I've wanted to sail on the Mississippi River for years. Having been on 22 ocean cruises, I was anxiously looking forward to this trip. We boarded the America in New Orleans and sailed up to Memphis with 4 stops in between.

I've been in the transportation field my entire working career, and found all of the shipping and industry on the Lower Mississippi fascinating. Our first stop was Oak Alley Plantation. Beautiful place with the largest Oak trees I've ever seen. Second stop Baton Rouge. Third stop Natchez, MS. Beautiful historical city. Last stop before Memphis was Vicksburg, Ms. Lots of history there as well ... great battlefield tour also. I went to Graceland and Sun Studios in Memphis, but the ship had tours to Graceland and around Memphis. There were "included" tours in each of the stops. Side note: DON'T MISS the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. It is absolutely terrific. Spent and entire day there and could have done more (this before our river cruise).

The America is new this year and a very pretty ship. There are beautiful lounges well stocked with non alcoholic drinks and snacks. They have a daily newspaper for passengers that I really enjoyed. The acoustics engineer must have been on vacation when they designed the ship. The dining room is the loudest dining room I remember pretty much anywhere. It is hard to hear folks talk when it is full or nearly full. The meal hours are somewhat restrictive (unlike ocean cruises). Breakfast usually 7:30 to 9:00 although there is early coffee and muffins in a lounge at 6:30 AM. Lunch 12:30 to 1:30 and dinner 6:30 to 7:30. There is a happy hour with drinks and hors d'oeuvres from 5:30 to 6:30 before dinner ... really enjoyed that! I would rate the food as comparable to ocean cruises although not as much selection. The alcohol on board (included) was fine FOR ME ... I'm a glass of wine guy. One could have wine or beer with lunch or dinner or at the show Mixed drinks at happy hour. Some folks mentioned that high end alcohol was not to be found. Read more