riverboat cruises from pittsburgh to new orleans

River Pioneers

• Get inspired by the possibilities.
• Build your ideal trip.
• Explore majestic Cincinnati, known as the "Queen City of the West"
• Learn about a boxing legend at the Muhammad Ali Center in Lousiville
• Tour the Stax Museum of Soul Music and the Rock 'n' Soul Museum
• Get lost among over 500 gallant antebellum buildings in Natchez
• Urban Exploration
• Spa Relaxation
• River Cruises

Full Itinerary

Day 1: pittsburgh, pennsylvania, day 2: pittsburgh, pennsylvania | embark.

• Accommodation
• 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 3: Marietta, Ohio

Day 4: scenic cruising, day 5: cincinnati, ohio, day 6: louisville, kentucky, day 7: scenic cruising, day 8: new madrid, missouri, day 9: memphis, tennessee, day 10: memphis, tennessee, day 11: vicksburg, mississippi, day 12: natchez, mississippi, day 13: scenic cruising, day 14: new orleans, louisiana | disembark.

• 1 Breakfast

MS Louisiane

Dates & prices, my preferred start date.

Initial deposit is $600, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.

Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover

See our general terms and conditions:

• Adventure Life Terms & Conditions

For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.

• 13 Breakfasts, 12 Lunches, 13 Dinners
• 13 Nights Accommodations
• Accommodations as listed
• Ground transportation as listed
• Activities as listed
• Meals as listed
• Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses
• Flight costs (please request a quote)
• Additional excursions during free time
• Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

We Love to Talk Travel

United states travel guide.

• All United States Trips
• Atlantic Coast
• Mississippi River
• New England
• Great Lakes
• Columbia River
• Saint Lawrence River
• New Orleans
• Pacific Northwest
• Best Time to Cruise East Coast of US
• Top Cruise Ports in the US East Coast

Favorite United States All Trips

• Rivers of Adventure and Wine
• Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands
• Boston to St. John

Why Travel With Adventure Life

Recognized by.

• CruiseMapper
• American Cruise Lines

American Heritage

Former names: queen of the mississippi, american eagle.

Cruise line American Cruise Lines

• New Orleans (Port NOLA Louisiana)
• Pittsburgh PA (Pennsylvania)

American Heritage current position

American Heritage current location is at US Inland (coordinates 40.67109 N / -80.34562 W) cruising en route to PITTSBURGH. The AIS position was reported 1 hour ago.

Current itinerary of American Heritage

American Heritage current cruise is 9 days, one-way from Pittsburgh PA to St Louis MO . The itinerary starts on 16 Aug, 2024 and ends on 25 Aug, 2024 .

Specifications of American Heritage

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

American Heritage Itineraries

American Heritage Review

Review of american heritage.

The 2015-built (as "American Eagle") American Heritage cruise ship (fka "Queen of the Mississippi") is a stern-paddlewheel riverboat owned by ACL and operating Ohio and Mississippi river cruises departing from homeports New Orleans , Memphis TN , Saint Louis MO , Cincinnati OH .

Following a redesign and complete refurbishment in 2021-2022, the riverboat Queen of the Mississippi was renamed "American Heritage". Also fully-refitted and renamed were the fleetmates America (now American Splendor) and Queen of the West (now American West) .

The vessel is currently USA- flagged (MMSI 367648680) and registered in Port NOLA (New Orleans).

History - construction and ownership

The shipowner American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the USA's largest river cruise company (headquarters in Guilford Connecticut) operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruise shipping on the USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes) as well as in cruises along the US East Coast, US West Coast and Florida. All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's largest passenger cabins with private balconies, spacious lounges and outdoor deck spaces, gourmet cuisine, a top-quality enrichment program (with many complimentary land tours and excursions), highly personalized service by all-American staff and crew.

All ACL cruise ships are US-flagged and built by the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury (Maryland USA).

Unlike the old Queen of the Mississippi ship, the newbuild's crew quarters are on Deck 1 (instead od Deck 5) as Deck 5 houses balcony staterooms and suites. Most cabins (ranging 300-600 ft2) are with private balconies, so passengers can enjoy alfresco in-cabin dining. Traditionally, American Cruise Line serves local food, focusing on Cajun and Creole cuisine. The new riverboat also features small and large lounges, library, showroom, card room, putting green, complimentary self-service launderette, 3 PC terminals (Internet computers) and free WiFi access.

