AQ/memphis-NOLA shore excursions?

[Jswen]

We are taking the American Queen Memphis- New Orleans next week.
What shore excursions do past travelers recommend or think were a waste of $$ or time?
Specificly wondering about the Swamp Tour and what was the best Plantation tour?

[steamboats]

Jswen,

I think Oak Alley is a must. Anyway the boat is usually docking right at the garden entrance (tickets must be purchased via the boat as this entrance is only open for the boat passengers). I´d also recommend the Natchez historic homes. For Vicksburg tour the battlefield. Most of the towns you can do on your own in your spare time (except for St. Francisville which is not located directly on the river but they might offer a shuttle bus). I heard that the Cajun Fiddler tour at Baton Rouge got raves (but I haven´t done it). If you´ve never been there definitely do one of the swamp tours. All plantation homes are different and therefore it´s hard to say which one is the best.

The upriver cruise started on Saturday. I was able to see the AQ on the Port of NOLA webcam on Friday when she was scheduled for Oak Alley. Currently the river is close to flood stage in New Orleans. I read that the St. Francisville ferry (where the boats are usually landing) is closed because the road to the ferry is flooded. I assume that on the upriver cruise the boat won´t stop at Oak Alley or St. Francisville. Currently the river is 6 ft above flood stage in Baton Rouge. Same for Vicksburg and 7 ft for Natchez. 2ft for Helena and 3 ft for Memphis. I don´t know whether this affects the landings or if they still can land. Last I´ve heard is that the river is to crest app. Apr 20/21. Of course this depends on how much rain is falling upriver.

I´m quite sure that the river will still be pretty high on your downriver cruise. I can´t say if this is affecting your shore stops or not. Right now no one can say this for sure. Whether a shore stop can be made is sometimes a very last minute decision.

Anyway have a great cruise!

steamboats

PS: You can check the river gages on www.rivergages.com !

[Jswen]

Thanks, Steamboat's for the info.
I did see a tour offered in Natchez that was by horse and carriage, it tours the mansions, sounds unique and fun. We may do that one.
Sounds like the same scenario as our European river boat trip a few years ago, river running high.
J

[steamboats]

J,

I had two shortend river cruises on the Delta Queen due to high water, one - actually 23 h - cruise on the Danube river due to high water and one shortened river cruise on the Elbe river due to low (!) water.

The only thing you can do is trying to make the best out of it!

I´m usually exploring the river towns on my own and don´t book the shore tours (except for the shuttles, depending on the town). But that´s mainly because our main interest are the steamboats and there´s a lot of them in those old river towns too (like in the Vicksburg Old Court House Museum). We are crazy enough to walk a mile along a highway to see some rusty parts of an old steamboat or two walk some blocks uphill just to see a bell in the garden of an antebellum home in Natchez (without visiting the building itself). And the other reason is that we´re travelling with DD (now 8y) who won´t have much fun touring the Vicksburg battlefield (we´ve done that before by car "prior to DD").

Rosalie Plantation is right uphill the landing at Natchez.

http://www.rosaliemansion.com/

Longwood and Stanton Hall are two other pretty impressing antebellum homes

http://www.stantonhall.com/

At least Stanton Hall was on the route of the shuttle bus when we´ve been to Natchez last time.

Here´s more information about Natchez

http://www.visitnatchez.com/custom/w...content&id=148

including a map.

The boats usually do have brochures of the river towns available at the shore tour desk.

Here´s more about Vicksburg

http://www.vicksburgcvb.org/

Don´t miss the murals right at the landing on the floodwall.

steamboats

[Jswen]

When I read your post this morning and looked at the River Gage site I called Majestic and they said the trip had been changed from starting in Memphis to starting in New Orleans, eek! They were calling the travel agents later this morning. What a delema! We had lots of plans for Memphis flying in there some days ahead to see things. The air fare to NOLA is astronomical from our city because of last minute rates. Thank goodness we were in time to cancel our hotel, The Peabody, before penalitys set in. So now just trying to decide... if we cannot get off the boat to sight see maybe we should try and do it later.
Bummer!

