Help w/ River Cruise Company-OH to Mississippi-end@New Orleans-Fall 2014
 

I am trying to put together a trip for my parents and four of their friends. All are in their 60's. Nice accommodations and great food will be what they are looking for. (It doesn't have to be "Four Seasons" style, but not a low end experience either. In other words, they are not "high maintenance" people that are hard to please, but definitely like a quality trip. They want to begin on the Ohio River and cruise down the Mississippi....ending in New Orleans. Travel dates need to begin and end between Sept. 21 and Oct. 5, 2014. So....I have a short time to find something and any suggestions will be most helpful! Thanks Fodorites!

The more I try to research, I wonder if I should be looking at Memphis to New Orleans instead..... Hmmmm...

I believe you have only two choices of companies for this trip. American Cruise lines, which goes as far north as St. Louis, and American Queen Steamboats, which does Memphis to New Orleans (for them the Ohio River is a different itinerary, though I think you might be able to combine it with a cruise to New Orleans, but only with limited departures that connect. It's an expensive cruise $3K to $5K depending on the company and itinerary, and they tend to sell out.

Thank you Doug! I have a request for info. in to the American Queen. I did see the price was over $4K, which seems high given that you can do a Mediterranean cruise on Oceana (including air) for that price! I will check the other company as well.

I got the following by Googling River Boat Cruises on the Ohio River, and there were several others listed. If you could combine one of these with something on the Mississippi River, that might work.

Bourbon & Bluegrass (Cincinnati to St. Louis), 8 days, Cincinnati, OH to St. Louis, MO

Good Old Summertime (Cincinnati to St. Louis), 8 days, Cincinnati, OH to St. Louis, MO

I think you want the Mississippi--Delta Queen

Thanks for the help everyone!