"American Eagle" was the name previously chosen for the new Queen of the new Mississippi ship. This large riverboat is a sister (with similar design) to American Pride . In 2015, ACL decided to rename the old Queen of the Mississippi to "American Pride" and the new vessel ("American Eagle") to be named "Queen of the Mississippi".

On August 4, 2015, ACL announced that the boat would be renamed (first to "American Eagle") and repositioned from Mississippi to Columbia-Snake River System in early 2016, and replaced on the Mississippi by the ship "America". Another new paddle-wheeler constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding assumed the name "Queen of the Mississippi". ACL has since listed on its website the old Mississippi ship's name as "American Pride".

The vessel's sister by design is American West/Queen of the West (cruising on Snake and Columbia rivers in Northwest USA). Both ships have stern-mounted paddlewheel (23-ton). It is driven by a hydraulic motor, powered by diesel engines. The ships are easily navigated by a couple of Z-drive units providing more maneuverability and higher cruising speed than typical riverboats.

American Pride  (the old Queen of the Mississippi ship) entered service in 2012. On August 4, 2015, American Cruise Lines announced that the boat would be renamed (first to "American Eagle") and repositioned from Mississippi to Columbia-Snake River System in early 2016, and replaced on the Mississippi by the ship "America". Another new paddle-wheeler constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding assumed the name "Queen of the Mississippi". ACL has since listed on its website the old Mississippi ship's name as "American Pride". A new sistership entered service in 2017 and was named " America (American Splendor since 2022) ".

Decks and Cabins

ACL's American Heritage riverboat has 6 passenger decks and accommodates 150 passengers in 78 staterooms . Accommodations include 6 Suites, 49 Balcony, 22 Riverview (with non-opening windows) in 7 grades.

All staterooms feature a private bath, window, interior entrance, Wi-Fi, are among the most spacious in the river cruising industry, with more space per guest than most riverboats. An all-American crew provides carefully personalized service.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The ship offers overnight river travel deals within the continental United States. This big-sized riverboat gives new standards to America's most iconic river. The framework of modern cruising technology is beneath gleaming woodwork and ensures guests spend a most comfortable vacation. 

Restaurants, Lounges & Bars include: Grand Dining Salon (dining room), Natchez Lounge (shows), Magnolia Lounge (club), Paddlewheel Lounge (observation), Sky Lounge (observation), Upper Lounge (cards room), Mark Twain Library, Sun Deck (Promenade, an open-air observation lounge area with Top Deck Cafe bar, shaded seating, rocking chairs, live calliope music, putting green, outdoor gym).

American Heritage river cruise prices are per person (USD) and based on double occupancy. These are only indicative ACL cruise rates. They might be different when you book your USA river cruise deals, influenced by travel agency promotions, special offers and discounts, group travel booking or last-minute deals rates.

Itineraries

American Heritage cruises feature 7-night itineraries on Mississippi and Ohio rivers with departures from the ports of New Orleans LA, Memphis TN, Nashville TN and St Louis MO.

• (Mississippi cruises) round-trip from New Orleans, from Memphis to Nashville TN (Tennessee) from Nashville to St Louis, and from Nashville to Memphis
• (Mississippi and Ohio cruises) from Memphis to St Louis, and the reverse from St Louis to Memphis, also from St. Louis to Cincinnati
• ("Lower Mississippi River Cruise") from New Orleans to Memphis, and the reverse from Memphis to New Orleans
• ("Upper Mississippi River Cruise") from St Louis to St Paul
• ("Ohio River Cruise") from St Louis to Pittsburgh PA
• themed ("Grand Heartland Cruise") from St Paul to New Orleans
• themed ("Cumberland River Cruise") from Nashville to St Louis

Some of the ACL riverboat deals are on themed voyages. Among those themes are "Food and Wine", "Fall Foliage", "American Civil War", "Music", "Savories of the South", "Mark Twain Tribute", the Holiday-themed sailings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Follows the list of the boat's USA departure ports:

• New Orleans LA (Louisiana)
• Memphis TN (Tennessee)
• St Louis MO (Missouri)
• St Paul MN (Minnesota)
• Cincinnati OH (Ohio).

