Mark Twain’s Mississippi Riverboat Cruise
September 24, 2023 thru October 2, 2023
The upper reaches of the Mississippi River offer the opportunity to explore the territory that served as Mark Twain’s muse. The river stretches north toward country that’s almost as wild and beautiful as it must have been during his lifetime. Still enlivened by the coming and going of rivercraft, this part of the great Mississippi offers adventure for all who embark upon it.

Transportation
Air transportation included

Transportation
7-night cruise with all meals onboard

Duration
9 days, 8 nights

Activity Level 2
Relaxed

Meals
All meals aboard the cruise included

Availability
Available

Pickup/Dropoff
Roundtrip door to door transportation included
Tour Highlights
Inclusions
- AIR transportation TUS to St. Louis / Minneapolis to TUS (not including baggage & in-flight charges)
- All airport/hotel/ship transfers
- Transportation by deluxe motor coach
- Roundtrip door to door livery service
- 7-night cruise with all meals onboard
- 1 night lodging at excellent hotel
- Shipboard gratuities (not including optional activities)
- Admission to all listed attractions
- Hop-On Hop-Off shore excursions
- Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
- Government fees and air taxes
- Your PLEASUREBENT TOURS Escort (with 20 or more travelers)
Days 1 & 2 - St. Louis
We leave TUS on our flights to Missouri. We will overnight in St. Louis. Before boarding our ship the next day, we have the morning available for a St. Louis City Tour. “The Gateway to the West” was the launching point for the great Lewis and Clark Expedition. Our ship sets sail this afternoon for Alton.
Part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area, Alton is located on the Mississippi River about 18 miles north of St. Louis. The area was home to Native Americans for thousands of years before being settled by European Americans. An important river town, at one time, Alton was even growing faster than nearby St. Louis. Its fluctuating wealth in the early days was largely dependent on river traffic, manufacturing and shipping, and agriculture. During the Civil War, Alton was an important base for abolitionists, with Illinois as a free state across the river from the slave state of Missouri.
Day 3 - Hannibal
Located 100 miles north of St. Louis on the Mississippi River, Hannibal is one of Missouri’s finest destinations. Hannibal could be described as ordinary, but Mark Twain, the father of American literature, would beg to differ. The town’s preservation efforts allow visitors to step right onto the page where Twain left off. There is Hop-on Hop-off service at this port. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - On River
Today we enjoy cruising on the river. Lush landscapes and small river towns disappear as our paddleboat slides by. Perhaps we’ll enjoy a spa service or listen to the Riverlorian describing the history of the Mighty Mississippi. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Quad Cities
Around 1900, a town gave William and Joseph Bettendorf 70 acres of riverfront land on the condition that they move their iron wagon business from Davenport. In 1903, the town petitioned for incorporation, requesting to change the town’s name to Bettendorf in honor of the brothers whose factory was a major economic influence in the early development of the city. There is Hop-on Hop-off service at this port. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Dubuque
Victorian meets bohemian in this ever-growing Mississippi River gem that’s sure to leave dazzling memories. In Dubuque you can check off your outdoor bucket list in the perfect nature getaway, and explore historic districts peppered with preserved history. There is Hop-on Hop-off service at this port. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - LaCrosse
La Crosse resides along the famous Great River Road National Scenic Byway, considered by some as the most scenic drive in America. This river town also has a long-standing romance with the steamboat era, and as our paddlewheeler kisses its port, guests are welcomed by its eye-catching vistas and expansive waterfront park. Influences from far-off destinations such as Bantry, Ireland, and Bavaria, Germany, woven into the history and charm of this scenic port, will certainly stir a traveler’s soul. There is Hop-on Hop-off service at this port. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Red Wing
Red Wing was included on National Geographic Traveler’s list of the world’s most historic places. The port city offers endless opportunities to travel back in time and learn about settlers and pioneers who occupied the land or admire the craftsmanship and creativity of local artisans of both the present and the past. There is Hop-on Hop-off service at this port. (B,L,D)
Day 9 - St. Paul to Home
We have arrived in St. Paul, Minneapolis’ Twin City. Now we must turn our thoughts toward home, but we are filled with remembrances of Mark Twain’s river. (B)
Itinerary subject to change.
Package Pricing
E - Inside Stateroom
$4,215*
Deposit: $500
D - Bay Window Stateroom
$5,715*
Deposit: $500
C - Outside Veranda Stateroom
$6,015*
Deposit: $500
A - Private Veranda Stateroom
$6,515*
Deposit: $500
*Price per person, including air from TUS, double occupancy.
Single occupancy Upon Request, Limited Availability.
Deposit: n/a
Final payment due:
May 23, 2023
Deposit: Final Balance Varies
Price Includes
• AIR transportation TUS to St. Louis / Minneapolis to TUS (not including baggage & in-flight charges)
• All airport/hotel/ship transfers
• Transportation by deluxe motor coach
• Roundtrip door to door livery service
• 7-night cruise with all meals onboard
• 1 night lodging at excellent hotel
• Shipboard gratuities (not including optional activities)
• Admission to all listed attractions
• Hop-On Hop-Off shore excursions
• Baggage handling at hotels (for one piece)
• Government fees and air taxes
