Top Mississippi River Budget Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

Our 15 most popular Mississippi River Budget Trips & Packages trips. Compare tour itineraries from 6 tour companies. 8 reviews.

15 Trips match your criteria (1 - 15 shown)

Lower Mississippi River Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoying the shade of the leafy canopy greet us on arrival and are our guides for the day
  • Visits to its gardens, historic homes, and museums.
  • Explore his eclectic collection of period-specific artwork and one-of-a-kind antiques.
  • Enjoy the warmth of the Mississippi River sun as we cruise from Vicksburg to Memphis.
  • Explore fascinating exhibits such as Elvis’ museum, estate grounds, the jungle and trophy rooms, his gravesite, and much more.

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"The food and entertainment were exceptional! Such a professional staff providing top notch service! The entertainment was different each night throughout the entire trip. Also, the chef was a former Food Network Chopped Champion delivering a variety of delicious options, including desserts! Loved the cooking class for our day at sea! This is a new ship with beautiful cabins and common areas. There was plenty of space to meet with friends, enjoy happy hour and take in the fabulous views at every port! Every day the crew was helpful and positive providing details about excursions and ports. There was so much to see and a welcome ship to come back to share each day's experience."

Trip dates & details
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New Orleans-New Orleans
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5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Visit their popular gift shop which is known for their world-famous pralines.
  • Enjoying the shade of the leafy canopy greet us on arrival and are our guides for the day.
  • Visits to its gardens, historic homes, and museums
  • See why this show is called "Becoming Jelly Roll."
  • Enjoy the local flavors, like chicory coffee, sweet beignets, and famous New Orleans jazz music.

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"The food and entertainment were exceptional! Such a professional staff providing top notch service! The entertainment was different each night throughout the entire trip. Also, the chef was a former Food Network Chopped Champion delivering a variety of delicious options, including desserts! Loved the cooking class for our day at sea! This is a new ship with beautiful cabins and common areas. There was plenty of space to meet with friends, enjoy happy hour and take in the fabulous views at every port! Every day the crew was helpful and positive providing details about excursions and ports. There was so much to see and a welcome ship to come back to share each day's experience."

Trip dates & details
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Grand Heartland Cruise
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4.5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy a show at the historic Sheldon Performing Arts Theatre or observe the beauty of nature at one of Red Wing’s 38 parks.
  • Enjoy beautiful gardens, an outdoor performance center, and inspiring sculptures.
  • Visit the national Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.
  • Visit the Interpretive Center, home to 15 original Normal Rockwell paintings, the Becky Hatcher House, the Huck Finn Home
  • See the historic stables built in 1885 and the world-famous Clydesdale horses.
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"The food and entertainment were exceptional! Such a professional staff providing top notch service! The entertainment was different each night throughout the entire trip. Also, the chef was a former Food Network Chopped Champion delivering a variety of delicious options, including desserts! Loved the cooking class for our day at sea! This is a new ship with beautiful cabins and common areas. There was plenty of space to meet with friends, enjoy happy hour and take in the fabulous views at every port! Every day the crew was helpful and positive providing details about excursions and ports. There was so much to see and a welcome ship to come back to share each day's experience."

Trip dates & details
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Highlights of the Mississippi River
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoying the shade of the leafy canopy greet us on arrival and are our guides for the day
  • Enjoy the local flavors, like chicory coffee, sweet beignets, and famous New Orleans jazz music.
  • Explore the most popular areas including the French Quarter, the colorful garden district

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"The food and entertainment were exceptional! Such a professional staff providing top notch service! The entertainment was different each night throughout the entire trip. Also, the chef was a former Food Network Chopped Champion delivering a variety of delicious options, including desserts! Loved the cooking class for our day at sea! This is a new ship with beautiful cabins and common areas. There was plenty of space to meet with friends, enjoy happy hour and take in the fabulous views at every port! Every day the crew was helpful and positive providing details about excursions and ports. There was so much to see and a welcome ship to come back to share each day's experience."

Trip dates & details
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Mississippi River Gateway Cruise
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4.5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy a grand tour of one of the most historic and unforgettable cities in the South.
  • Visit Graceland, and then tour the W.C. Handy Museum; Shelby Farms, the largest urban park in the country
  • Visit iconic sites such as the National Civil Rights Museum, St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital
  • Visit the Museum of Westward Expansion
  • See the historic stables built in 1885 and the world-famous Clydesdale horses.

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"The food and entertainment were exceptional! Such a professional staff providing top notch service! The entertainment was different each night throughout the entire trip. Also, the chef was a former Food Network Chopped Champion delivering a variety of delicious options, including desserts! Loved the cooking class for our day at sea! This is a new ship with beautiful cabins and common areas. There was plenty of space to meet with friends, enjoy happy hour and take in the fabulous views at every port! Every day the crew was helpful and positive providing details about excursions and ports. There was so much to see and a welcome ship to come back to share each day's experience."

