Upper Mississippi River Cruise - American Serenade

Overview

Inaugurated in 2023, this 180-guest capacity, American-made ship features trendy interior décor, an innovative hydraulic bow and retractable ramp, one of the most gorgeous sun decks ever seen on a river-going ship, a four-story atrium in the center of the ship offering panoramic views, an onboard fitness center, shuffleboard, self-service laundry, nightly entertainment, and a variety of sizable lounges. The ship offers spacious staterooms & suites (ranging from 250 to 650 sq feet), all offering full-size bathrooms, roomy closets, and private balconies. Its interior design is both elegant & refined, drawing inspiration from geography across America and highlighting natural textural elements and serene color palettes. American Serenade sets the bar high for domestic US river cruising.

ACL Itinerary Detail

American Cruise Lines' finalized itinerary is not released until about 90 days prior to cruise departure.

American Cruise Lines offers one complimentary excursion (Featured Excursion) per day and additional excursions at an additional cost. An entire list of the offered excursions will be available via your individual portal about 60 days prior to cruise departure. At that time, you will be able to select your excursions and pay through the portal.

Pre-registering for all excursions when the information is available is recommended, especially for Premium & Signature excursions. Reservations may also be made aboard the ship, but please be aware that some excursions may be sold out ahead of time.

Day 1

We depart this morning for our 12-day journey. Traveling west will bring us to Columbus, OH, the location of our overnight accommodations. Stops for rest and lunch will be made enroute. There is a complimentary light dinner included at the hotel this evening, or you are free to get dinner on your own at a local restaurant.

Day 2

After breakfast we will check-out of the hotel and continue west to St. Louis, MO. A lunch stop will be made enroute. We will also stop in Indianapolis, IN where we will enjoy a guided tour of the Eiteljorg Museum. The Eiteljorg houses an extensive collection of visual arts by indigenous peoples of the Americas as well as Western American paintings and sculptures collected by businessman and philanthropist Harrison Eiteljorg. The museum houses one of the finest collections of Native contemporary art in the world. Upon arrival in St. Louis, we'll check-in to our overnight accommodations. Dinner will be on your own this evening.

Day 3

After breakfast you are free to enjoy St. Louis at your leisure. We will then be transferred to Riverfront Landing in Alton, IL, where we will board American Cruise Line's American Serenade. We'll set sail this afternoon. Lunch and dinner are provided aboard the ship.

Day 4

Hannibal, MO - Step back in time and relive the adventures of Mark Twain's days in Hannibal. Specific excursion information TBA.

Day 5

Full Day of River Cruising - Sit back, relax, and enjoy the amenities of the ship & the slow-paced lifestyle of cruising on the Mississippi River. Enjoy daily entertainment in the River Lounge, catch some rays on the Sun Deck, or play a round of shuffleboard. The day is yours to do as you please aboard the ship. Later this evening we arrive in Muscatine, IA. Muscatine began as a trading post founded by representatives of Colonel George Davenport in 1833. Its situation, on one of the great bends of the Mississippi, gave it a great commercial advantage. Mark Twain lived in the city briefly during the summer of 1855 while working at the local newspaper, the Muscatine Journal, which was partly owned by his brother, Orion Clemens.

Day 6

Muscatine, IA - We spend the morning and early afternoon in Muscatine. Specific excursion information TBA. We depart early afternoon, heading north to Dubuque, IA. The remainder of the day will be River Cruising.

Day 7

Dubuque, IA - Dubuque is Iowa's oldest city and is among the oldest settlements west of the Mississippi River. The first permanent settler to the area was French-Canadian fur trader Julien Dubuque. Dubuque's location to the Mississippi and its abundant land and resources, attracted large numbers of immigrants (particularly Irish and Germans) from overcrowded cities on the east coast. The Black Hawk Purchase Treaty allowed miners the first opportunity to settle along the banks west of the Mississippi and those that moved westward referred to Dubuque as the "Key City" - the place in which the door to their dreams of a better life was opened. Settlers to this vibrant river city were known for mining and fur-trading, but later flourished in the industries of button making, boat building, logging, mill working, meat packing, and other heavy industries. Since then, the community has had a long-standing manufacturing sector and a growing service sector. Dubuque is now the major retail, medical, education and employment center for the tri-state area. Today's specific excursion information is TBA.

Day 8

Winona, MN - Winona is the perfect blend of cool urbanity and old-world charm surrounded by breathtaking beauty. Yes, one city really can have it all! Its most notable landmark is Sugar Loaf, a bluff on the Mississippi River topped by a rock pinnacle. Today's specific excursion information is TBA.

Day 9

Red Wing, MN - Today we arrive in Red Wing where we will enjoy a full day and overnight stay (on the Serenade). Red Wing is a quaint town nestled along the Mississippi River, just an hour southeast of the Twin Cities. A true representation of the authentic Midwest, this river town offers outdoor adventure, live entertainment, unique dining experiences and a whole lot of creative vibes. Set out on your journey to take in the scenic landscapes and embrace the small-town tokens that Red Wing would like to share with you. Specific excursion information TBA.

Day 10

Today after breakfast, we disembark the American Serenade. After disembarkation, we depart for Alsip, IL, the location of our lodging for this evening. Stops for lunch and rest will be made along the way. This afternoon we will stop in Madison, WI for a guided tour of the beautiful Wisconsin State Capitol building. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 11

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Maumee, OH, the location of our lodging for this evening. This morning, we will stop in South Bend, IN for a visit to the Studebaker National Museum. Home to a priceless collection of vehicles, artwork, archival material and artifacts spanning nearly 200 years, The Studebaker National Museum displays the first and last vehicles the corporation ever made and boasts the largest Presidential Carriage Collection in the world. Stops for lunch and rest will be made enroute to our lodging. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 12

Today we complete our homeward journey, arriving back in Pennsburg by early evening. Stops for rest and lunch will be made along the way.

Please note

Our intention is to run each tour as originally planned and published. However, if deemed necessary to do so, Perkiomen Tours reserves the right to make changes to tour components, schedules or itineraries without prior notification.

Tips for Perkiomen motorcoach drivers and tour escorts are not included in the price of this tour. We feel that these gratuities should be extended on an individual basis and dictated by the level of service provided.

Motorcoach seating is assigned at the time of reservation but cannot be guaranteed. Although we do our best to keep each traveler in the seat assigned at the time of reservation, there are times that it is necessary to move seat locations. Please be sure to verify your final seat number(s) with your driver at the time of boarding. Historically, daily seat rotation was practiced on most multi-day tours. We have suspended this practice for a period of time. Seat rotation will be explained by your driver or tour escort if reinstated.

CB=Continental Breakfast, B=Full Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner