Cruising the Mississippi River

A Mississippi cruise is a world away from an ocean sailing, and that's the appeal. Smaller American riverboats — some of them modern paddlewheelers — carry a few hundred guests at an unhurried pace, tying up at a town most evenings. It's cruising for people who want history, music, and Americana over waterslides, and it needs no passport: it's all within the United States.

Lower vs. Upper river

• Lower Mississippi — the New Orleans end: Memphis, Natchez, Baton Rouge, and the antebellum South, with Delta blues, Civil War history, and grand river homes. The most-sailed stretch, and the most evocative.
• Upper Mississippi — between St. Louis and St. Paul: river bluffs, small Midwestern river towns, and a greener, quieter run. Best in late summer and fall, when the bluffs turn.

Some itineraries also branch onto the Ohio and Tennessee rivers for music country around Nashville and Chattanooga.

Who it suits

This is a slower, more inward cruise. It draws travelers who'd rather spend the day on a guided walk through a historic town than at a pool bar, who like included excursions and a smaller ship where the crew learns your name, and who find a paddlewheel turning past the levee more romantic than a megaship. It skews toward couples and older travelers, though anyone who loves history takes to it.

When to go

The season runs roughly March through December. Spring brings high water and blossom; fall brings the bluff colors and the harvest; the holiday sailings dress the river towns up for Christmas. Summers are warm and humid in the South, so spring and fall tend to be the most comfortable.

What to know before you book

These are small ships from a short list of American lines, so popular sailings fill well ahead — book early for fall and the holidays. Fares are higher per night than an ocean cruise, but far more is included: excursions, gratuities, and sometimes drinks are often built in, so the "from" price and the real price sit much closer together than they do at sea. We'll always confirm exactly what's included before you book.

A note from the desk

The US rivers are where we can genuinely help most — a short field of ships and sailings, booked early, with real differences between lines and cabins. Tell us which stretch of river appeals and when you'd like to go, and we'll walk you through the options.