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Why splurge on a waterfront hotel when you can essentially book a hotel on water?
Cruises are certainly no new concept, but American Cruise Lines’ latest venture might be their most exciting yet.
Making the rounds of Southern icons, hidden gems, and remote island paradises, this 8-day, 7-night adventure is one for the books, as Mississippi, for example, has been soaring to new heights with record-breaking tourism and newfound hype ranging from the Mississippi Delta to the underrated coast of gleaming white sand beaches.
Best of all, this new cruisedoes provide all-inclusive comforts. Wake up, grab a hot coffee and breakfast worry-free, enjoy stunning Gulf views along numerous stops, where thrilling excursions await you to serve as insightful history lessons, epic beach days, and hopefully a lucky jackpot win!
The New ‘American Symphony’ Route
Travelers will board the American Symphony, which is, believe it or not, a new-ish nautically-themed riverboat.
Yes, a riverboat on the Gulf. This isn’t anything close to a Disney cruise, but the best part about that is you’re less likely to incur screaming kiddos running rampant!
But even if there is an occasional loud booger-eater, just head to the Sky Lounge for some adults-only downtime with a cocktail in hand.
The boat comfortably holds up to 180 guests, so you’ll want to act fast if this trip piques your interest since there’s limited space — and also limited dates, but more on that in a bit.
The full route traverses through 4 states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and barely dipping into Florida.
Your first stop will be New Orleans. What better place to get this party started?
Circle your calendars for March 2026 and start saving for the South’s best adventure yet!
From New Orleans To Mississippi’s Blissful Beaches
New Orleans is truly a Southern icon and one of the most cultural cities in all of America where its waterways are typically overshadowed by the allure of world-famous Bourbon Street.
You’ll set sail from New Orleans after a night on the town of seafood overload, must-have Hurricanes, and maybe a voodoo shop or two, before venturing across the Gulf to the next state over.
Gulfport will be your first Mississippi stop, followed by Biloxi, and Ocean Springs‘ timeless charm, and overlooked white-sand shores.
Biloxi is the most action-packed of the Mississippi trio with fun casinos and resorts, but don’t sleep on Gulfport either, especially if you want to visit Mississippi’s secret paradise, Ship Island (and Fort Washington) as an add-on excursion not included in your all-inclusive package.
Next Stops: Mobile And Pensacola
Can you believe even with Gulf Shores inaugural commercial flight that its actually Mobile that’s Alabama’s surging city?
That’s right — this historic bayside city is, dare we say, trendy? More travelers are clearly seeking out less-crowded hideaways and Mobile is one among the best in the South with easy access to stunning towns wrapping Mobile Bay, such as Fairhope, for example.
But it’s actually the Carnival Museum that Southern Living highlights as a must-visit since Mobile was actually the birthplace of Mardi Gras; not New Orleans.
As for Pensacola, is there a prettier port of call to end your trip? This gorgeous beach town couldn’t be a better welcoming across state lines.
The beaches are truly pristine lined with sugary white sand and vivid blue waters; a far cry from Mississippi’s water conditions on the wrong side of the color wheel despite boasting luminous sand.
The Cruise Experience
As of now, travelers can plan to set sail in March 2026 along with a very random date on December 21.
The cruise is outfitted with multiple dining areas, an outdoor track and gym, and numerous scenic outlooks along with aforementioned Sky Lounge.
Sounds great, right? Well, that’s until you see the price. Remember, this is a riverboat, not the Disney Princess and definitely nothing close to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, so you have to fairly ask if the price is worth the experience or if you could reasonably road trip the destinations and spend as much time as you want in all the cool spots.
Southern Living reports that all-inclusive rates start at $4,880, plus premium excursions such as Ship Island or Biloxi shrimp boats that would top $5,000.
What do you think? Is it worth it?
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.