Trip dates & details
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Florida Christmas New Orleans New Year
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4.7/5 Excellent
88 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Wake up to Christmas Day in the beautiful Florida Keys
  • Ring in the New Year partying in New Orleans' French Quarter
  • Spot exotic wildlife on an Everglades swamp airboat ride
  • Unique overnight stay in a chickee cabin in the Everglades
  • Drive the famous Route 1 Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"my 3 favorite holidays where all with Trek America! loved the trips... the groups, the trekleaders and ofcourse the beautiful nature! I can recommend this for everybody!"

Trip dates & details
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Mighty Waters and Quaint River Towns on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
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4.3/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Learn about the early life of Mark Twain during a field trip to his childhood home in Hannibal, and enjoy a riverboat ride along the Mighty Mississippi
  • Sample wurst and wines in the Missouri Rhineland as you gain insight into the heritage of German immigrants who settled in Herman in the 19th century
  • Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as you explore historic St
  • Charles, and take in a lecture on the social interchange between the river towns

Themes

50 Plus, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"I enrolled early in the French Art Voyage because of the caliber of the sites visited: no visit to the overly crowded Louvre but rather to Monet’s Giverny and Cezanne’s studio. A preliminary itinerary I just received has no mention of Giverny so I went online to be sure it was still open. It is. I checked Cezanne’s studio and found it closed for renovation. I called Road Scholar to ask why Giverny was canceled and did they mean Cezanne perhaps. A customer service rep was clueless. I spelled Giverny to her twice. She put me on hold for 15 minutes, returned and said someone would contact me. I told her to wait a minute. I had more. Was Cezanne’s studio to be canceled as well.? Five days later I get an email from Judith telling me Giverny was not officially on the itinerary, Cezanne’s studio had to be removed due to renovation and I could not see the Mona Lisa!!! I responded saying I sensed some bait and switch also reminding her I NEVER asked about the Mona Lisa. She replied telling me how to arrange Giverny for myself and reiterating that I could not see the Mona Lisa!!!! I have experienced ageism but not gaslighting like this. I am not an old fool who imagined Giverny on the itinerary. I am not an old fool insisting on a Mona Lisa that was not. Road Scholar has no business marketing to elders with staff like this."

Trip dates & details
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Signature City Memphis: Magic on the Mississippi
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4.3/5 Great
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Learn the story of Memphis blues and delve into the lives of legends from the “Father of the Blues” W
  • C
  • Handy to “The King” Elvis Presley
  • Study the mighty Mississippi River’s environmental influence
  • Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel to trace events of the movement and Dr
Show more

Themes

50 Plus, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"I enrolled early in the French Art Voyage because of the caliber of the sites visited: no visit to the overly crowded Louvre but rather to Monet’s Giverny and Cezanne’s studio. A preliminary itinerary I just received has no mention of Giverny so I went online to be sure it was still open. It is. I checked Cezanne’s studio and found it closed for renovation. I called Road Scholar to ask why Giverny was canceled and did they mean Cezanne perhaps. A customer service rep was clueless. I spelled Giverny to her twice. She put me on hold for 15 minutes, returned and said someone would contact me. I told her to wait a minute. I had more. Was Cezanne’s studio to be canceled as well.? Five days later I get an email from Judith telling me Giverny was not officially on the itinerary, Cezanne’s studio had to be removed due to renovation and I could not see the Mona Lisa!!! I responded saying I sensed some bait and switch also reminding her I NEVER asked about the Mona Lisa. She replied telling me how to arrange Giverny for myself and reiterating that I could not see the Mona Lisa!!!! I have experienced ageism but not gaslighting like this. I am not an old fool who imagined Giverny on the itinerary. I am not an old fool insisting on a Mona Lisa that was not. Road Scholar has no business marketing to elders with staff like this."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Mississippi River Budget Trips & Packages Reviews

V

Vic

May 2023

Verified Authentic
This review is by a verified traveler who went on a trip with this operator and wrote the review on Travelstride

Everything was 5 star!

Our room rivaled those my wife and I have enjoyed in many an upscale hotel. The food and table settings were both five-star. The lengthy list of available activit...

M

Marvelous Mississippi

Nov 2022

Written on

This was a 7 day round trip from New Orleans and back.

This was a fabulous trip. The American Symphony is a new ship, beautiful. The sta...

A

American Cruiseline Splendor

Jul 2022

Written on

Had the best time on the MIssissippi River Cruise on American Cruiseline Splendor

We just got off the ship American Cruiseline's Spendor. Waiting at the airport now and cannot wait to write a review. We had so much fun. First of all the crew, d...

L

LCCR

Jun 2022

Written on

Thanksgiving Travel

We wanted a nice relaxing cruise for the holiday, someplace where the temps were moderate for that time of year and somewhere in the US. We chose the American Crui...

T

Traveling the Mississippi

May 2022

Written on

Great trip from Memphis to New Orleans

In March 2022 My husband and I took a wonderful Cruise on American CruiseLine. The trip was on the American Heritage, and we traveled down the Mississippi River from...

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