Autumn 2024

Mississippi River Cruise - July 2024

By Paul Harvey

DAY 1 - Monday, July 22. Left Coolspring about 1 p.m. for a new adventure!  Tom Rapp and I have booked a lower Mississippi River cruise on this sternwheeler of 180 guests, all 55 or older.  We have traveled together many years on all kinds of adventures, but this will certainly be a new one!  Drove to his home near Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, and then he drove my Subaru to the Spot Parking Garage, and an efficient shuttle took us quickly to our hotel.  Stayed at the Hyatt Regency on the Pittsburgh airport campus.  At first a bit disappointing, we felt better after a nice dinner of perogies and kielbasa.  Yep, it’s Pittsburgh!  Then we learned that our fight will be delayed two hours in the morning, so a bit more snooze.

Tom and I enjoyed chatting and relaxing tonight.  I am appreciative of the huge window in our eighth-floor room.  Hotel is good but not quite what I expected at all!

DAY 2 - Tuesday, July 23. Up early, we learned that our flight had been delayed 2 hours, then another 2½ hours.  That complicated all our connections, and the day went downhill from there.  Check in at Pittsburgh airport was very easy and both our bags went out.  We arrived in Atlanta for again a longer layover but a chance for lunch.  Finally got a flight to New Orleans, and a nice taxi took us to Hotel Intercontinental. Good!  But my luggage didn’t show up. It had been a long, long day with so many delays.  There had been a universal computer problem.  Tom and I were beat, so we left others help us.  It was successful!

DAY 3 - Wednesday, July 24. Up at the hotel and ready to transfer to the boat.  I slept till 10 and felt great.  Wish I had my luggage!  But the staff was so great to help recover it.  Easy to enter the ship and find our room.  So very spacious.  We had some orientation drills, then onward to a wonderful adventure.

A very good lunch. Exciting, the American Splendor started cruising up the river so effortlessly.  So thrilling!  Our room was very spacious and comfortable.  Large sliding glass windows with a balcony including table and chairs.

DAY 4 - Thursday, July 25. My luggage is here!  In Vacherie, Mississippi, and tour beginning.  Tom and I visited the Laurel Plantation for a wonderful tour of its early Creole plantation life.  Our tour leader was excellent.

 Back to American Splendor for dinner.  We are seated six per table and such a nice way to get to know folks.  Then Tom and I took some brew and sat out on front deck just watching the river go by.  Heading up river, the breeze was strong and the flags were whipping around very pleasantly.  Well after dark, we retired to our room and comfy beds.  The American Splendor skims along so easily.

DAY 5 - Fri, July 26.  Buffet lunch in the Sky Lounge, then a bus tour of Baton Rouge.  Very informative and took all afternoon.  The state capitol is the tallest in the country at 37 stories.

Finally good dinner and to the front deck to watch the river.  It has been a torrential rain all day!

As our ship cruises up river from Baton Rouge, Tom and I proudly display Farm and Dairy, and the monthly articles that I write.

DAY 6 - Saturday, July 27.  At Natchez, Mississippi, today.  Tom and I took bus tour and saw a lot.  Back to our room then a pilot house tour.  Met our Captain.  Mostly sunny and lower 90s, so air conditioning is great.  He was so gracious to chat with us and explain all his functions.  There are always two officials in the Pilot House.

Evening entertainment.  Different and live every evening.

DAY 7 - Sunday, July 28.  Sunday had no services on ship.  But this is a day of rest and reflection, and so I did.

Tom went off on an early tour, so I had a good morning to sleep in and shower.  Nice just to watch the big muddy river flow by. Good day to rest!  He and I met for lunch then attended a lecture program.  Our on-board historian and many pleasant and informative programs for us.  Back to room for a quick rest, then to dinner.

So peaceful quietly sailing up-river.  Tom and I found this fourth level front deck with just a few chairs.  We usually had our solitude.  The sunset over the quiet but massive river was impressive.  So nice to watch the evening transform into night!

DAY 8 - Monday, July 29.  This is really a laid-back day.  We cruised all day without a stop.  Just nice to watch the river roll by.  After getting around from a good snooze, we had great buffet lunch and relaxed in the comfortable lounge.  Then Tom and I went to a presentation on how the Civil War affected this area.  Mostly sunny and near 90.  Then had a great dinner and watched the river.

DAY 9 - Tuesday, July 30.  Up for a nice shower; the little bathroom is very easy to use.  I met up with Tom at the Sky Lounge and we had a great buffet lunch.  Then took the hop on - hop off bus tour of Memphis.  So very informative!  We stopped and toured “The Pyramid” which is Bass Pro Shops home base.  The interior was fantastic.

Weather was partly sunny and in upper 90s.  Wow.  Back to our ship, we had a good dinner and sat a bit on the quiet front deck.  Then time to pack our bag and place in hall to be picked up in the morning.  Tom and I reflected back on our adventure as we readied our carry-ons for the morning.

DAY 10 - Wednesday, July 31.  Up at 6 a.m. and looking forward to our long sojourn back home.  We left the American Splendor 7:30 a.m. and a comfortable motor coach took us to the airport.  But that is where the adventure began. That plane was delayed several hours for repairs as we waited inside it.  Finally, my Subaru and I made it home at 10 p.m.  Fatigued!  But it was an excellent adventure for Tom and me.  Perhaps next year?