We travel the USA
(Departure November 18 – 30, 2012)
To most travelers today, the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast is undiscovered territory. Now you are invited to join us on a cruise to explore both waterways—the gracious plantations, historic cities, and Civil War battlefields along the Mississippi; and the historic and cultural sites of the Gulf Coast. Your voyage begins in New Orleans’ French Quarter, famous for its cuisine, its native jazz music, and its romantic French colonial architecture. In Mobile, you will visit architectural treasures that are among the finest along the Gulf Coast. Cruising along the Mississippi River, you will stop in one of the loveliest and oldest towns in the South, Natchez, and also will have the opportunity to tour a select few of the grandest historical plantations in the region. Civil War enthusiasts will enjoy Vicksburg, the Confederate stronghold besieged for 47 days by General Ulysses S. Grant, and Helena, site of an 1863 battle in which the Confederates attempted to drive the occupying Union forces out of the town. Joining you on this voyage will be Professor John Whiteclay Chambers II, who will enhance your appreciation of this region’s deep history with lectures and discussions. Additionally, you will be treated to onboard concerts from a trio of talented jazz musicians: Bill Messenger, Gary Chalmers, and Del Pushert.
The Yorktown is an American ship, staffed by American crew and officers. It accommodates 138 passengers in 69 exterior cabins. With its large sun deck, comfortable lounge, and spacious dining room, Yorktown offers its guests the finest small-ship experience.
Day 1 – Sunday, November 18 – New Orleans (Louisiana)/EMBARK
Fly to New Orleans to embark Yorktown. Overnight aboard ship. (D)
Day 2 – Monday, November 19 – New Orleans
Discover New Orleans, described by some as the “most unique” city in America, with a walking tour of the French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, the 80-block area that is the geographical and spiritual heart of the city. (B, L, D)
Day 3 – Tuesday, November 20 – Mobile (Alabama)
Sailing the spacious Mobile Bay, Yorktown will dock in the graceful city of Mobile. Tour Mobile’s historic landmarks and sites, which include Fort Condé, originally built in 1711, the Condé-Charlotte Museum, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, one of the city’s finest antebellum homes, and the Bellingrath Gardens and Home, beautifully set along the Fowl River. (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Wednesday, November 21 – Pensacola (Florida)
Pensacola is a beautiful Deep South city with a rich historic past. Visit the 19th-century buildings of Historic Pensacola Village and the Naval Aviation Museum, one of the largest in the world with over 150 restored aircraft including an A1 Triad (1911), the U.S. Navy’s first aircraft. (B, L, D)
Alternatively, travel to Fort Barrancas, with fortifications dating to 1797 and trails overlooking Pensacola Bay.
Day 5 – Thursday, November 22 – Horn Island/Ship Island
Gulf Islands National Seashore (Mississippi)
Considered the jewel of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Horn Island is a 13-mile-long isle with lagoons that attract over 280 bird species as well as pine and palmetto forests. Ship Island is the most historic of these barrier islands. After visiting these serene seashores, enjoy a special Thanksgiving dinner aboard ship. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – Friday, November 23 – Laura Plantation/Oak Alley Plantation (Louisiana)
The only plantation that retains its original slave cabins, the Laura Plantation was the location where Alcée Fortier recorded the tales of Br’er Rabbit in the 1870s. Explore the homes of the owners and the slaves, as well as the lovely grounds. Continue to Oak Alley Plantation, with its breathtaking one-quarter-mile canopy of live oaks that lead from the Mississippi to the entrance of the elaborate Greek Revival mansion. (B, L, D)
Day 7 – Saturday, November 24 – Houmas House
Built in the early 1800s, the large Greek Revival mansion of the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is surrounded by lush acres of gardens, ponds, and a majestic live oak alley. During the late autumn when you will be visiting, the gardens are blanketed with the colors of the harvest season. Stroll through these exquisite grounds and tour the restored mansion. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Sunday, November 25 – Baton Rouge/St. Francisville/ Baton Rouge
From the capital city of Baton Rouge, visit tranquil St. Francisville, set on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. Founded by Spanish Capuchin monks, the town retains more than one hundred of its 18th- and 19th-century houses and buildings, including grand and small plantations. Visit some of these sites as you explore this quaint town then return to Baton Rouge for a tour of the Old State Capitol Museum. (B, L, D)
Day 9 – Monday, November 26 – Natchez (Mississippi)
Call at Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River and what was one of the wealthiest towns in the United States prior to the Civil War. Today, Natchez boasts numerous antebellum structures, with more than 1,000 buildings on the National Register. You will visit some of these magnificent buildings and learn about Natchez’s fascinating history. (B, L, D)
Day 10 – Tuesday, November 27 – Vicksburg
As Yorktown continues along the Mississippi, you will explore historic Vicksburg. Its position on a bend in the Mississippi River made Vicksburg a bustling trade port and a prime target during the Civil War. Tour the Vicksburg National Military Park and see the USS Cairo, the first of the City class ironclad gunboats from the Civil War. (B, L, D)
Day 11 – Wednesday, November 28 – Cruising
Enjoy a relaxing day on the Mississippi appreciating Yorktown’s amenities. (B, L, D)
Day 12 – Thursday, November 29 – Helena (Arkansas)
Call at the quaint port town of Helena and explore the elegant Pillow-Thompson House, one of several homes in Helena designed by architect George Barber. Tour the Delta Cultural Center to learn about the history of Southern Blues and hear disc jockey “Sunshine” Sonny Payne, whose nationally syndicated radio show King Biscuit Time is the longest running broadcast in the country. (B, L, D)
Day 13 – Friday, November 30 – Memphis (Tennessee) DISEMBARK
Disembark in Memphis and transfer to the airport for return flights home. (B)
Cost from $4995.00 per person
No Single Supplement!
Call for all details 415-331-3791
Includes:
• 12-night cruise aboard the 138-guest Yorktown
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Concerts from accompanying jazz trio performed aboard ship
• Enrichment program of lectures and discussions by onboard study leader
• Professional Travel Dynamics
International tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to guides and drivers
Not Included: Airfare; transfers; luggage and trip cancellation insurance; alcoholic beverages other than wine and beer with lunch and dinner; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel
ONBOARD JAZZ PERFORMANCES
New Orleans and the surounding areas are the birthplace of jazz. To celebrate this uniquely American expression, which is known and enjoyed throughout the world, we are pleased to have with us talented musicians who will not only perform, but will also delve into the history and the roots of the Deep South’s musical tradition.
Professor Bill Messenger studied musical composition at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and has accompanied many nationally known performers, including Lou Rawls and Cass Elliot. As a jazz pianist, he has played in ragtime, swing, Dixieland, and modern jazz groups.
Gary Chalmers, a seasoned percussionist, has in recent years evolved into an on-call session drummer for various musical projects of Bill Messenger, including Teaching Company recordings and live performances.
Del Pushert is known to the music world as a “saxophone player’s saxophone player.” Today he lends his dynamic sound to some of the top Western Swing groups on the storied Austin music city circuit.
EXPERT STUDY LEADER
Notable American history scholar John Whiteclay Chambers II will provide insightful discussions about the places visited.
John Whiteclay Chambers II, Distinguished Professor of American History at Rutgers University, has taught at both Columbia University and Rutgers. He is author or editor of more than a dozen books, including The Oxford Companion to American Military History; To Raise an Army: TheDraft Comes to Modern America; and The Tyranny of Change: America in the Progressive Era. A regular book reviewer for the Washington Post, Professor
Chambers has received fellowships or grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has been a visiting fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the University of Rome and the University of Tokyo. He is currently writing a book about the Civil War.