[steamboats]

J,

I didn´t expect such a drastic change!! Missing some stops upriver I thought the AQ at least would be able to make it up to Memphis. But I don´t know if she can land there due to high water. Usually bridge clearances shouldn´t be a problem on this part of the river.

Did they tell you anything about the itinerary out of New Orleans?? Didn´t they offer any help with rebooking flights?? Did they offer to cancel the cruise? Any compensations offered? The only thing coming into my mind is make your flight and stay in Memphis and take the train down to New Orleans.

I´m so sorry for you. And I know it´s hard to decide what to do.

steamboats

[Jswen]

Hi,
What a scramble yesterday was.
Flights are rebooked into NO. One of our friends had to pay $600. aditional because she is not a senior.The other three of us actually got a better price on our tickets because a senior rate was available.
We were going a few days early so Majestic said they only do air through them if it is the day of the cruise.
We are still waiting to hear what the stops will be. No offer was made to cancel and no compensations offered at this time.
Our travel agent is doing a good job for us and I hope Majestic is too I am sure it will be a fun trip when all the logistics get worked out but I really was looking forward to visiting Graceland and seeing the ducks at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.
Your idea about the train was good and I may consider that for another trip. Although American train service is nothing compared to what you have in Europe.
Thanks so much for your concern.
J

[steamboats]

J,

I just found some pictures of the AQ at Natchez. Check here and scroll down

http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/photo...iver-flooding/

I got the information that the steamer Natchez of New Orleans shortened her regular route because of the strong current. The boat is only making 4 mph upriver which is more or less half speed.

New Orleans is a wonderful town and there are lot of things to see and explore. So try to make the best out of it and enjoy your trip!

steamboats

[Jswen]

Great pictures, thanks!
We live in California and you would never know the Mississippi was flooding. I think you must know more in Germany than we do out here, and I do read the newspaper.
So..it looks like the AQ is docking in at least Natchez? That is a good sign.
I looked at the gauges again this AM and they still seem to be rising.
Will hope for the best.
J

[steamboats]

J,

Here´s an article about the situation at Vicksburg

http://www.vicksburgpost.com/article...ews/news01.txt

I remember that we needed to walk up quite a bit from the boat until we passed the floodwall. Back then I thought the floodwall is pretty high up. Obviously it isn´t!

We have lots of friends related to the steamboats and one of them just reported out of New Orleans. That´s where I get my information over here in Germany !

BTW it would at least have been a famous train called "The city of New Orleans" which is running from Memphis down to New Orleans . That´s why I came up with that idea.

What´s interesting on the photos is that the AQ´s paddlewheel is turning but you can see she´s tied up. Usually the paddlewheel is standing still except for the last 30 min prior to departure (warming up the engines). They might "run" the paddlewheel to keep the boat off the levee because of the strong current.

steamboats

[Jswen]

I did notice the paddle wheel in motion and wondered about that.
Interesting about the name of the train to New Orleans, there was a line in a song about it.
Not much news from Majestic today other than the AQ is planning on making most of the stops. ( I am sure at this point they could tell us anything) All is a go and we leave on Friday afternoon which gets us in late on Friday, sounds like there may be some compensation for our friends airline ticket, I sure hope so.
Thanks again for all the web sites and concern, I am sure it will be a fun trip once we are on our way.
J

[steamboats]

J,

I just got the news that on the current trip the AQ was able to dock at Natchez and Baton Rouge. No way regarding Vicksburg (easy to see on the photos) and St. Francisville.

steamboats

[Jswen]

I was told they are docking downstream?? And then having people ride in a coach to the various excursions that are offered in each area.
I hope that is the case, my husband was set on visiting the battlefield at Vicksburg.
Looked at the river gage this AM, looks like it is still rising.
J

[steamboats]

J,

Actually the regular landing at Vicksburg is in the diversion canal not the Mississippi river. So it might be they have a spot on the Mississippi river where they can land.

steamboats