We decided to take this cruise up the Mississppi River over the 4th of July; one, to celebrate the holiday, and two to see a bit of our country. The passengers were a bit older crowd and the overall dress was a little less causal when compared to most of the ocean-going cruise-lines I've been on. They have a cruise up the Columbia River that would be very nice...not so hot and humid...and beautiful scenery. The scenery on the river from Memphis to St Louis was pretty unremarkable with a fair amount of commerce on the shores and barges on the river.

Overall it had the type of elegance you might think of when you think of people traveling that way 100 years ago.

Food: the food in the main dining room was excellent at dinner and lunch, not all that great for breakfast. Breakfast was the usual type of buffet or you could order off that day's menu. Unfortunately the food from the menu was either overlooked and/or cold. We never tried the room service...the room was far too small. The front porch offered a buffet breakfast and lunch. We never went there for dinner. It was totally self-serve in the Front Porch but it was very pleasant setting out on the covered open seating at the front of the boat. There was also a very friendly bar on deck five aft that had hot dogs everyday. Read more