New cruise ship coming to Vicksburg, Natchez
Published 1:47 pm Wednesday, June 13, 2018
NATCHEZ — Vicksburg and Natchez will be one of the ports of call on American Cruise Lines’ New Orleans to Memphis cruise aboard the line’s newest cruise ship, American Song, starting Oct. 6.
The Baton Rouge Advocate broke news Tuesday of the addition of the cruise line’s New Orleans-to-Memphis cruise aboard the new ship.
The New Orleans to Memphis cruises will be eight-days and seven nights with “daily shore excursions,” in ports of call including New Orleans; Oak Alley, Louisiana; Baton Rouge; St. Francisville, Louisiana; Natchez with a stop at Frogmore Plantation; Vicksburg; Memphis.
The American Song is touted on the company’s website as “The First of the New Modern Riverboats,” with lounges 40 feet above water and “triple the glass of other riverboats, offering astounding views,” and a four-story, glass-enclosed atrium.
The American Song will accommodate 184 passengers, and the Natchez stop will give passengers a full day to visit the city’s restaurants and shops, said Alexa Paolella, public relations manager for American Cruise Lines.
After the maiden voyage, Paolella said, American Song will turn around on Oct. 13 for a Memphis-to-New Orleans cruise and the cycle will continue.
“Down river Memphis-to-New Orleans trips get more speed,” Paolella said, “so they stay over night and have the entire next day in Natchez. On the New Orleans to Memphis, trip they are more likely get there in the morning around 9 a.m. and stay until around 6 p.m. cocktail hour or until 9 p.m.”
The American Song will be the third American Cruise Lines ship with regular Natchez stops. The other two are the America, a paddle wheel ship that brings visitors regularly to Natchez and the Queen of the Mississippi that will return to the lower Mississippi River in November.
Executive director of Visit Natchez & Natchez Convention Promotion Commission, Jennifer Ogden-Combs said she was happy to hear about the addition of the new cruise ship that will be stopping in Natchez.
“We want them to experience our restaurants, distilleries, breweries, shop and tour our city,” Combs said.