Memory flows deep and sentiment eddies and swirls along the Lower Mississippi River on these river cruises. Once divided by these very waters, when cotton was king and the plantation lifestyle was at its zenith, the North and South were at war, each armed with conflicting visions of what was worth dying for. Look back as each battlefield and grave marker has a story to tell. Then celebrate the living, breathing places where southern culture continues to enjoy a modern-day renaissance

The lower stretch of the Mississippi, from carefree New Orleans to vibrant Memphis, is the river of legends. Ole Man River has been celebrated in print, song and film for generations. Control of the Mississippi was the key strategic goal of the Civil War and even today is still the lifeblood of commerce in the Old South. This is the river of centuries-old shaded oak tress, elegant antebellum plantations, cobblestone streets and Victorian mansions. Hear the river's music in blues, jazz, zydeco and rock 'n' roll and savour its diversity with a host of distinctive Creole and Cajun culinary delights

The upper reaches of the Mississippi River from dynamic St. Louis to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are rich with frontier tales of fur traders and pioneers set among picturesque scenery and endless wildlife. Hidden gems around each bend of the river fuel your sense of discovery as the very best of America's Heartland unfolds before you