Introduction
Cruising the Mississippi River has been a popular summer activity for more than 200 years. Thousands of people travel down the river every year, passing through cities and small towns along the way. There are plenty of cruises to choose from, so you’ll want to do some research before booking your trip to make sure it’s right for you!
Cruise the Mighty Mississippi
Planning a cruise down the Mississippi River in a paddle boat can be stressful. You have to make sure that you have enough life jackets, canoes, and kayaks in case there are any accidents along the way.
Cruising is one of my favorite things to do on vacation because it gives me an opportunity to relax while seeing some sights at the same time. However, before making plans for your next cruise down this legendary waterway, here are some things that should be considered when planning any trip:
- How many people will be coming along? It’s best not to go alone or with just one other person because then it won’t feel like much fun anymore; having four or more people helps keep things lively!
Blogs to follow while planning
When researching a cruise, you’re going to want to follow some blogs.
- The cruise lines’ websites are a great place to start. Cruise companies have entire teams that work on their websites, so they’re well-designed and packed with information. Plus, they often have videos or photos taken by the company’s own photographers that give you an idea of what you can expect once aboard your ship.
- Travel blogs written by people who have taken cruises are also helpful because they give their personal perspectives on various aspects of cruising and how well those aspects were executed during their trip (or if there were any snags). These kinds of blogs are also useful for getting an idea of what kinds of activities might be available onboard different ships in order to help narrow down which one is right for you.
- Finally, travel magazines and forums can provide insight into what other travelers think about specific ships, destinations and cruises in general—and if it’s been tried before by others!
Plan early. Cruises are popular and some offer discounts to those who make reservations months in advance.
Make reservations when you can. Cruises are popular, and some offer discounts to those who make reservations months in advance. We recommend booking at least four weeks in advance, but if you aren’t able to do so, don’t worry—there are still many options available!
Check out deals and specials online. You can find great discounts if you do your homework.
If you’re looking to save money, the best place to start is by checking out deals and specials online. You can find great discounts if you do your homework. Travel websites often have special deals for cruise passengers, like free nights at a hotel or discounted golf packages at nearby courses. Social media sites are also a good place to look: some cruise lines offer coupons for their cruises on Twitter and Facebook, so make sure to follow them if you want alerts when there’s something new available!
Twitter is also a great resource for finding deals on travel in general. If one of your friends goes on vacation somewhere interesting, ask them about their experience and see if they were able to score any good prices through their hotel or airline (or even better yet—their tour operator).
Figure out where you want to stop along the way. There are tours to take and attractions that are available only at certain places along the river route.
Planning ahead of time is important when it comes to a Mississippi cruise because there are so many activities available for you and your family. You can plan your own tour or take a guided tour. It’s important to know what is available in each port, because some things are only available at certain ports.
Read reviews and make sure that the ship you’ve chosen has good feedback from past passengers.
When you’re planning a cruise down the Mississippi River in a paddle boat, it’s important to do your research.
- Read reviews and make sure that the ship you’ve chosen has good feedback from past passengers.
- Check out the cruise line’s website for reviews.
- Ask friends who have been on cruises before for recommendations, and don’t just look at the ratings, read the reviews to see what people liked and didn’t like about their cruise.
Find out about the food menu ahead of time if you have dietary restrictions. It’s easier to switch ships than it is to get a special meal on board.
If you have dietary restrictions, it’s a good idea to call the cruise line ahead of time and talk about your food preferences. This will help them plan for your needs and make sure that there are options for you on board. If you have special dietary needs, such as diabetes or allergies (or if someone in your party does), be sure to mention that as well. You may even want to ask about what kind of preparation methods they use—for example, some foods can be cooked with soybean oil while others cannot—and make sure they’ll be able to accommodate what you need.
If there are children traveling with you, it’s also important to let them know if there will be issues with allergies or other special diets so that they can avoid those foods during meals if necessary. If the kids are picky eaters who may not like everything on the menu anyway (like my husband), then just tell them beforehand so they don’t feel left out when everyone else is eating their meals at meal times!
Choose a line that suits your style. Some have elaborate dining rooms, while others serve buffet-style meals on deck. Some lines allow smoking, while others are smoke-free environments. You’ll want to pick one that fits your preferences so you’ll be comfortable on board.
You’ll want to choose a line that suits your style. Some have elaborate dining rooms, while others serve buffet-style meals on deck. Some lines allow smoking, while others are smoke-free environments. You’ll want to pick one that fits your preferences so you’ll be comfortable on board.
Don’t forget to pack insect repellent, sunscreen, and a hat if there’s any chance of sunny weather during your trip.
It’s important to be prepared for any weather. If it’s sunny, pack sunscreen and a hat (a baseball or sun visor will do). If you’re going during fall or winter, bring insect repellent just in case.
Bring books or movies for down time, as well as activities for when you’re docked at ports of call.
If you are looking for ways to pass the time on board, then it is a good idea to bring books or movies. I recommend bringing a deck of cards, as well as a portable DVD player and some DVDs. You can also bring along an MP3 player and some music that way if you need something else to listen to during your trip down the Mississippi River.
If you have kids with you then consider packing some toys and games for them too! Kids love games like “Simon Says”, “Hide & Seek”, “I Spy” etc… Kids will also love playing with their favorite dolls or action figures while they’re on board!
Take time to plan so you can enjoy every minute of your cruise!
You can’t afford to miss out on anything. So, before you step aboard any vessel, make sure you have everything in order. You’ll want to know where the bathroom is and how to use it (don’t worry—there are instructions). Also, don’t forget your sunscreen! No matter what time of year you take a cruise down the Mississippi River, UV rays will be strong and unrelenting.
Once onboard your vessel, it’s time to relax and unwind while enjoying views of America’s greatest river system. While there are plenty of things to do onboard depending on which type of vessel you choose as well as where along its length you decide to embark (some options include smaller boats that allow for quicker stops at ports-of-call), it’s important not to get too distracted from why exactly you’re taking this trip in the first place: relaxation!
So take some time out from exploring different areas along The Mighty Mississippi (or whichever body of water appeals most) and organize some activities for yourself that allow for downtime when docked at port towns or cities along The River–like going into town for lunch or shopping–or simply watching movies/reading books/taking naps aboard when sailing past farmland fields or forests with no land in sight…
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to planning a cruise down the Mighty Mississippi. If you like what we’ve written here, please share it with your friends! We’d love to hear suggestions for other blogs or websites that can help people plan their own trips on this beautiful waterway.