Hopefully you had a great night in Memphis and are ready to board; we will miss you. Really interested in your reports about the ship, Memphis, New Orleans, and the ports along the way.

Have a great time all. Marc, thought you and Arlene were doing this.

We're on the JAZZ riverboat now. We boarded yesterday after our bus driver gave us a nice tour of downtown Memphis in route to the ship.

Speaking of Memphis, Tom and I met and had a nice bar-b-que lunch on Saturday with the current owners of the tiny home I was born in, near University of Memphis. After lunch we went to the home I was born in currently occupied by the owner's granddaughter and grandson. Since we moved to Tulsa when I was only two I had no memories of this home, only through old black and white photos.
It is so well kept. Small 2 bedroom, 1 bath and I slept in a crib in the living room. It was fun getting to see each room and the large back yard. The neighborhood is still as nice as it was when my parents bought the home long long ago. That was very special to me to get to see this home and how loved it still is. It's tiny, hard to imagine our family of 5 all lived there. It was special and an emotional experience for me.

Now we're on the JAZZ cruising down the Mississippi river. it's a lovely new ship. The staff couldn't be any nicer and the food is good, wine is plentiful.. The balconies are a nice size with table and chairs. We have a king size bed. No walk in closet which is missed but other than that the layout, floor space, is just fine.
Today will be our first stop in Vicksburg, Mississippi with a good variety of excursions offered for the next 2 days in Vicksburg.

Last night we had a very fun dinner at a round table for 9 of us: Tom, Me, Sue, Ray, Peggy, Janice, Joe, Helen & Jerry (all KLT clients). We had lots of laughs and a delightful dinner. Prior to dinner there was a nice welcome aboard cocktail party for everyone on board. We're all impressed with the ship and off to a great voyage.

Thanks for the update. We really wanted to go on this cruise, and was on the wait list.
Then when Hunter informed us we could go, we had already made other plans.

With the exception of a weekend in New Orleans a few years ago, I had never been to this part of the country before. It really is a different world.

The ship is very nice with musical themed decorations everywhere including a gigantic guitar hanging in the stair well. The food is good and when you go to breakfast you fill out a card with your choices for lunch and dinner. They have a house musical duo and last night a 3 piece band came aboard to entertain. They were very entertaining and we look forward to similar local music in each port.

I have only been to one lecture but that was very interesting about Sun Records and the history of bluegrass .

A few notes: the average age of our fellow passengers is 100 years old. Many canes and walkers which is an issue getting in and off the boat and the bus. By contrast the staff are almost all teenagers. The ship is entirely non smoking which was not disclosed prior. A number of people including Jerry had a problem with that so an accommodation was made to allow it on the top deck when not in port.

Despite my few quibbles It is good to be aboard any ship at this point!
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Helen

Sounds like you all are really having a good time. LOL about the average age of passengers being 100. Marcie, so glad you were able to visit the house you lived in a baby. That is very cool.

Sounds like fun would have loved to be on this cruise always wanted to see all the old plantations. So nice for you to see your house from your childhood. Amazing really, very few of us get to do that. But of course we are here on the Endeavor.

Thanks for posting. Gave Mary and I fond memories of our Summer 2017 Mississippi River cruise (posted here).

This has been great with 9 KLT'ers of us. The tours have been such a learning experience...pre-civil war, civil war, post civil war education for me. All 9 of us (Sue, Ray, Helen, Jerry, Peggy, Janice, Joe, Tom and me).
Excursions are all included with good choices and times to choose from (some with an added $ for select excursions) or a shuttle/hop on & off bus and we've had good tour guides. Yesterday many of us went to the Rosedown Plantation home in Baton Rouge. This plantation home sits on 370 acres and was built in 1835. The grounds and gardens were gorgeous and the home was unbelievable. They had even raised 10 kids in this home ! We were able to tour the inside of the home with all the fabulous furnishings and learning the history behind this plantation home.

Tomorrow we'll be in New Orleans. Thus far we've been to Memphis, TN , Vicksburg, MS, Natchez, MS, St. Francisville, LA Baton Rouge, LA and tomorrow New Orleans, LA.

It's been so fun for all 9 of us. This is all inclusive cruise which works out great with no one picking up the happy hour or dinner checks. I think we've all really enjoyed it. The nightly entertainment has had lots of local talent singing bluegrass, fiddles, banjos, some duets, trios, some 5 piece bands etc. There's also afternoon enrichment lectures...something for everyone.

Thanks Marcie for posting, it sounds like fun was had!!!

I wish I had been paying attention; I would have loved to joined this cruise.

You could join us on our American Cruise Lines Chesapeake Bay cruise, Baltimore to Baltimore starting 3 weeks from today (11/14 to 21). Joe