Cruise the Mississippi — Where the Blues Were Born
Two 2027 itineraries on the Lower Mississippi, and the Blues Trail that runs right alongside them.
We spend most of our year on music charters — soul, R&B, disco, blues. So when American Cruise Lines started telling the story of the Mississippi Blues Trail, one thing jumped straight out at us: the Trail’s markers and the cruise’s ports are largely the same places.
Cotton fields, railroad towns, river ports, juke joints, churches, street corners — the landscape that produced the blues is exactly the landscape this ship sails through. This is not a music charter. There is no lineup and no theme nights. It is something different: the river itself, and the places the music actually came from.
What You Sail Past
Memphis — the natural starting point. Mississippi musicians had been drifting toward Beale Street since the early 1900s, carrying rural traditions north with them. W.C. Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” transcribed and arranged those sounds for a wider audience. B.B. King arrived from Indianola and became the “Beale Street Blues Boy.” Memphis went on to blend Delta blues with rhythm and blues, soul, and early rock ’n’ roll.
Highway 61 — the “Blues Highway.” Its original route ran from downtown New Orleans through Vicksburg and the Mississippi Delta up to Memphis. For generations of musicians it was more than pavement: a way to leave a plantation, reach another town, find a Saturday-night audience, or head north toward opportunity. It turns up in blues song after blues song.
Cleveland and Dockery Farms — where Charley Patton developed a style that shaped Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson and others. The Trail calls Dockery the “Birthplace of the Blues,” though cautiously — nobody can name the single moment the blues began.
Indianola — B.B. King’s story returns to the cotton fields where he worked before becoming an international star. Nearby towns hold connections to Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and other artists who carried Mississippi music far beyond the Delta.
Vicksburg — once midway along the busy musical corridor between Memphis and New Orleans. Its Marcus Bottom neighborhood was full of traveling musicians working local cafés and clubs. Vicksburg native Willie Dixon became one of the great architects of Chicago blues, writing “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Little Red Rooster.” The city’s Blue Room hosted Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino.
Natchez down to New Orleans — where the line between Mississippi blues and Louisiana music blurs entirely. Musicians crossed the river, followed touring circuits, and carried songs between Natchez, Ferriday, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Mississippi-born Guitar Slim landed in New Orleans and recorded the electrifying “The Things That I Used to Do.”
The Mississippi Blues Trail began in 2006 and now marks places connected to musicians, recording studios, clubs, highways and whole communities. The blues did not develop inside museums — it grew beside the river, along highways and railroad tracks, in crowded clubs and tiny cafés, wherever musicians gathered to turn everyday life into music.
Two Ways to Sail It in 2027
Lower Mississippi River — 9 Days / 8 Nights
Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA. A captivating nine-day journey through the heart and soul of the Mississippi. Discover the grandeur of Natchez and Oak Alley, reflect on the history etched into the battlefields of Vicksburg, and experience the legendary musical heritage of New Orleans and Memphis at either end. Indulge in the flavors that define the region, from savory gumbo and jambalaya to other Southern specialties. This is the one that follows the Blues Trail.
Highlights of the Mississippi — 8 Days
Round-trip from New Orleans. On this eight-day voyage the spirit and stories of the South come to life. Cruise along the Mighty Mississippi, visiting charming port towns including Natchez, St. Francisville and Baton Rouge. Savor authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine, step inside magnificent historic estates, and discover the celebrated traditions that have shaped life on the river.
Both sailings are all-inclusive, on a small ship with an all-American crew, knowledgeable guest experts on board, and regional cooking that is worth the trip on its own.
Savings are per stateroom and based on limited availability. Certain restrictions apply. Ship, itinerary, savings and schedules are subject to change. Reverse itineraries available. Free airfare and savings on select dates. Valid on new bookings only.
Mississippi River itineraries, pricing and the current offer are operated and set by American Cruise Lines. Soul at Sea books them for you as your travel advisor.
