Mississippi River Cruise On American Cruise Line’s Newest River Ship

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Contributor Jackie Sheckler Finch takes a Mississippi River Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on American Serenade, one of American Cruise Line’s modern river ships.

My brother Joe lives in Durango, Colorado. I live in Bloomington, Indiana. As the last two in a large family of nine, Joe and I try to get together every year. But it is not always easy.

We both have busy lives. Joe is a professional drummer. I am a journalist. So, suddenly, it can seem like a year has passed and our planned visits haven’t happened.

This year, however, we made reservations for a nine-day Mississippi River cruise on the new American Serenade from Memphis to New Orleans. Joe flew into Memphis from Colorado, and I flew in from Indiana. We met at The Guest House at Graceland for the two-day pre-cruise “Elvis Experience.”

The Pre-Cruise “Elvis Experience”

Landing in Memphis, I called The Guest House to request the complimentary airport shuttle for the 10-minute ride to The Guest House.

When I asked the hotel receptionist how I would recognize my ride, she just laughed. “Oh, you will know it right away,” she said. “Don’t worry about that.”

How right she was. A sleek blue-and-gold shuttle arrived within minutes with oversized images of Elvis Presley on the sides and back. 

American Cruise Lines has an excellent program where passengers arrive one night early for a cruise and stay at a local hotel, all part of the cruise cost. 

Joe and I opted for the special two-night stay at The Guest House, which includes a cocktail party the first night and a shuttle ride to Graceland for a behind-the-scenes look at Elvis items not included on a regular tour. The two nights also feature admission to Graceland the next day.

The AAA Four-Diamond Guest House at Graceland

In a typical year, people from over 125 counties and all 50 states visit Graceland, and many stay at The Guest House at Graceland. This year is especially busy since it is Elvis’ 90th birthday.

Open since Oct. 27, 2016, and located only steps from Graceland, the AAA Four Diamond Hotel offers 430 spacious guest rooms and 20 luxury suites, an expansive outdoor swimming pool and fitness facilities, two restaurants, lobby bar, coffee shop, 464-seat theater, gift shop, meeting and banquet facilities, Chapel in the Woods and much more.

The huge theater plays one of Elvis’ 31 movies or concerts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. During our two-night visit, Joe and I saw “Love Me Tender” and the “68 Special.”

Another special touch at The Guest House is the complimentary evening snack – a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with cold milk, hot chocolate or coffee. It was fun to see adult guests waiting like little kids before bedtime to eat what many consider a childhood favorite.

Graceland Celebrates 90th Birthday of Elvis

“Welcome to my world,” Elvis sang as our shuttle crossed the street to enter the musical gates of Graceland. The former home of Elvis is a strange bubble in time.

Remember that the last time Elvis walked through Graceland doors was in 1977. Times have changed. Fashions have changed. Graceland hasn’t.

At age 22, Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for $102,500 in cash after topping his record-breaking music success with the film “Love Me Tender.”

The trip starts across the street at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a $45 million, 200,000-square-foot entertainment complex. Shuttle buses take visitors from the complex across the street to Graceland.

Elvis reportedly was gearing up for the next portion of his 1977 tour schedule, which would leave the next day. But within hours Elvis lay dead on his bathroom floor. He was 42 years old.

At the last Graceland tour stop, visitors walk through the Meditation Garden where Elvis is buried along with his parents, his 54-year-old daughter Lisa Marie, who died of cardiac arrest on Jan. 12, 2023, and his 27-year-old grandson Benjamin Keough, who committed suicide on July 12, 2020.

Touring Memphis on American Cruise Lines Mississippi River Cruise

Early the following day, we boarded American Cruise Lines’ cruise coach for a tour around Memphis – Sun Studio, Peabody Hotel, Beale Street and The National Civil Rights Museum.

A big plus on American Cruise Lines journeys is that a “cruise coach” follows along to ensure transportation is always there when and where needed. The American Cruise Lines’ cruise coaches are easy to spot with red, white and blue American Cruise Lines logos. 

For shore excursions, the cruise coach gives a complimentary tour around town with hop-on/hop-on service. The bus has a local guide to point out sights and share the destination’s history. The hop-on, hop-off cruise coach usually makes its rounds every half hour to pick up passengers for other stops or to return to the ship.

Sun Studio in Memphis

On a hot summer day in 1953, a shy Elvis Presley stopped by Sun Studio to make a recording of “My Happiness.” Local lore says the recording was intended as a birthday present for his mother. More likely, tour guide Mic says, the teen was hoping to be discovered. He was yearning for stardom.

And that’s exactly what he found — more than anyone could ever dream. 

Birth of the Peabody Hotel Duck March in Memphis

The popular duck march originated more than 90 years at the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. In 1933, Frank Schutt, general manager of the Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, went on a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas. 

“They took another colleague along with them. His name was Jack Daniel,” Duckmaster Kenon Walker said. “They had a bit too much of that Jack Daniel’s sipping whiskey and thought it would be funny to sneak some of their live duck decoys into the lobby fountain. Then they went up to their room to sleep it off.”

When they came down the next morning, the two men were shocked to see that the ducks were still there and a huge crowd was enjoying watching the waterfowl.

