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Itinerary and Ports of Call
Day 1: Overnight in Memphis
Enjoy an overnight hotel stay in Memphis, a city that abounds with Americana—from the legendary Beale Street to Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Enhance your experience with an additional one-night Go Next Memphis Pre-Cruise Program.
Day 2: Memphis, Tennessee
Embark on your river cruise aboard the American Countess.
Day 3: River Cruising
Day 4: New Madrid, Missouri
The oldest city west of the Mississippi, New Madrid is famous for enduring a series of over 1,000 powerful earthquakes in the early 1800s. This city is also know for a the fascinating Civil War Battle of Island Number Ten. With its storied past and resilient spirit, it's easy to see how this Missouri gem retains its intrinsic southern charm.
Day 5: Paducah, Kentucky
Founded by William Clark following his journey with Merriwether Lewis, Paducah's Civil War legacy as a Union supply hub lives on in its historic buildings and museums. Paducah today is driven largely by the arts community—murals adorn a massive downtown floodwall and the refurbished Hotel Metropolitan salutes legends who played here like Ellington, Armstrong, and Calloway.
Day 6: Savannah, Tennessee
Savannah invites visitors to explore its well-preserved heritage and collection of historic homes and antebellum mansions, including the Cherry Mansion, which was commandeered by General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Outside of Savannah is the unforgettable Shiloh National Military Park, the site of the Civil War's largest engagement in the Mississippi River Valley.
Day 7: Decatur, Alabama
Nestled in the Tennessee River Valley and nicknamed "The River City," Decatur boasts a rich and colorful history. Originally a river crossing for settlers west of the Appalachian Mountains, the town became known as Decatur in 1820. Because of its strategic point on the Tennessee River, Decatur was the site of many skirmishes during the Civil War. Its historic significance is seen today in its antebellum architecture like the Old State Band and the Burleson-Hinds-McEntire House.
Day 8: River Cruising
Day 9: Chattanooga, Tennesee
Disembark in the morning and bid farewell to the American Countess.