Minnesota Cruise from Saint Paul to New Orleans — 16 Days

Minneapolis-Saint Paul, USA

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.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• River Cruising (River Cruising)

La Crosse WI, USA

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.

River Cruising (River Cruising)

Dubuque IA, USA

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 IA, USA

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.

River Cruising (River Cruising)

Hannibal MO, USA

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.

St Louis MO, USA

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.

River Cruising (River Cruising)

Memphis TN, USA

Memphis sits on the Mississippi, where river commerce and music shaped a distinctly American city. At the National Civil Rights Museum, exhibits trace the struggle for equality inside and beyond the Lorraine Motel. Beale Street keeps the blues close, while Graceland offers an intimate look at Elvis Presley’s life and legacy. Allow time for both: Memphis is best understood through its music, its history, and its riverfront.

Tunica MS, USA

Step ashore in Tunica, at the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Cotton fields, blues traditions, and the Mississippi itself reveal a region whose influence reaches well beyond its quiet roads. Tunica RiverPark’s museum and observation deck bring the river’s history and landscape into focus. Across the county, casino resorts offer a lively contrast, while blues roots remain central to the Delta’s identity.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Vicksburg MS, USA

Vicksburg sits high above the Mississippi, where river commerce and Civil War history shape the city. Its National Military Park preserves the landscape of the 1863 siege, with monuments, trenches and a scenic driving route. Downtown, explore historic streets, river views and museums that explain Vicksburg’s strategic place in American history. Pair the battlefield with the Old Courthouse Museum, then take time to watch the Mississippi flow past.

Natchez MS, USA

Natchez rises above the Mississippi on a high bluff, with river views that have shaped its fortunes for centuries. Its compact historic district rewards a thoughtful walk past Federal and Greek Revival homes, churches, and gardens. Learn how cotton wealth and slavery built the city, then visit the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. For a wider view, follow part of the Natchez Trace Parkway, an ancient route through wooded countryside.

Baton Rouge, USA

On the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge offers a Louisiana experience beyond New Orleans—more political, collegiate and distinctly local. The red-brick Old State Capitol commands downtown. The USS Kidd, a decorated World War II destroyer, is moored nearby. At Louisiana’s capital, sample Cajun and Creole cooking, explore museums, or visit historic plantations along the river. Come for a different view of the Deep South.

New Orleans, USA

New Orleans makes a memorable port call. The Mississippi River runs beside a city shaped by French, Spanish, African, and American influences. From the French Quarter’s wrought-iron balconies to the Garden District’s grand homes, the city rewards unhurried exploration. Listen for brass bands, taste Creole and Cajun cooking, and ride the historic streetcar beneath live oaks. Leave time for the riverfront and beignets with café au lait. New Orleans is best savoured at its own pace.