8-night Upper Mississippi River Cruise

The Twin Cities offer world-class art galleries, museums, and live performances. St. Paul’s Summit Avenue showcases gorgeous historic mansions built in the late 1800s. The enormous Mall of America includes more than 500 stores and an indoor waterpark and theme park. View gorgeous panoramas of the city from Mounds Park and cherish the enchantment of Minnehaha Falls with its 53-foot cascade. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the city at your leisure.

St. Paul has historic landmarks, museums, sightseeing, shopping, and accommodations to fit every budget. The casinos bring Las Vegas thrill, and the rugged mountains cater to the outdoor enthusiast. St. Paul has attractions and activities for a family on vacation, someone visiting for business, or a couple searching for romance. Amusement parks, museums, historic sites, shopping, fine dinging, and educational attractions including: The Science Museum of Minnesota, Historic Lowertown and the Valleyfair Family Amusement Park are all within minutes from anywhere in St. Paul.

Nestled among the scenic bluffs of the Upper Mississippi River, Red Wing's beauty has inspired artists, writers, and musicians for over 150 years, delivering a diverse blend of arts, entertainment, and activities for your pleasure. Enjoy a show at the historic Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts or observe the beauty of nature at one of Red Wing's 38 parks.,

Board your ship and be treated to a Welcome Reception. Get to know your fellow guests and savor the view as you set out cruising Mark Twain’s river. Admire the breathtaking scenery that has inspired the country’s most legendary writers, artists, and musicians.

The Mississippi River is the third longest river system in the world - stretching approximately 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. To enable travel upstream from St. Louis, 29 locks and dams have been built between there and Minneapolis. The Mississippi River is the reason the Twin Cities St. Paul and Minneapolis exist. Used by Native Americans for trade, food, and water long before Europeans visited the “New World,” the Mississippi River and its watershed is a major contributor to the ecology, culture, politics and economy North America. Congress established Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in 1988. The park’s boundaries enclose about 54,000 acres and 72 miles of river - a significant and representative stretch of the Mississippi. They contain the only gorge and waterfall on the main course of the entire 2,350 miles of river. From visitor centers to trails, from industrial centers to Mississippi River backwaters, this park has a bit of something for everyone.

Step into 19th-century America in La Crosse, located on the banks of three captivating rivers. La Crosse is home to Riverside Park, where you’ll discover beautiful gardens, an outdoor performance center, and inspiring sculptures. Enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views from Grand Dad’s Bluff, a 600-ft high bluff which overlooks the entire city. Led by a local expert, gain insight into the city’s development from the boomtown riverboat days through the roaring ‘20s to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

La Crosse's business district includes almost one hundred nationally registered historic buildings displaying a variety of architectural styles from Greek revival to Neo-Classical. Visitors can also take a riverboat cruise on a late 19th century steamboat complete with dining options. Shoppers will find a nice selection of unique boutiques in historic downtown to before heading over to one of the many unique restaurants and pubs.

As you make your way from Lacrosse to Dubuque, reflect upon the rich history of the Mississippi River and the variety of music born upon its shores. Listen to the talented performers in one of our lounges or share the afternoon with fellow travelers.

Relax and enjoy your day as you cruise along the river and take in the magnificent scenery.

A “Masterpiece on the Mississippi,” Dubuque is among the oldest settlements west of the Mississippi River and continues today as a primary commercial, industrial, educational, and cultural center for this region. From the ship, it’s a short walk to a cruise highlight at the incredible complex of the Smithsonian-affiliated National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. View colorful Victorian mansions on a stroll through the quaint downtown area, take a ride on the world’s shortest and steepest scenic railway, or try your luck in one of Dubuque's state-of-the-art casinos. Visit one of the oldest catholic churches in the city and enjoy the lovely landscapes of the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Garden.

Davenport is your largest cruise port between St. Louis and St. Paul as one of the four “Quad Cities” that combine into a larger metro area. The first railroad to reach the Mississippi River connected Chicago to Rock Island, Illinois across the river. The area features diverse attractions ranging from grand historic mansions lining the river, renowned museums, rich Native American history, and the largest agricultural exhibit in the world. Be enlightened by the region’s history, culture, and environment at the Smithsonian-affiliated Putnam Museum. Learn how American ingenuity impowers the Midwest’s ability to feed the nation at the expansive John Deere Pavilion as you amble through interactive exhibits of vintage and modern high-tech equipment that reveal the evolution of inventions that revolutionized American farming.

Explore Hannibal, “America’s Hometown,” a mere block from the ship, where Mark Twain’s home and museum illuminate the events that shaped his life and career. Elements of his childhood adventures were woven into classics like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Run your hand along Aunt Polly’s fence, explore Injun Joe’s Cave, and get reacquainted with one of the world’s most beloved authors. Explore other nearby museums and the charming downtown Main Street with unique shops, art galleries, and tasty temptations.

St. Louis is often referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Take in the Gateway Arch Riverfront, highlighted by the Gateway Arch, the largest man-made monument in the U.S. Enjoy St. Louis' many world-class attractions, including the Art Museum, Science Center, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and the Missouri History Museum. End your day by relaxing at the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the world’s most popular public gardens. Alton is an idyllic town, known for its scenic limestone bluffs along the river and its rich Civil War history. The National Great Rivers Museum, located at the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, tells the stories of the Mississippi River’s history, the people that rely on the River, and its many ecosystems. Hometown of jazz musician Miles Davis and Robert Wadlow, the tallest known person in history (8’11”), Alton is an inspiring and picturesque destination and the perfect place to begin your Upper Mississippi journey.

Located on the Mississippi River the city of Alton Illinois is full of history, and recreational opportunities. Here you'll find magnificent limestone bluffs, forested parks and wildlife areas, real river towns, ferries that ply the rivers, and friendly and gracious people.

At Pere Marquette State Park riders, walkers, and joggers will see prairie wildflowers along the trail as well as flowering trees during the spring. Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges compliment the scenery in the fall.

Enjoy breakfast on board the ship, before beginning your journey home. Reflect upon your adventures and the new friends made along the way.

Located on the Mississippi River the city of Alton Illinois is full of history, and recreational opportunities. Here you'll find magnificent limestone bluffs, forested parks and wildlife areas, real river towns, ferries that ply the rivers, and friendly and gracious people.

At Pere Marquette State Park riders, walkers, and joggers will see prairie wildflowers along the trail as well as flowering trees during the spring. Brilliant reds, yellows and oranges compliment the scenery in the fall.