Special Inclusions

Package summary: 12 nights Fly, Cruise & Stay
Package starts: 8th November 2024 - with flight from Australia to Las Vegas
Cruise starts: 13th November 2024 - from New Orleans
Cruise ends: 20th November 2024 - into Memphis
Package ends: 20th November 2024 - with flight from Memphis to Australia
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GREAT PACKAGE SAVINGS!
Twin Cat AAR Balcony - was $14,820 - your special price from AU $13,995*pp twin share
Twin Cat AAL Balcony - was $15,415 - your special price from AU $14,695*pp twin share
Twin Cat AAC Balcony - was $15,765 - your special price from AU $15,030*pp twin share
Twin Veranda Suite - was $18,165 - your special price from AU $17,315*pp twin share
Single Private Balcony - was $18,145 - your special price from AU $17,295*
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VEGAS SCENES & MISSISSIPPI DREAMS Fly, Cruise & Stay package prices include:
- Return economy class airfare from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth to New Orleans (via Las Vegas) and ex Memphis on return inc. tax
- Return airport - hotel - airport transfers, Las Vegas
- 4 night hotel stay at the Marriott`s Grand Chateau, Las Vegas - a resort fee free property - in Las Vegas with breakfast daily
- BONUS FREE Full day tour to the Grand Canyon round trip from Las Vegas by Coach: Along the way you will see epic sights such as the Hoover Dam, travel through an eerie Joshua tree forest and explore a genuine frontier town inhabited by the Hualapai nation. This action-packed tour starts with a stop at the amazing O`Callaghan-Tillman Bridge for a photo op of the Hoover Dam and enough time to enjoy the majesty of this engineering masterpiece. Travel through the Joshua tree forest, which has to be seen to be believed, before arriving at the Indian village and the Hualapai Market. Take in a Wild West Show with Old West gunfights at the Hualapai Ranch, dine at the Skywalk Cafe (additional cost) and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Canyon from Guano Point and Eagle Point.
- COMPLIMENTARY one night pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans
- COMPLIMENTARY one way transfer from hotel to port
- 7 night Lower Mississippi River cruise aboard American Splendor from New Orleans to Memphis
- All onboard meals including breakfast room service - Locally sourced and regionally inspired cuisine, prepared by master chefs
- Complimentary alcohol onboard at all times including beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks and champagne. Glasses, ice, mixers, coffee and soft drinks are also available at all times.
- Complimentary signature evening cocktail hour
- COMPLIMENTARY Featured Excursions available (plus a range of Premium and Signature Excursions at additional cost are available)
- Full enrichment package with guest speakers and nightly entertainment onboard
- All ships tips
- Port charges and fees
- One way transfer from Memphis port to airport post-cruise

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A bit about your cruise:
Embark on a unique riverboat adventure along the Lower Mississippi River between New Orleans, Louisiana and Memphis, Tennessee. Savor a week aboard intimate and relaxed modern riverboats as you cruise the lower Mississippi River. The enthusiastic all-American crew are ready to share with you a wonderful journey filled with historical tales, culinary delights, unique culture, vibrant music, and new friends. Enjoy time onboard the ship in your comfortable and spacious stateroom. From your private balcony, enjoy expansive river views, the rising bluffs of the historic river towns, and the tree-lined banks accented with blue herons and bald eagles. Delight in the diverse menu of delicious meals carefully crafted by the onboard culinary team to include samples of regional cuisine.

Dynamic presentations by your onboard speaker connect you to the region`s culture and history. Local guides also share insights to illuminate your shore excursions. Memphis offers savory barbecue, rich music history museums, Sun Studios, and the amazing tour of Elvis` Graceland mansion exhibits. You can explore why the Mississippi River and the port of Vicksburg were so important during the Civil War as you explore the Vicksburg National Military Park. Enjoy beautiful architecture, antiques, and gardens at grand plantation homes as you learn southern stories from local guides and fascinating museums. Take in the local shops and museums of quaint and cozy towns like St. Francisville and Natchez. Perhaps sip and savor a tasty mint julep while strolling under the canopy of the 300-year-old trees at Oak Alley Plantation or explore the lavishly restored mansion and the expansive, manicured grounds surrounding Houmas House Plantation.

Special Conditions

*Conditions Apply: All prices shown here are per person share twin (unless stated as single) in AUD, based on best available cruise fare at time of publication (28Apr24). Some cabins may have obstructed views. All airfares/taxes are due in full 24 hours from reservation and strict cancellation/change fees apply. Selected routing and airlines apply to package offers - any variances requested by guest will incur surcharges. Visitors to the United States/Canada must complete an online ESTA/CAN ESTA application prior to arrival which is not included and is the guests responsibility. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Travel agent service fees may apply. Special conditions apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Please note that the prices shown here are not shown in real time. While we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ from the prices in our booking system at time of reservation. Transfers only included if guests are arriving/departing by air at specific airports on exact package dates. Offer ends 23Jun24 or until sold out/withdrawn and is subject to availability at time of booking. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Package created from original USD levels and as such is subject to currency fluctuation until paid in full. Property in Las Vegas is one of the only resort fee free hotels in the region, if not available at time of booking, other alternative hotels will charge a resort fee of approx USD $25 per person per day.

