Port NOLA Louisiana Cruise from New Orleans to Memphis — 11 Days

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.

Darrow LA, USA

Darrow lies on the Mississippi River’s west bank in Louisiana’s plantation country, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Here, broad river bends frame a landscape shaped by sugar, shipping and generations of Creole history. At Houmas House and Gardens, grand rooms, live oaks and formal grounds offer a vivid view of plantation life. Allow time for river vistas, local cooking and the unhurried pace of rural Louisiana.

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.

St Francisville LA, USA

Saint Francisville rewards visitors who prefer history at human scale. Set above the Mississippi River in West Feliciana Parish, this small Louisiana town preserves a remarkably rich past. Walk its historic district, where oak-shaded streets lead to 19th-century homes and Grace Episcopal Church, dating to 1827. At nearby Oakley, now Audubon State Historic Site, John James Audubon painted and taught in 1821. Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site adds formal gardens and a vivid glimpse of the region’s 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.

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.

Greenville MS, USA

Greenville, Mississippi, rests on the east bank of the Mississippi River, in the heart of the Delta. Blues history, literary landmarks and Southern cooking reveal a region shaped by cotton, river trade and resilience. Explore local museums, blues landmarks and places associated with writers and musicians. Allow time for catfish and a drive through the flat, expansive countryside.

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.