Cruise West brings back Mississippi River cruising
June 22, 2010 by Steve Cousino
In 2008, American river cruise line Majestic America Line ceased operations, taking with it the only vessels sailing the Mississippi River. Many folks liked sailing the Mississippi, especially since Majestic’s ships were large paddle-wheel boats reminiscent of the river vessels from days gone by.
Small ship cruise line Cruise West has stepped up to the plate and plans two new itineraries on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers, starting in March 2011 using the 102-passenger Spirit of America.
Cruise West operates American-flagged ships, and the Spirit of America is small compared to the paddle-wheelers that sailed the rivers before: she is 207 feet long, with four decks, and a total of 51 staterooms. Built in 1984, the Spirit of America was previously named the Spirit of Glacier Bay, sailing Alaska itineraries since 2008.
Originally named the Spirit of Nantucket and built in 1984, the ship was acquired by Cruise West in 2006 and renamed the Spirit of Glacier Bay in 2008, when it was repositioned by Cruise West from the East Coast to Alaska.
The Spirit of America will sail two seven-night itineraries, one along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Memphis and the other along the Mississippi, Ohio Tennessee and Cumberland rivers from Memphis to Nashville.
There will be eight departures in 2011, with prices starting at $3,499 per person. The New Orleans-Memphis cruise departs March 19 and April 16, the reverse itinerary April 9 and May 7. The Memphis-Nashville departures are March 26 and April 23, the reverse itinerary April 2 and 30.
After the demise of Majestic, Cruise West remained one of the only cruise lines with operations on America’s inland waterways, continuing its itineraries along the Columbia and Snake rivers on the 96-passenger Spirit of ’98 and 84-passenger Spirit of Discovery.
In 2009, American Safari Cruises joined Cruise West in the region with a nine-day river cruise from Lewiston, Idaho, to Astoria, Ore., aboard the 36-passenger yacht Safari Explorer.
Sailing the iconic Mississippi River is a true All-American experience! Reserve your stateroom today – remember, there are only 51 staterooms per sailing! Get in touch with Steve today!
 New Orleans to Memphis |
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