The list of visited states and ports of call (counties) along the American Heritage itinerary routes includes:

• Louisiana - Oak Alley (Vacherie), St Francisville (West Feliciana Parish), Baton Rouge (state's capital), Houmas (Burnside)
• Mississippi - Natchez (Adams County), Vicksburg (County)
• Kentucky - Columbus (Hickman County), Paducah (McCracken County), Louisville (Louisville-Jefferson County), Henderson (County), Maysville (Mason County)
• Missouri - Cape Girardeau (County), Hannibal (Marion-Ralls)
• Illinois - Chester (Randolph County), Cave-in-Rock (Hardin County)
• Indiana - Madison (Jefferson County)
• Iowa - Davenport (Scott County), Dubuque (County)
• Wisconsin - La Crosse (County)
• Minnesota - Red Wing
• Ohio - Portsmouth, Gallipolis, Marietta
• Tennessee - Dover, Clarksville, Nashville
• West Virginia - Point Pleasant, Wheeling
• Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh

ACL cruise deals are inclusive of the Internet (Wi-Fi), all tours/excursions, flight and coach transfers, live evening entertainment, daily expert lectures, food tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea, replenished daily bottled water, room service (twice daily).

Photos of American Heritage

American Heritage ship related cruise news

ACL-American Cruise Lines begins its biggest season ever on the Mississippi

ACL-American Cruise Lines has just commenced the biggest season ever on the Mississippi. In 2023, the company is introducing its new American...

ACL-American Cruise Lines opens 2023 season with American Star ship from Florida

ACL-American Cruise Lines announced that February 18th would mark the opening of the company’s 2023 U.S. cruise season when the American Star...

ACL-American Cruise Lines’ fleet expands to 15 small ships in 2022

The USA's largest river cruise company ACL-American Cruise Lines announced that the renaming of their riverboat fleet was complete and the company...

ACL-American Cruise Lines renames and redesigns 4 paddlewheel ships

ACL-American Cruise Lines announced plans to redesign, fully refurbish and rename its 4 paddlewheel ships. The paddlewheelers will get a new...

•   show more news

Other American Cruise Lines cruise ships

• ACL American Eagle
• ACL American Glory
• ACL American Legend
• ACL American Liberty
• ACL American Patriot
• ACL American Pioneer
• American Constellation
• American Constitution
• American Empress
• American Harmony
• American Independence
• American Jazz
• American Melody
• American Pride
• American Serenade
• American Song
• American Spirit
• American Splendor
• American Star
• American Symphony
• American West

American Heritage Wiki

Queen of the Mississippi riverboat cruises in the USA and offers unique travel experiences on a market that was once booming, later dormant, present-day exotic - and like no other. The Mississippi river paddle boats were the "cruise ships of the old", delivering both pleasure travel and cargo shipping services in the US in the late 1800s. But unlike her predecessors, the Queen of the Mississippi boat offers amenities and comforts unseen in these destinations before - including large-sized cabins with private verandas and bathrooms, Wi-Fi Internet, classy room service, lifts (to all decks), complimentary land tours and themed entertainment.

The cruise ship is a classic sternwheeler (paddle-wheeler) starting its first cruise on December 25, 2016. The vessel features floor-to-ceiling sliding doors in all staterooms and the industry's most spacious cabins with private balconies (stateroom sizes vary between 268-460 ft2 / 25-43m2).

This vessel, by its paddlewheel riverboat design, is sister to the fleet mates  American Pride (the old "Queen of the Mississippi" /2012) and America (2017). It is also similar to Queen of the West/American West (fleetmate) and to American Empress  and  American Queen  (both of the American Steamboat Company's fleet).

The paddle-wheel is a feature component of the ship's propulsion system. The wheel is driven by a hydraulic motor, which is powered by two Caterpillar marine diesel engines (type "CAT C32 ACERT"). The boat's paddlewheel is the main propulsion unit, to which for better maneuverability and higher service cruising speeds are added 3x Azimuth thrusters. These modern marine propulsion units are also known as "Z-drives". They are both fully submerged under water and able to rotate at 360 degrees.

Despite the fact that this so famous riverboat is powered by marine diesel engines, many call Queen of the Mississippi "steamboat". The reason is that the ship is a design replica of the US glamorous riverboats which used to sail on the country's largest rivers of the South (Mississippi and Ohio,) and in the Pacific Northwest (Snake and Columbia) in the late 1800s. Also known as "paddle steamers", they were all driven by the steam power rotating their stern paddle wheel. The alternative riverboat design was with two wheels mounted at the sides.

The ship's 7-night / 8-day itineraries are on Columbia and Snake Rivers with one-way departures from Portland Oregon and Clarkston Washington.

