Grand Heartland Cruise

Witness bald and golden eagles like never before, face-to-face! The National Eagle Center offers a unique viewing opportunity that brings visitors within a few feet of these majestic creatures with no barrier in between. This is an experience like no other and one you will never forget.

Travel back in time, as you tour the beautiful city of Red Wing. Led by our local expert guide, view some of the most impressive Victorian homes of the period, as well as the historic St. James Hotel. Visit the Pottery Museum of Red Wing and admire the numerous vintage pieces of artisan-crafted stoneware, art pottery, dinnerware, and folk art.

Take a narrated tour of this wonderful city. Discover the historic downtown with its late 19th and early 20th-century buildings, as well as the well-preserved residential neighborhoods. Gain insight into LaCrosse’s development, from the boomtown riverboat days and roaring ‘20s to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Visit the Hixon House, an authentic Victorian home and designated Historic Landmark, which has retained 90% of its original furnishings. 

Cruise along the scenic Mississippi River on a classic paddlewheeler, as your tour guide highlights current and historical facts about the area and tests your knowledge with trivia along the way.

Witness some of the most beautiful views in the Midwest, including native wildlife and steep bluffs on the river. Learn about the locking process while cruising past the Lock & Dam No. 7 in Dresbach, MN.

Step back in time and experience the elegance of Victorian-era Dubuque during a tour through the town’s many historic attractions. Learn about the architecture, families, and events that made 19th-century Dubuque such a unique treasure. Your guide will lead you through Dubuque's beautiful historic sites, including the Mathias Ham House and The Old Jail Museum.

Take an entertaining and informative journey along the mighty Mississippi at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. The museum’s interactive exhibits will give you an inside look at the Mississippi River's past, present, and future. On this guided tour, learn about the lives of the pioneers, explorers, and artists who once lived along the Mississippi River. Get close to nature, as you make your way through six large aquariums. 

Enjoy a stop at the John Deere Pavilion and Store. The company’s rich heritage is chronicled in exhibits, interactive touch screen displays, and equipment dating back nearly 175 years, including antique tractors and giant modern combines. Continue on a narrated city tour of Davenport and learn about the Rock Island Arsenal, Davenport native Bix Biederbecke’s contribution to Jazz, Rock Island’s 1920’s “Crime Lord” John Looney, the area’s beautiful college campuses, and the city’s Native American history.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Hauberg Indian Museum. Located in the Black Hawk State Historic Site, this museum interprets the story of the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians who once called it home. During the tour, view full-size replicas of Sauk winter and summer homes, dioramas with life-size figures of the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians, and traditional artifacts, including authentic trade goods and jewelry.

As you arrive in Hannibal, the boyhood home of famous author Mark Twain, relive the author’s experiences that heavily influenced his writings. Visit the actual home that Mark Twain grew up in, which is surrounded by the legendary whitewashed fence of Tom Sawyer. The vivid stories told by Mark Twain come to life at this interactive museum. Visit the Becky Thatcher House, the Huck Finn Home, and the Tom and Huck Statue at the foot of Cardiff Hill. Stop at the Interpretive Center, home to 15 original Normal Rockwell paintings. 

Relive the adventures of Mark Twain’s time in Hannibal during this historical trolley tour. Your experienced guide will share the history of Hannibal and take you to places of significance, including the Rockcliffe Mansion, an amazing 13,500 square foot American castle built to overlook the mighty Mississippi River. This tour will also highlight many of the exciting places which inspired Mark Twain’s famous tales.

Join your local guide strolling through the streets of Hannibal, the hometown that inspired Mark Twain’s famous literary novels. Learn about its history through the author’s own words and observations.

*Note: Not offered on Mark Twain Theme Cruises

Enjoy an exclusive theater show of “Mark Twain Himself” at the Planters Barn Theater. A faithful recreation of Mark Twain, this show is completely written and performed using the author’s words and humor.

*Note: Only offered on Mark Twain Theme Cruises

Enjoy a guided tour through two of the museum’s most popular exhibits; The 1904 World’s Fair: Looking Back at Looking Forward, an event that attracted over 200,000 visitors to the opening day, and Route 66: Main Street through St. Louis, a roadway which played an important role in American History, not only in fact but in myth. Learn about the companies and tourist traps that travelers had to pass through.

*Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in St. Louis, MO.

