2016 - APT USA

44 Cruise the Mississippi River in luxury aboard the boutique-sized Queen of the Mississippi or American Eagle 13 Day Majestic Mississippi 5 Night Luxury Land Journey & 7 Night Mississippi River Cruise New Orleans | Oak Alley | Baton Rouge | Natchez | Vicksburg | Memphis | Nashville Day 1. Arrive New Orleans. On arrival in vibrant New Orleans, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Two Night Stay: The Roosevelt New Orleans. Day 2. New Orleans, Freedom of Choice Dining. Enjoy a Welcome Breakfast before a city tour in which you'll explore the Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion, built in 1869. Tonight, you'll be led from your hotel to the French Quarter by a Dixieland Jazz marching band in your very own secondline parade. On arrival, dine at your choice of four restaurants in this famous district. BD Day 3. New Orleans, Embark Mississippi River Cruise. Get an insider's look at the preparation for New Orleans' famous annual Mardi Gras. Afterwards, board your boutique-sized small ship paddlewheeler for your Mississippi cruise. Settle in before a Welcome Dinner with your fellow passengers. Seven Night Cruise: Aboard a boutique paddlewheeler, stay in a spacious Twin Window Stateroom. BLD Day 4. Oak Alley. Disembark at Oak Alley today – a historic mansion and plantation located in the community of Vacherie, Louisiana. Here, enjoy a Mint Julep and wander under a 240-metre-long canopy of towering oak trees that were planted in the early 18th century. Later, enjoy a tour of the restored Greek- revival-style antebellum mansion and its impressive grounds, which includes several reconstructed slave quarters. BLD Day 5. Baton Rouge, St Francisville. Today you will disembark in Baton Rouge and join a local guide for a historic city tour, followed by a guided tour of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Later, head to the small town of St Francisville. Here you'll learn about the traditions and lifestyles of the Old South's wealthiest inhabitants during a tour of the home and grounds at Rosedown Plantation. BLD Day 6. Natchez. On a Historic District Tour of Natchez, you'll visit Longwood Mansion, an octagonal house that was never completed due to the Civil War, and see many of the city's restored buildings. This afternoon, perhaps head to JN Stone House and be treated to a classical music concert performed by the owner. Alternatively, learn about the lives of early cotton planters at Frogmore Plantation – a working cotton farm. Here, a tour will compare a cotton plantation of 1790 to a modern farm, exposing the slave culture and exploring some of plantation's buildings. BLD Day 7. Vicksburg. As the site of a 47-day siege during the American Civil War, this morning's port of call – Vicksburg, Mississippi – is simply bursting with history. Here, explore the Vicksburg National Military Park, which commemorates the famous campaign, siege and defence of Vicksburg in 1863. Take a narrated coach tour of the battlefields then drop in to the visitor centre. From here, you can catch the Vicksburg shuttle to explore at your leisure. Later, return to your ship and set out towards the city of Memphis. BLD APT EXCLUSIVE! Freedom of Choice TM – Dining Signature Invitation BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISING Accommodating a maximum of just 150 guests on board, the Queen of the Mississippi and the American Eagle provide a wonderfully intimate cruising experience, and represent the most convenient manner in which to explore America's intriguing southern states. Travelling exclusively with like-minded APT guests, your ship will dock in places that larger ships can't reach; you'll enjoy a great sense of camaraderie; shore excursions will be more personalised; and the intuitive all-American service you'll receive on board will be nothing short of exceptional. www.aptouring.com.au

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