Thus began a Peabody tradition. Every morning, with duckmaster assistance, the ducks waddle down in an elevator from their rooftop penthouse. Every evening, they repeat that process. A multitude of visitors line up to watch the event.

National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis

Then came a visit to the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at age 39. The motel exterior looks like it has been stuck in time. 

Antique automobiles are parked beneath the second-floor balcony where MLK was standing when he was shot by James Earl Ray from a rooming house across the street. Inside is the National Civil Rights Museum.

An Insider’s View of American Serenade

Ah, I wish everything in life were this simple. Walk off the American Cruise Lines cruise coach and walk on the American Serenade. No long lines. No missing luggage. Lunch is ready. Suitcases are in our staterooms. 

As the newest riverboat to cruise the mighty Mississippi River, American Serenade is a real beauty. Inaugurated on April 23, 2023, the 180-guest capacity American Serenade is the sixth ship in American Cruise Line’s eagerly anticipated series of contemporary riverboats.

Serenade Features Serene Modern Design 

American Serenade features a welcoming modern interior design with a serene color palette, lovely woodwork and well-planned lighting. The ship’s four-story glass-enclosed area with a large domed skylight called the Atrium showcases a large sculpture of a silver microphone by New Orleans-based artist Greg Creason. 

On Deck 4 aft, the Sky Lounge features a large skylight that opens up the room and brings in the sky to make the area bright and airy. The stunning sky scene accounts for the room’s name.

On Deck 3 forward, the River Lounge has even more large windows and is the central gathering point for the ship. 

Quiet Spaces, Plus Books and Games to Enjoy

In addition to its popular public spaces, the American Serenade has some charming quiet spaces. Located on Decks 2, 3 and 4, Lyric Lounge, The Study and High Note Lounge are wonderful places to enjoy ship-supplied games like chess, work on a puzzle, read a book or just sit and watch the passing scenery.

Fitness Center on Deck 2 aft is available for workouts but the Deck 4 Jogging Track seems to be most popular for passenger exercise.

The ship has two speedy elevators that serve all decks but the uppermost Sun Deck.

Our Veranda Suite

Boarding a new ship is always exciting. Seeing the stateroom where Joe and I would spend the next week was doubly exciting. Our extra-large veranda suite had two twin beds with quality bed linens and duvets and two nightstands with lamps beside the beds.

Two comfy chairs with a table in between could be pushed together or kept separate. Plenty of storage space in the closet and a long dresser with drawers. A desk with a chair was ready for my laptop. 

The suite has a mini fridge, big flat-screen TV and a Keurig coffee maker. The big bathroom has plenty of hot water and great water pressure. But what I liked best was the floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to a balcony with a table and chairs. 

Shipboard Dining

The dining room on the Main Deck aft is large with abundant windows. Open seating is available for all three meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Food is an important part of any journey, and I was pleased with the cuisine on the new American Serenade. Plenty of choices. Lovely presentation. Much appreciated complimentary cocktails, wine and beer, plus Coke products. 

Servers were friendly and did their best to serve dishes quickly. Everything I ordered was tasty and cooked the way I liked it. The chef and crew did a wonderful job. 

Shipboard Entertainment

Entertainment onboard American Serenade was great. We had an Elvis-singing guy, a Jerry Lee Lewis boogie-woogie piano man, a comedian and more. One of my favorites was champion fiddler Laura Weber White and her two musicians, Jeff White (her husband), on guitar and vocals and Todd Phillips on bass.

A multi-instrumentalist, Laura has performed and recorded with country greats – Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Marty Stuart, Kris Kristofferson, June Carter Cash and many others. 

Our Itinerary on our Mississippi River Cruise

Our American Serenade itinerary on the Mississippi River cruise included stops at Cleveland, Vicksburg and Natchez in Mississippi, and St. Francisville and Vacherie in Louisiana.

Each stop had complimentary shore excursions as well as premium excursions that cost extra. A history buff and former Marine, Joe wanted to visit Vicksburg National Military Park, where we both learned something.

We heard the story of Old Abe, the eagle whose scary screech led his Wisconsin regiment into battle during the Civil War. His figure rests atop the Wisconsin State Memorial monument.

In 1921, Old Abe was honored as the bald eagle on a black shield insignia of the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault. The 101st Airborne also is nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles” as a salute to Old Abe.

Perhaps the most famous 101st Airborne Division alum is also one of the greatest guitarists ever. Enlisting when he was 19 years old, Jimi Hendrix served with the 101st before he was honorably discharged from the Army in 1962.

The rest, of course, is history.

Serenade’s Fascinating Bow

Cameras seemed to be aimed at the American Serenade no matter where we were cruising. No wonder. Not only is the ship sleek, but she also has a fascinating bow that opens like some mythical creature’s jaws.

The Perfect Way to End the Day on Serenade

Every evening – after dinner and entertainment, Joe and I would sit on our stateroom balcony and recall childhood memories with beloved family members long gone and plan our next cruise together.

The American Serenade is whisper quiet when cruising. No rocking or rolling. A pleasure to listen to the night birds softly calling and the crickets’ nocturnal symphony. The American Serenade definitely lives up to her musical name.

Disclosure: The author was a guest of American Cruise Lines, but any opinions expressed in this post are her own.      

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American Cruise Line Lower Mississippi River Itinerary

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