American Queen Voyages will roll out its longest US river itinerary ever — a 23-day trip including the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
Ashley Kosciolek has spent more than a decade writing about travel, with particular emphasis on cruises. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni.
Aug. 14, 2022
•
3 min read
American Queen Voyages will roll out its longest US river itinerary ever — a 23-day trip including the Mississippi and Ohio rivers
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Attention all bucket-listers: Want to check off 10 states in just 23 days? American Queen Voyages on Tuesday said that for the first time in the company's 10-year history, it will offer a sailing that will combine the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The multiweek journey will be the longest U.S. river cruise itinerary the company has ever offered.
"Guests have made the 16-day Mighty Mississippi voyage between Minneapolis (Red Wing) and New Orleans one of our most popular itineraries, and we are pleased to reveal an even more immersive itinerary sailing to Pittsburgh that now incorporates the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers," Isis Ruiz, chief commercial officer of American Queen Voyages, said in a statement from the line.
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The new "Grand Ohio and Upper Mississippi Rivers" itinerary will roll out on the line's newest ship, 245-passenger American Countess, in 2023, covering 1,772 miles of river.
The ship is a paddle-wheeler with an exterior that has the same old-timey steamboat vibe as larger fleetmate American Queen, but it carries only about half as many passengers and features an interior that's shockingly modern.
The first voyage is set to begin in Red Wing, Minnesota (near Minneapolis), on July 24, 2023, and end in Pittsburgh on Aug. 15, 2023. Ports visited on the trip include La Crosse, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Iowa; Bettendorf, Iowa; Burlington, Iowa; Hannibal, Missouri; St. Louis; Kimmswick, Missouri; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Paducah, Kentucky; Henderson, Kentucky; Owensboro, Kentucky; Brandenburg, Kentucky; Louisville, Kentucky; Madison, Indiana; Cincinnati; Maysville, Kentucky; Point Pleasant, West Virginia; and Marietta, Ohio.
The reverse itinerary will begin on Aug. 15, 2023, when the ship reaches Pittsburgh. The two sailings are on sale now, with fares starting at $7,197 per person when booked and paid in full by Aug. 31, 2022.
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Featured image by The American Countess tied up at Natchez, Mississippi. (Photo by Gene Sloan/The Points Guy)
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees