We have been home less than a week from a round trip Memphis to New Orleans. The lower water levels are affecting river cruises including significant issues in docking. We missed more than one port of call as docks were not useable with the low water levels. Most places we did dock required very steep climbs to reach the road level, often on loose gravel. The cruise line did an excellent job of using different ports and provided golf cart rides up and down steep inclines for any guest that needed (wanted) them. Our cruise started by being bused an hour south of Memphis to board as the ship could not dock in Memphis. We were able to disembark in Memphis on our return trip.
Several times we stopped to allow a barge to use the only available channel. And in many places it looked more like beach front property, rather than River front, with yards of sand visible at the waters edge.