skyscrapers and contemporary architecture. On the eastern bank, state capital St. Paul sits on a series of bluffs overlooking the river, exuding a quaint charm and boasting a collection of well-preserved Victorian-era buildings.

10. Day 12
    Twin Cities, Minnesota

    Mon, Sep 16, 2024

    Minnesota's two largest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, are located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Known as the "Twin Cities,” they are independent municipalities with distinct characters. Minneapolis, occupying the western side of the Mississippi, is known for its thriving arts scene and cosmopolitan vibe, with sleek skyscrapers and contemporary architecture. On the eastern bank, state capital St. Paul sits on a series of bluffs overlooking the river, exuding a quaint charm and boasting a collection of well-preserved Victorian-era buildings.

Inclusions

12 Days 9 Guided Tours / 1 Countries

Daily Shore Excursions: 9 included guided tours
Port Charges: Included on all itineraires

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers