If you’re looking for an American cruise adventure, hop on one of many Mississippi River cruises and spend your vacation on the ‘Ol Miss.

Due to the massive size of the Mississippi River, you can start your Mississippi River cruise from many different states. You can take off in St. Louis, Mississippi or Tennessee, to name a few. If you’re not sure where to start your trip, start in a city that you’ve never been to or would like to see. Then you can fly into the city and spend some time there before you leave on your cruise.

Mississippi River cruises are not as large as ocean-based cruises. They also don’t require you to make a minimum of a three day commitment. You can enjoy a Mississippi River cruise for a couple of hours, a day or several days. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how much of the river you’d like to see. Different parts of the river offer different cultural experiences. For example, if you stop at one of the southern most ports, you’ll be able to enjoy some fantastic Cajun food. If you’re headed north, you can stop in St. Louis and see the famous Gateway Arch.

A five day New Orleans tour, for example, gives passengers five days to explore a lively part of this country’s past. When the boat stops at individual ports, passengers can take Cajun cooking classes, walk through old battle grounds, walk through old historical buildings including plantations and go shopping. This tour runs during Mardi Gras. Reservations for trips during this holiday fill up very quickly.

If you’ve already been to the south, head to Minneapolis, Minn., which is also along the Mississippi River. Here guests can visit the St. Paul Cathedral and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Mississippi River cruises really run the gamut of American culture.

You can also find a small trip on a charter boat for less than $50. Trips that are five days or longer typically start at more than $1,000. You can find deals on the larger trips. One way to get a good deal is to go on your Mississippi River cruise during the off season. For these cruises, the off season starts in October and goes through Christmas.

Experience the Four Seasons on a Mississippi River cruise

Your Mississippi River cruise experience will change depending on when you decide to take your trip. The Mississippi River is full of beautiful foliage, which makes a fall Mississippi River cruise simply delightful.

During a Thanksgiving Mississippi River cruise, expect to experience quintessential southern hospitality. A trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans is a festive experience that shouldn’t be missed. Hanging out on Mississippi River cruises is a fantastic, warm way to spend a Thanksgiving holiday.

When you start looking for a vacation cruise, consider staying in the states and going on a Hudson River cruise. When people think about going on a cruise in the United States, they usually look to Hawaii and Alaska. These are great locations, but there are in-land United States cruises that are also fantastic. The Hudson River cruise is one such trip.

Many Hudson River cruises start in Kingston, N.Y. and follow the river downward. The number and frequency with which the cruise stops depends on how long you want to stay on the river. A seven day cruise will get your farther down the river than a three hour cruise. Your cruise time will also depend on how much time you spend at each port.

Hudson River Options

A good way to narrow your Hudson River cruise options is by looking at cruises according to how long you want to be on the river. Unlike ocean cruises, you can find Hudson River cruises that only last for a couple of hours. If you have kids or just want to see a little of the river, you might want to opt for a three hour cruise. One such cruise is offered on the M/V Commander, which is a historic boat that was built in 1917. This is a talking tour and will take guests down the river. Guests can choose to buy a one way or roundtrip ticket. This type of tour can include catered meals for an extra fee.

River Valley Tours offers a week long cruise down the Hudson River. This particular Hudson River cruise takes guests up the river and drops them off at historic ports like New York City and Albany. Guests do not stay the night on the ship. Instead, they stay on land at local hotels so they get a taste of the river and nearby cities. Guests are also taken on tours of historic places along the river including the Vanderbilt mansion, the Mohonk Mountain House and the Moorish castle Olana.

If you’re not ready to commit to a week long cruise, but you want something that lasts a little longer than three hours, consider going on the Abenaki. This is a day long tour that’s especially designed for six people and no more. It’s a very personal experience for good friends and includes food and non-alcoholic drinks for the guests. This tour caters to guests by departing from many different ports. Some of the ports have to be requested by the guest.

Going on a Hudson River cruise is a great way to learn about American history while having fun with family and friends.