Special Validity Dates

Special is valid from 30th April 2024 to 23rd June 2024 or until sold out/withdrawn.

Cruise Description

7 Night Cruise sailing from New Orleans to Memphis onboard American Splendor. Hotel stay pre-cruise in New Orleans.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 - Pre-Cruise
On our Lower Mississippi River cruise, we offer Complimentary Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay providing you will a seamless way to board the ship and explore the local area.

NOTE: Pre-Cruise Hotel Stays must be reserved at least 30 days before your cruise date.

Day 2 - New Orleans, LA
Enjoy a feast for your senses if you linger in this magical city, renowned for its delicious cuisine, vibrant music scene, and rich culture with an international flair. Stroll the tree-lined avenues, take a carriage ride through the French Quarter, hop aboard a streetcar to the gorgeous Garden District, or visit the renowned National World War II Museum.

Day 3 - Houmas House, LA
Step off your ship docked right at Houmas House and explore one of the most elaborately renovated of the grand homes along the river, once a private home and a thriving historical agricultural enterprise. Entertaining and knowledgeable guides will escort you through the magnificently restored home’s unmatched collection of stunning period furnishings and artwork. The ornately landscaped grounds include 38 acres of gardens, fountains, and majestic live oak trees.

Later, experience the opulence and natural wonder of the Oak Alley estate with its breathtaking parallel row of 28 ancient and massive live oak trees. Here, you can savor a complimentary taste of one of the best mint juleps in the South.

Day 4 - Baton Rouge, LA
Meaning “red stick,” Baton Rouge’s 1699 French name references an ancient geographical marker and reflects the city’s long history. As Louisiana’s state capital, the city still echoes with tales of the characters who lived here, most notably Governor and Senator Huey P. Long. Learn about his dramatic career at the magnificent 1852 Old State Capitol Museum and visit Long’s 1932 State Capitol building, an architectural marvel of granite and marble.

Explore many of the well-known downtown neighborhoods, while embracing the rich art, architecture, and nature along the route. If you feel adventurous, take a narrated boat ride through a Louisiana swamp.

Day 5 - St. Francisville, LA
As the bow-ramp from the ship opens and stretches to the shore, you will be welcomed into the historic cotton port of St. Francisville. Overlooking the river from atop a high, St. Francisville began as a part of Spanish West Florida in the early 1800s until American settlers overthrew the Spanish governing forces, and the region later became part of the United States.

Experience this town’s rich history on your own or with a variety of guided excursions. As you explore, discover the Historic District which boasts magnificent mansions and unique boutique shops and admire cottonwood trees which transition to stately oaks adorned with Spanish moss.

Day 6 - Natchez, MS
In Natchez, grand homes sparkle like jewels, adorning the bluffs that tower above the river. Since 1716, when the French first built a fort here among the Natchez Indians, the town has grown to boast elaborate mansions built by planters in the 1800s to flaunt their wealth.

With no Civil War fighting here, Natchez still features hundreds of antebellum homes and buildings. Each of these architectural treasures has its own story to tell, creating a charming downtown that embodies the essence of southern charm and hospitality.

Explore on your own or enjoy an array of curated, guided explorations. Tour the elaborate townhomes, visit a working cotton farm to learn about the crop’s importance in history and today, and discover the historic Under-The-Hill Saloon. Drift through quaint shops, nibble on local delights, and enjoy the expansive views of the majestic river valley from the bluff-top park.

Day 7 - Vicksburg, MS
Vicksburg is a place of drama. During the Civil War, the struggle to control Vicksburg proved to be a major turning point. The well-fortified connection between river and rail transportation was known as “The Gibraltar of the West.” A narrated exploration of the well-preserved National Military Park battlefield enlivens this powerful story and highlights its significance.

President Abraham Lincoln summarized Vicksburg’s importance clearly when he said, “Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket… They can defy us from Vicksburg… As valuable as New Orleans will be to us, Vicksburg will be more so.”

Several other excursion options are available, including exploring museums and historic sites with local expert guides or on your own. Walk aboard an enormous Army Corps of Engineers towboat. Stroll along the charming series of murals painted along the adjacent floodwall and read panels detailing the Vicksburg stories they illustrate.

Day 8 - Memphis, TN
Welcome to Memphis, a historic city which rises picturesquely up the hillside from the river, adorned with grand oak trees, lush parks, and historic sites that commemorate everything from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement. Immerse yourself in its rich musical legacy as you stroll along legendary Beale Street, where music flows from every doorway, and savor the rich flavors and aromas of the city’s famous BBQ.

Choose from an array of customized excursions. Perhaps take a narrated motorcoach excursion to get an overview of this dramatic city. Or indulge in the glamour of the Peabody Hotel. Explore the home, life, and career of Elvis Presley or make your pilgrimage to Sun Studio, where he recorded his earliest smash-hits.

The comfort of your ship awaits at the nearby Beale Street Landing, docked along an impressive, recently renovated city park. Be entertained on board by local musicians as you savor a nightcap.

Day 9 - Memphis, TN
Enjoy breakfast on board the ship, before beginning your journey home. Reflect upon your adventures and the new friends made along the way.