Enjoy a narrated tour of downtown St. Louis, the riverfront, Citygarden, and the historic neighborhoods of Soulard and Lafayette Square. Delight in a visit to St. Louis' 1,371 acre Forest Park, known as a natural oasis in an urban environment.

*Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in St. Louis, MO.

Relax and let your guide show you the highlights of this fascinating City on the Bluff. Memphis is located on the Mississippi River at the northern end of the Mississippi Delta where the Blues was born. Its history is linked to cotton and music. Visit the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the famous ducks of the Peabody Hotel. Drive by the iconic National Civil Rights Museum, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated; and Sun Studios, where many legendary recording artists got their start. As you explore the city, listen to the musical notes of up-and-coming artists on Beale Street.

*Note: Only offered on cruises ending in Memphis, TN

No trip to Memphis is complete without a trip to the home of the “King of Rock n’ Roll,” Elvis Presley. The full Graceland experience will take you from Elvis’ humble beginnings through his rise to super stardom. See where Elvis lived, relaxed, and spent time with his family and friends. Explore the famous “Jungle Room” where the star recorded one of his final albums. Visit the many onsite museums where you can view Elvis' many jumpsuits and gold records, as well his collection of automobiles and custom jets.

*This is a Signature Shore Tour. Please call (800) 460-4518 for more information.

The night before our visit, our onboard Civil War historian gives a captivating lecture detailing all you are about to witness at Vicksburg National Military Park. After a hearty southern-inspired breakfast, you will be greeted by our private tour guide who will stay with you throughout the day to answer questions and provide additional information. Upon arrival at the park, rangers who are well-versed in Civil War history guide you on a customized tour that’s specific to the interests of the group. Your guides will take you through the restored ironclad gunboat, U.S.S Cairo, the battlefield where the Siege of Vicksburg took place, and the over 1,300 monuments dedicated to the brave souls who lost their lives.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the fourth-generation owner, Joseph Stone, whose family has owned the home for over 135 years. Mr. Stone will guide you on a personal tour of his unique antebellum-style home and explain the many different purposes it has served over the years. Here, you can explore his eclectic collection of period-specific artwork and one-of-a-kind antiques. The afternoon concludes in the music hall with refreshments as Mr. Stone performs an exclusive classical piano concert.

Our onboard experts tell many stories about southern life on a plantation; today you will learn what life was really like. Our insightful local guide will accompany you from the ship to the cotton and will be your escort as you explore the 1,800-acre cotton plantation. In intimate groups, the plantation owners Lynette and Buddy Tanner will delve into plantation life, including the housing, music, and relationships between the owners and workers. You will have the opportunity to pick cotton directly from the field, participate in a live gospel performance, and witness the progress in cotton technology from Eli Whitney’s original gin to their modern 900 bales-per-day computerized plantation.

Longwood is just one of the elegant historic houses that graces the historic district of Natchez. This octagonal house epitomizes the rise and fall of the South. As the Civil War began, the workmen stopped construction and the house was never completed. View the finished first floor with original family furnishings and the upper five stories that are still a work in progress.

Explore downtown Natchez on your own. Take time for shopping and strolling through town. The shuttle will make regularly scheduled stops at Rosalie House, the Natchez Visitors Center, and the downtown shopping district.

Known as the “Pirate of the Pacific,” this Fletcher-class destroyer is a memorial to the men and women who served in the American armed forces. Step back in time on this amazing tour as you witness original artifacts and aircraft from World War II.

The vibrant history of Louisiana is evident throughout the state’s capital. After breakfast, you will be greeted at the ship by Philippa Blair and her visitor center representatives as they welcome you to Baton Rouge with vibrant Mardi Gras beads. Your first stop is the Louisiana Old State Capitol where you will experience a one-of-a-kind interactive film, made with the help of Disney, bringing you face-to-face with the ghost of the castle, Sarah Morgan. Afterward, Baton Rouge native, Ira Bobin, will serve as our tour guide and will bring you to the Louisiana State Museum, a completely interactive museum with three floors of displays detailing each region of Louisiana.

New Orleans is a city full of history, intrigue, and colorful characters. After a Cajun-inspired breakfast, begin your journey through the “Big Easy” with a private tour guide, who will give you a local’s look at the area’s most famous attractions. Explore the most popular areas including the French Quarter, the colorful garden district, and the famous stately mansions which still remain in period form. There will be plenty of time for you to enjoy the local flavors, like chicory coffee, sweet beignets, and famous New Orleans Jazz music.

*Note: This tour is only offered on cruises ending in New Orleans, LA