Cruises to Natchez

14 Reviews
Natchez (Photo:Warren Price Photography/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Natchez

Set on a 250-foot-high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Natchez is known for its annual spring pilgrimage of antebellum homes -- those built before (ante) the Civil War (bellum, Latin for war). It wasn't too many years ago that some residents in this very Southern town still called the Civil War "The War Between the States." Even local tour guides sometimes jokingly exaggerate local pronunciations by stretching "War" to two syllables.

Before "the War," Natchez was a ritzy town for white citizens. It was a cultural center with opera and more, counting among the 6,600 residents who lived here in 1860 as many as 22 millionaires, including cotton and sugar cane plantation owners from Louisiana who established their grand family homes in Natchez.

More than 600 pre-Civil War structures still stand, and many have been adapted for use as bed and breakfasts, shops, museums, homes and other facilities. There are so many because Natchez did not fight in the Civil War (unlike those upriver in Vicksburg, which was under siege by Union troops for 47 days before surrendering).

A battle between two garden clubs was the biggest struggle for years, but has long been settled in Natchez, which now has about 15,800 residents.

Natchez is 95 miles southwest of Jackson, Mississippi's capital, and 85 miles north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital. It marks the beginning of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic forest road without billboards or commercial buildings that extends north to Nashville.

  • More about Natchez

  • Why Cruise to Natchez?

  • Natchez Cruise Port Facilities?

Loading...

We found you 8 cruises

Loading...
Loading...
Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

7 Night
New Orleans & Southern Charms

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

11 Night
Heart Of The Delta

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

11 Night
Heart Of The Delta

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
Viking Mississippi
Viking Mississippi (Image: Viking River Cruises)

7 Night
Mississippi Delta Explorer

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
Cruise Critic Favorite

21 Night
Grand Mississippi Voyage

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews

14 Night
The Big Easy To The Gateway City

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews

21 Night
Mississippi River Odyssey

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews
Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
America's Great River

33 Reviews
Leaving:
Cruise Line:
No prices currently available for this sailing.
  • Itinerary
  • Reviews

More about Natchez

Why Cruise to Natchez?

Pros:

More than 600 pre-Civil War structures still stand as museums, shops, historic homes and even B&Bs

Cons:

Smoot's Grocery, home to the Delta blues, opens at 5; your ship might be leaving by then

Bottom Line:

Natchez offers the Museum of African-American History & Culture in addition to hundreds of antebellum mansions

Natchez Cruise Port Facilities?

American Cruise Lines docks their ships on the opposite side of the river from Natchez, in Vidalia, Louisiana. A shuttle runs regularly between the boat and town.

American Queen docks at an area called Natchez Under the Hill, where there are several shops and the Under-the-Hill Saloon. Several ATMs are found after a walk or ride up the hill to the main part of Natchez. The nearest ATM is at the Natchez Convention Center, 211 Main St.; another is at Concordia Bank, 300 Main St. There's also an ATM at Magnolia Bluff's Casino on Roth Hill Road.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

Currency is the U.S. dollar. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Language?

English is the language spoken here.


Natchez Cruise Reviews
we enjoyed the museumRead More
User Avatar
susan susan
Loved the Plantation Homes and HistoryRead More
User Avatar
georgiafrlittle
The Historic Longwood Exploration was fascinating. The history of the house, the area, and the times were portrayed in an entertaining and intriguing fashionRead More
User Avatar
see50states
Rich in history. Walking tours were great.Read More
User Avatar
Brataf

Related Cruises

Cruises to Newport

Cruises to Newport

261 Reviews
Cruises to Amsterdam

Cruises to Amsterdam

1,057 Reviews
Cruises to Rouen

Cruises to Rouen

121 Reviews
Cruises to Saint John (New Brunswick)

Cruises to Saint John (New Brunswick)

449 Reviews
Cruises to Kauai

Cruises to Kauai

628 Reviews
Cruises to Gdansk (Warsaw)

Cruises to Gdansk (Warsaw)

120 Reviews
Cruises to Marseille

Cruises to Marseille

936 Reviews
Cruises to Izmir

Cruises to Izmir

187 Reviews
Cruises to Adelaide

Cruises to Adelaide

106 Reviews
Cruises to Lima

Cruises to Lima

110 Reviews
Cruises to Rangiroa

Cruises to Rangiroa

30 Reviews
Cruises to Labadee

Cruises to Labadee

2,137 Reviews
Cruises to Penang

Cruises to Penang

134 Reviews
Cruises to Phuket

Cruises to Phuket

149 Reviews
Cruises to Hakodate

Cruises to Hakodate

26 Reviews
Cruises to Picton

Cruises to Picton

165 Reviews
Cruises to Cinque Terre

Cruises to Cinque Terre

355 Reviews
Cruises to Bernkastel-Kues

Cruises to Bernkastel-Kues

37 Reviews
Cruises to Kinderdijk

Cruises to Kinderdijk

8 Reviews
Cruises to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Cruises to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

290 Reviews

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.