• Your PLEASUREBENT TOURS Escort (with 20 or more travelers)
Booking Policy
CANCELLATION FEES:
- $250 through May 23, 2023
- 25%* – May 24 – June 21, 2023
- 50%* – June 22 – July 20, 2023
- 75%* – July 21- August 22, 2023
- 100%* – after August 22, 2023
*Percentage of total price
Final Payment Due: May 23, 2023
We pride ourselves on great service and an enjoyable experience for all and are happy to go over our booking policies with you. If you’d like to learn more about our booking policies before your trip, give us a call at 520.325.8839, or visit our Booking Policies page.
Travel Insurance
In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer the following Travelex Insurance Services protection plan for this tour:
360° GROUP CHOICE
360° Adult Group Choice Flyer – Provides an overview of benefits and coverage limits
360° Adult Group Choice Policy – Provides the full coverage term details, including exclusions and limitations
$313 covers trip costs up to $5,000 or $373 covers trip costs up to $6,000. Cost may be more or less depending on your total trip cost. If you do not wish to purchase at booking, the plan can be purchased any time prior to final payment. Contact us to purchase. For questions regarding benefits or coverages, please contact Travelex Insurance Services at 888-574-7026 and reference plan number GCB-0521.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company; NAIC #22276. X41
ACTIVITY LEVEL RATING
Level 2: Relaxed
Expectations: This tour requires light physical activity combined with shorter travel days. Tour members should expect intermittent walking, with occasional slight inclines and stair climbs, including boarding the motorcoach. Activities may include an occasional city or nature walking tour, stopping along the way. Guests should be able to climb a set of stairs, walk up or down slight slopes and navigate some uneven terrain or cobblestone.
Appropriate for: Travelers who are somewhat physically fit and comfortable with longer days of touring (both walking tours and coach time).
Visit our Activity Level Ratings page for full information on the ratings system.
ITINERARY
For your reference, we send to you a detailed itinerary approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the scheduled tour departure. This has a day-by-day breakdown of times and events, and hotel information where you can be reached in case of an emergency.
The times listed on the itinerary are all approximate. We cannot be held responsible for schedule changes due to unforeseen circumstances with the weather, transportation agents, highway conditions, hotels or contracting agents.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
It is always a good idea to carry on your person a list of medications that you are taking and an emergency contact phone number while you are traveling. And we suggest making a copy of the itinerary and providing it to a friend or family member.
GRATUITIES/ITEMS INCLUDED IN PRICE
All hotel baggage handling fees are included. We also include basic gratuities for the Tour Director, Coach Driver, Livery Drivers and local Tour Guides.
Hotel housekeeping tips are not included.
LIVERY
For your convenience, we have a (round-tour) door-to-door pickup service with each multi-day tour. (This service is not available to all clients depending on your location.) Approximately 2 to 3 days prior to the departure date you will receive a call from our office and we will tell you your assigned pickup time. (These times can vary up to 15 minutes depending on traffic.)
MOTORCOACH SEATING
With passenger health in mind, we are not currently offering daily seat rotation. You will have an assigned seat and boarding order to allow for social distancing among passengers. At booking let us know if you prefer Front, Middle or Back of motorcoach. Each section comprises 4 to 5 rows. We will try to accommodate all requests. If we are unable to honor all requests, preference will be given based on date of your tour deposit.
TRAVEL REQUESTS
At time of booking or as soon as possible please notify us of mobility limitations or food allergies. We will forward these to restaurants and attractions as needed. Please also let us know if you have dietary preferences. We usually can accommodate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets.
LODGING REQUESTS
We pay close attention to your requests but please realize that these are merely requests and cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to request special accommodations at the hotel(s) where we are lodging, please let us know at booking or as soon as possible and we will forward these requests for you. The phone numbers of the hotel(s) where we are staying will be listed on the itinerary sent to you before the tour.
Many hotels around the country have instituted a "reconditioning fee" of $300 or more that is levied upon a guest that smokes in a non-smoking room. If this occurs during our tour you will be responsible for paying this fee to the hotel prior to check-out.
RESPONSIBILITY
Pleasurebent Tours acts solely as an agent in arranging hotels, transportation, sightseeing, baggage-handling, and other services and does not assume any liability for injury, damage, loss or delay due to any act or default of any company or person. We, along with our subcontractors, reserve the right to make changes to an itinerary if it is necessary for the proper handling of a tour.
Inquire About This Tour
Submit your inquiry for more information about a tour. We will get back to you with a (human) response as soon as possible. During the week that’s usually within a couple of hours. Evenings and weekends may take us a little bit longer. Please note that this is an inquiry for tour bookings only and does not constitute or confirm a reservation on a tour.
Call 520.325.8839 to Book Today!
If you aren't ready to inquire by email or would rather call and speak to a team member, we look forward to hearing from you.
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