My brother Joe lives in Durango, Colorado. I dwell in Bloomington, Indiana. Because the final two in a big household of 9, Joe and I attempt to get collectively yearly. However it isn’t all the time simple.
We each have busy lives. Joe is an expert drummer with common gigs. I’m a journalist. So, abruptly, it may look like a yr has handed and our deliberate visits haven’t occurred.
This yr, nonetheless, now we have made reservations to cruise for per week on the brand new American Symphony from Memphis to New Orleans. Joe will fly into Memphis from Colorado and I’ll fly in from Indiana. We are going to meet at The Visitor Home at Graceland for the two-day pre-cruise “Elvis Expertise.”
Visitor Home at Graceland
American Cruise Strains has a wonderful program the place passengers arrive one night time early for a cruise and keep at a neighborhood resort. With the best way airline flights may be delayed or cancelled, that may be a sensible characteristic to guarantee that cruise line passengers have additional time to get to the cruise departure vacation spot.
Plus, that additional night time or two permits passengers an opportunity to see the host metropolis, get an excellent night time’s sleep, eat breakfast and leisurely board the riverboat. As a musician, Joe is all in favour of seeing Graceland and, as a long-time Elvis fan, I’m all the time blissful to return to Memphis and uncover one thing new.
Graceland
Why the American Symphony? As a result of she is the most recent riverboat to cruise the mighty Mississippi River. As well as, the Symphony is a magnificence and I’m trying ahead to seeing what she gives. Since Joe has by no means cruised earlier than, I’m curious what his contemporary eyes will consider a cruise on American waters.
American Symphony options up to date design
Inaugurated in Natchez in August, American Symphony is the most recent ship in American Cruise Line’s eagerly anticipated sequence of up to date riverboats. The primary trendy riverboats ever in america are showcasing a number of pioneering improvements on America’s waters.
“American Cruise Strains led the final decade of Mississippi River cruising, and with new riverboats like American Symphony, we sit up for main the following one,” Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Strains, mentioned in a information launch.
“We stay dedicated to introducing new small riverboats annually which allows us to ship personalised all-American river cruises alongside the nation’s most iconic river,” he mentioned.
Based in 1991, American Cruise Strains focuses on small-ship coastal and river cruises all through america. With probably the most cruise choices within the USA, American Cruise Strains prides itself on “Small Ship Cruising Performed Completely.”
Traditionally, it appears becoming that the American Symphony was formally launched in Natchez and can declare the town as her official godmother metropolis. Every American Cruise Strains vessel is a conventional USA-built (at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland) in addition to American-flagged and crewed.
“We’ve many new luxurious riverboats and a file variety of company who’re excited to discover the Mississippi River with us,” Frank Lipsch, American Cruise Strains director of metropolis partnerships & particular tasks, mentioned in a information launch.
“The demand we’re seeing is due largely to the attractive new riverboats but in addition to the long-established relationships American Cruise Strains has with the ports and cities alongside your entire river,” he mentioned. “These relationships assist us to constantly ship genuine American experiences, that are curated and led by native specialists, guides and group members whom now we have labored with for a few years.”
From Memphis to New Orleans
On our cruise, Joe and I shall be going from Memphis to Vicksburg and Natchez in Mississippi; St. Francisville, Baton Rouge and Houmas Home in Louisiana earlier than ending our cruise in New Orleans.
American Cruise Strains has already introduced what’s new for 2023, together with three new ships, 10 new itineraries, 21 new ports and 17 small ships exploring each U.S. coasts and all of the rivers in-between.
In 2023, the American Serenade – sister ship to American Symphony – shall be launched on the Mississippi River in April. American Eagle will take part August 2023 and American Glory will debut in October 2023, each crusing East Coast itineraries.
Among the many new 2023-2024 itineraries would be the firm’s first-ever California cruise, an 8-day round-trip San Francisco Bay Cruise which highlights Napa and wine cruises. Then there’s the thrilling new 15-day Nationwide Parks & Legendary Rivers itinerary which incorporates an 8-day day cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers and a 7-day exploration by way of three nationwide parks – Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Control the American Cruise Strains web site (www.americancruiselines.com ) to see all of the enjoyable cruises developing and maybe e-book a dream cruise for the New Yr.
Assembly in Memphis
Since Joe’s flight arrives in Memphis about 4 hours earlier than mine, I informed him he would haven’t any bother recognizing the complimentary shuttle from the airport to The Visitor Home at Graceland. Simply search for the smooth blue-and-gold van with enormous likenesses of Elvis on the perimeters and again.
Complimentary airport shuttle to The Visitor Home at Graceland
Then Joe and I’ll meet at The Visitor Home for a cocktail hour within the Founders’ Room and an after-hours backstage have a look at Graceland which is a part of our pre-cruise expertise.
Hope you’ll come alongside to see what Joe and I uncover and what a first-time cruiser thinks in regards to the new eye-catching American Symphony and cruising per week on the Mississippi River.
Photographs by Jackie Sheckler Finch
*American Symphony now cruising Mississippi River
Photograph courtesy of American Cruise Strains
Ed. Notes: CruiseCompete and its member journey advisors present many curated cruise and land offers, gives and facilities on over 50 cruise strains with over 500 cruise ships crusing all around the globe. Browse Cruise Ships and Cruise Strains
7 Evening – Decrease Mississippi River Cruise from.. American Symphony (cruisecompete.com)