The new Queen of the Mississippi ship was christened (as "American Eagle") on April 25, 2015. The naming ceremony was held on the ship's bow, led by the vessel's godmother Cheryl P. Landrieu (US attorney, wife of New Orleans' Mayor M Landrieu. The ceremony was also attended by Charles Robertson (American Cruise Lines' CEO)and featured a cappella concert by Victory Belles (trio orchestra).

Following the christening ceremony, American Eagle departed on the 7-night Inaugural Cruise on Lower Mississippi River, with call ports Natchez, Vicksburg, Saint Francisville and Vacherie. The riverboat's name was changed in 2016.

This riverboat features advanced water purification equipment that minimizes the effects of greywater discharges into the Mississippi River. The hydraulic paddlewheel (at the stern) benefits from three Z-drive azimuth propellers (aka azimuth thrusters) rotating 360 degrees.

Next infographic shows American Pride cruise ship (Queen of the Mississippi's and America's sister-ship). Here you can see what is what and where on these unique riverboats.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our  River Cruises  hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.

Can You Take A Boat From Pittsburgh To New Orleans?

It’s hard to imagine two places more different than Pittsburgh and New Orleans. But are these two cities connected? Can you take a boat from Pittsburgh to New Orleans?

You can take a boat from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. There are several commercial cruise operators who operate on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. You can even sail from Pittsburgh to New Orleans on your own boat, as long as you’re willing and able to make the 1,981-mile trip.

So what route would you take to go from Pittsburgh to New Orleans? Do you need a big boat? How big of a boat could you bring? Do you need licenses or permits to pass through different states? Read on to learn more about making this unique voyage.

Voyaging from Steel City to the Big Easy

Pittsburgh and New Orleans seem like they’re a world apart. Pittsburgh is an industrial city known for grit, determination, and  steel . New Orleans is known for Jazz, Cajun food, Mardi Gras, and a colorful way of life.  Both Pittsburgh and New Orleans were born on the water and are connected by the Ohio River and Mississippi River.

The  Ohio River  begins in Pittsburgh and flows roughly southwest for 981 miles to Cairo, Illinois, where it connects to the lower Mississippi River, which then flows for another 1,000 miles or so to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.  So as long as you’re able to endure a long voyage, you can absolutely launch a boat in Pittsburgh and make your way to New Orleans.

Commercial River Cruises

One of the most popular ways to cruise from Pittsburgh to New Orleans is via riverboat.  While the heyday of the riverboat has gone, a new market has opened up for luxury riverboat cruises. The  MS Louisiane , for example,  offers passengers a luxurious 14-day river cruise between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. 

However, apart from the  Louisiane,  very few operators directly connect Pittsburgh and New Orleans. It is conceivably possible to find passage to a city like Memphis and connect to New Orleans from there, but the logistics may get a little dicey. With all that in mind, it might be easier just to bring your own boat!

Bring Your Own Boat

While the Ohio and Mississippi are both formidable waterways, it is entirely possible to successfully navigate these rivers in something as small as a  canoe  or  kayak . In addition, mariners with access to cabin cruisers, sailboats, or even pontoon boats could make the journey relatively easy.

If you do decide to bring your own vessel,  be aware that both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are used by large commercial vessels.  Barges are an especially pernicious threat: while they may look slow and small, they are actually quite huge and can throw up  a massive wake . So be prepared to deal with the presence of large vessels.

Another thing to plan for as you transit the river is the  lock system . There are  19 locks  between Pittsburgh and Cairo, Illinois, where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the process for  passing through the locks  ahead of time.  

The locks along the Ohio River are 110 feet wide and 600 feet long.  Therefore, unless your vessel is longer than 600 feet or wider than 110 feet, it will fit through the locks and can sail the river. This includes everything from canoes to powerboats, pontoon boats, sailboats, tugs, and yachts. Once you join the Mississippi River, there are no more locks.

State Boating Laws

While the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers are both federally controlled waterways, there is a legal concept called  concurrent jurisdiction  which means that some portions of federally regulated waterways are under the legal jurisdiction of states, counties, or cities.

One complication of navigating from Pittsburgh to New Orleans is that every state along the route has its own requirements for whether or not boaters can operate in their waters.

In general, you will need a  boating safety certificate  from a reputable operator, a state ID card, and any ownership or insurance documents you may need for your vessel. In addition, you’ll want to be sure you are very familiar with your vessel and experienced in both navigation and basic seamanship before attempting a long river voyage.

For the “rules of the road,” mariners should follow the  U.S. Coast Guard’s guidelines .

