Cruise began in New Orleans (on my bucket list) and we went on a Wednesday and our cruise didn’t begin until Saturday, so we had time to see NOLA or a couple of days. The French Quarter was having a music festival so it was packed with people, but some of the food vendors had some delicious food. We boarded the ship Saturday AM and got underway at 1:00 PM heading towards Memphis, with various stops in between. We had a riverarian and a historian onboard, who gave very interesting talks about the Civil War and the history of the Mississippi. Very interesting talks. Our stateroom was very nice, clean and included a writing desk, a king size bed, 2 end tables, a small closet and an upholstered chair, enough drawer space for some clothing, but we didn’t have to take a lot because the boat had free laundry facilities for the guests. The bathroom was adequate with only a shower, but not enough towel racks or door hooks for clean clothes. We also had a small balcony, which was nice to sit and have a drink or read a book while the boat was on the move. There were plenty of excursions you could sign up for or if you wanted you could explore on your own. Some were complimentary, but most had a fee if you wanted to sign up. There was entertainment every evening after dinner, usually music or a comedy act. The dining room has open seating, so you have the opportunity to meet many people, and these small cruise ships usually have less than 200 passengers. All the servers and deck hands , kitchen staff and cruise directors, etc., are Americans, the boats/ships are all built in the USA, so there is never a problem with communication. Food is usually pretty good, but for some reason the kitchen seemed to be disorganized, therefore food service was very slow. This was our 4th cruise with ACL, and the most disorganized in general. Public areas on the boat were nice and comfortable, whether in the lounges or out on the decks. Happy hour ( 5:30-6:30). is always nice but a bit crowded, sometimes with a line of people waiting for a drink. There were servers with trays of appetizers being passed out and a table with more food and 2 servers to pass out your food of choice. Be careful or you won’t have room for your dinner ( 6:30-8:00). Overall we’ve been really happy with our cruises with ACL and have signed up for our 5th cruise next year. Read Less

Location of cruise and area that interested us. Had been on New Orleans to Memphis cruise in past and wanted to try different area of river. Much different views unencumbered by the levees lower on the river. Staff was more than accommodating. A lock on he river was inoperable and the staff went above and beyond to redirect the boat to other destinations and made the disembarkation have many different options with hotel rooms and dinners on the company, help in changing airline flight accommodations. The staff was great and I am sure lost some sleep while rearranging destinations. Was not aware cruise was directed at seniors, most of the passengers were in there late 70's, 80's and 90's, this was not a problem and in fact was enlightening to talk and share stories with the other passengers. Staff was very friendly and easy to talk to and acknowledge each of us. Read Less

Our friends and my husband and I always wanted to do a Mississippi River cruise. Chose American Cruise Lines. Sailed on the Queen of the Mississippi. We had a wonderful time. Cabin had ample room, balcony had room for 2 chairs and a table (about 30" rd). Entertainment was good. Plenty of on board activities, games, books to read, a putting green on the upper deck, some work out equipment and plenty of places to sit and relax. The dining room was impeccable, waiters/waitresses, chefs, all were more than one could ask for. The meals were fantastic. We had 2 ports of call, Oak Alley Plantation which was jaw dropping and a bus tour to St. Francisville/Baton Rouge which was okay. The service on the boat was A+. The staff from the Hotel Manager to waiters, housekeeping etc. were friendly, polite, helpful. Will consider doing the Snake River tour in a couple of years. Thank you for a memorable vacation! Read Less

We chose a 4 night cruise because we had not been on a cruise in the last fifty years and wanted to be sure we would like it before taking a longer one. We were treated to an overnight stay in New Orleans the night before embarkation and had time to see some of the sights in the French Quarter. We were collected at our hotel and conveyed to the docks by bus. Passengers could dress as formally or casually as they wanted and still feel that they fitted in. The ship was small enough that everyone could fit into the dining room at one time. We enjoyed the entertainment provided nightly. The plantation tours were extremely good. We elected to tour the ship's pilot house which proved very interesting. The cabin had everything we needed and was well kept by staff. We especially enjoyed sitting on our balcony with the Mississippi breeze fanning us. The service was exceptional in the dining room and elsewhere. The staff acknowledged guests and greeted them at every opportunity. The food was out of this world- both in tasting good and in presentation! Menu selections were such that everyone should have been pleased. Read Less

We embarked from a dock very near to the St. Louis Gateway Arch. The walk down to the boat was somewhat steep but assistance was offered and we left our luggage with crew near the roadway. River travel is laid back and easy. We had only one morning of rain so we had a lot of time to watch as the captain and crew navigated the five story Queen through the many locks on the Mississippi as well as through the many different lift or swinging bridges. It was warm and comfortable most of the time to sit out and watch. We often arrived early to the next port of call. Chairs and tables on deck were plentiful. Snacks and beverages including sodas were always available. One could even do laundry if desired at no cost at the self-service machines provided. There were daily talks with the Riverlorian who was always on board and available often on the top deck. Steve Marking and Joanna Funk provided not only on-board musical entertainment with help with wildlife sightings and identification of birds. Joanna also played the calliope when we left ports and also for the Sunday morning hymn sings. The cocktail hour each evening was a highlight and the Hors d'oeuvres served were excellent and plentiful. We had more food on the cruise than needed! I thought it was a great touch that we could choose to have half portions at a meal. We always found the meals delicious and we had some choice as to entrees. On the downside, as a diabetic, there were limited dessert options for me. Although I met with one of the chefs to discuss ideas, those were not always available. We enjoyed different entertainment not only at cocktail hour but also after dinner each night and many were very good and entertaining. We also were up top on the 5th deck the evening of the eclipse ... and yes, the clouds opened up to be able to see a good amount of it. I would recommend the American Cruise Lines for a truly Americana venture such as the Northern Mississippi Cruise we took. They have other interesting river cruises as well. This was our first trip with them and we would consider them again. Read Less