8 nights · Minnesota · River cruise · Departs Minneapolis-Saint Paul (USA) · Visiting La Crosse WI, Dubuque IA, Davenport IA, Hannibal MO, Alton IL, St Louis MO · Aboard American Cruise Lines on the ACL American Melody
Image courtesy of American Cruise Lines ©
This river cruise sails the Mississippi, departing Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
| Cruise line | American Cruise Lines |
|---|---|
| Ship | ACL American Melody |
| Duration | 8 nights |
| Port calls | 7 |
| Departures | 16 sailings |
| From fare | $5,635 per person |
| Year built | 2021 |
| Guests | 175 |
| Cabins | 91 |
| Crew | 43 |
| Length | 82 m |
| Beam | 17 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Saint Paul is Minnesota’s capital, but its best introductions begin along the Mississippi. From the riverfront, broad bluffs rise toward a city shaped by trade, immigration, and civic ambition. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Paul, whose hilltop dome commands the skyline, then explore the nearby Minnesota History Center. Summit Avenue preserves an exceptional stretch of Victorian-era homes, including the James J. Hill House. Allow time for a meal downtown; Saint Paul’s food scene rewards a closer look.
La Crosse sits where the Mississippi, Black and La Crosse rivers meet, beneath the wooded bluffs of western Wisconsin. Its riverfront gives the city its character, with Riverside Park offering broad views of passing vessels and the changing water. Walk into downtown for independent shops, brick storefronts and ornate 19th-century architecture in the historic district. For a wider view, visit Grandad Bluff, where the Mississippi Valley opens beneath you. This is a port best explored at an unhurried pace.
Dubuque rewards a shore day spent close to the Mississippi. Iowa’s oldest city pairs a handsome 19th-century riverfront with lively museums and walkable downtown streets. At the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, river ecology and historic boats bring the waterway into focus. Ride the Fenelon Place Elevator for sweeping views across rooftops, bluffs and river. Allow time for historic Main Street, or explore the nearby Mines of Spain Recreation Area.
Davenport brings the Mississippi River into view from a lively downtown. Walk its riverfront paths, then visit the Figge Art Museum. The museum’s glass façade frames collections of American and regional art. Davenport belongs to the Quad Cities, with Illinois just across the river. Make time for a riverboat outing or dinner beside the water.
Hannibal sits on the Mississippi, where Mark Twain’s boyhood gave shape to Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Walk the compact historic district to see Twain’s boyhood home and the Becky Thatcher House. Then explore museums tracing the river town’s literary past and its long connection with the Mississippi. Beyond the stories, the riverfront offers broad views of the waterway that shaped Hannibal’s trade and daily life.
Alton sits on the Mississippi River, where limestone bluffs frame one of the region’s most historic river towns. Walk downtown to find the site of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate and memorials to abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy. The National Great Rivers Museum explores the waterways and engineering that shaped America’s inland commerce. Nearby, the Meeting of the Great Rivers marks the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers.
Venice, Illinois, sits on the east bank of the Mississippi, just north of downtown St. Louis. Across the river, the Gateway Arch rises above a skyline shaped by history and commerce. Nearby, the Chain of Rocks Bridge offers a striking view of the river and its distinctive bend. St. Louis’s museums, neighborhoods and riverfront make rewarding excursions from this quiet riverside port.
Alton sits on the Mississippi River, where limestone bluffs frame one of the region’s most historic river towns. Walk downtown to find the site of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate and memorials to abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy. The National Great Rivers Museum explores the waterways and engineering that shaped America’s inland commerce. Nearby, the Meeting of the Great Rivers marks the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers.
Venice, Illinois, sits on the east bank of the Mississippi, just north of downtown St. Louis. Across the river, the Gateway Arch rises above a skyline shaped by history and commerce. Nearby, the Chain of Rocks Bridge offers a striking view of the river and its distinctive bend. St. Louis’s museums, neighborhoods and riverfront make rewarding excursions from this quiet riverside port.
Published September 15, 2026
Last updated October 11, 2026
Author: J. Richard
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
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