A Perfect Mississippi Cruise
A wonderful but lesser-known way to start on a Mississippi cruise is to leave from the Gulf of Mexico and cruise upriver, leaving from either Galveston or New Orleans. Many cruise companies offer these options, as their ships have to travel both ways.
Galveston is a lovely place to start on a Mississippi cruise, being a short drive from Houston, and an interesting sight in its own way. It already was a bustling port city on the 19th century, and was an arriving point to many immigrants to the country.
Galveston also has some superb beaches and fishing spots in close reach, which would amply justify a local stay for a day or two before departing on your Mississippi cruise.
New Orleans is another very good spot from where to begin a Mississippi cruise, and is also worth a stay to savor its colorful history and great town center. The city is mostly recovered from the recent hurricanes, and areas of visitor interest are all accessible.
In effect, by starting or ending your Mississippi cruise in New Orleans you will be contributing to the city’s recovery by spending your time and some of your tourist dollars there.
Start your visit in the French Quarter, which is the town’s most historical area, and also its most lively. Lots of shopping and interacting with the locals takes place there, and you can buy any items you may need on your Mississippi cruise.
You certainly won’t go hungry in New Orleans, as there are tons of options, from the humble muffaletta, a sandwich with olives, to a ritzy supper with oysters and seafood. And you will probably encounter both these local staples again, on that upriver Mississippi cruise.
Talking about cuisine, you will find that two distinctive styles predominate. These are Creole and Cajun cooking. Creole food is inspired by French bourgeois cuisine and is more refined and heavy, which makes it popular for formal dinners during a Mississippi cruise.
Cajun kitchen on the other hand is the rural, popular cooking of the area, influenced by African cookery and sometimes quite spicy, incorporating meat which is tasty, but which you may not have eaten before, such as crocodile. This is also popular on Mississippi cruises, for its exotic flair.
Concerning your safety, make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen if you are leaving for your cruise in the summer and be especially vigilant for pickpockets in the town centers. You can relax your guard once you have boarded your Mississippi cruise.
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