Keystone Answers Fun Fact:  The biggest vessel ever to sail the Mississippi River is the American Queen, a 213-stateroom, 420-foot-long paddle boat that cruises the lower Mississippi.

Pittsburgh to New Orleans: The River Route

The voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans takes you through an underappreciated but beautiful part of the United States. From Pittsburgh, the Ohio River bears northwest to Ohio, then turns south and defines the border between Ohio and West Virginia.

One of the best hidden gems along the Ohio River can be found in  Marietta, Ohio . One of the nice things about Marietta is that it’s very walkable, so once you’re docked, you can easily explore downtown on foot.

Downtown Marietta is very friendly and is lined with plenty of fun local shops and restaurants. History buffs will love the town’s ancient ambiance and bounty of historical sites. You can even see an ancient Indian mound at the Mound Cemetery.

After Marietta, the next major city along the Ohio River is Cincinnati. After you dock at the  marina , you could head into town to check out some of  Ohio’s best dining . Cincinnati is also home to a fabulous  art museum , an  Underground Railroad museum , and of course, a  zoo .

If you prefer to be outdoors, there are a ton of wonderful parks in the city, including the beautiful 45-acre Smale Riverfront Park and the  Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum .

The next major city along the Ohio River is  Louisville, Kentucky . Louisville is home to about 783,000 people and has plenty of fun things to do. Bourbon enthusiasts will enjoy taking a  Bourbon Tour  or visiting one of the famous local distilleries. And who could forget about famous landmarks like  Churchill Downs  or the  Louisville Slugger factory ?

After Louisville, the river winds along the southern borders of Indiana and Illinois. One notable location is  Cave-In-Rock , a tiny historical town in southern Illinois. Cave-In-Rock is home to a  beautiful state park  and is where the notorious  river pirate  Samuel Mason based his fleet of ne’er-do-wells. Don’t worry, though; there are no (known) pirates operating on the river today!

Soon enough,  the Ohio River merges with the mighty Mississippi River at the city of Cairo, Illinois.  From Cairo, the Mississippi rushes south, defining the borders of Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas.

The first stop on the Mississippi River is  Memphis , Tennessee. After sailing the Ohio River and making your way along the oxbows and twists of the Mississippi, you’ll surely have a sailor’s appetite.

Memphis is home to some of the  best barbecue in the world , often featuring complex and delectable dry rubs crafted over generations by local families. After you address your appetite, take a few hours (or even a few days) to  explore this remarkable city .

From Memphis, the Mississippi River continues south. The next notable stop on your river journey will be  Natchez, Mississippi . While it is a small town,  Natchez is known for its beautiful architecture and resplendent southern scenery.  It’s worth stopping in to check out the  art galleries  or get some real-life  southern soul food .

The penultimate stop on the route from Pittsburgh to New Orleans is the city of  Baton Rouge , the capital of Louisiana. Baton Rouge has a unique local culture that blends the Cajun and Creole traditions with diehard loyalty to the  local colleges and their football teams . And as with any other exciting city, travelers will want to explore some of the  excellent restaurants  in the area.

After Baton Rouge, the Mississippi becomes broader and deeper and can accommodate large cargo vessels. From here on, mariners should be confident dealing with the wake from big ships. It is a short trip down the Mississippi to one of America’s best cities –  New Orleans , Louisiana.

New Orleans is one of America’s most eccentric cities, and it is known for its fantastic music scene, delicious Creole food, and festivals – especially Mardi Gras! We could probably write an entire book on what to do in New Orleans , but we’d bet that thirsty mariners would like to enjoy a  fine cocktail  or some  world-class food  before heading out and exploring some of the cultural and entertainment options in the city.

Big Steel to the Big Easy

Boating from Pittsburgh to New Orleans is quite an adventure.  Whether you save your pennies and take a luxurious river cruise or pack your camping gear and paddle downriver, you’re sure to see some amazing sights and learn a lot about middle America along the way. So pack some pierogies and get ready to celebrate with some Vieux Carre cocktails once you get to New Orleans – you’ll have earned it!

Is Pittsburgh Worth Visiting?

Is knoebels amusement park free.

Welcome to Keystone Answers. We're Cindy and Don, and we were both born and raised in Pennsylvania. As we started to spend more time traveling in our home state and discovering new things, we decided to share what we learned on this website. Incredibly, after all these years of living in the same state, you can still learn something new! Keystone Answers is owned and operated by Rees Enterprises LLC. Please read our  privacy policy  and  terms and conditions  for more information. Learn more about Keystone Answers and us  here .

Recent Posts