Brinley Hineman
Smithsonian Journeys will offer a cruise on the Mississippi River for the first time since the pandemic, as the operator expands its river cruise portfolio.
It regularly offered river cruises on the Mississippi from 2007 to 2019 but scrapped sailings planned from 2020 to 2022.
The brand will return to the waterway next year, with a nine-day itinerary that begins in Memphis and ends in New Orleans, on one of American Cruise Lines' classic paddle wheelers, the American Splendor. Presidential historian and Pulitzer-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin will be the guest speaker.
Though Smithsonian Journeys will only offer one departure date in March, the brand's return to the Mississippi signals interest from travelers to explore the river by ship. The itinerary is "selling well," a spokesperson told me.
It's just one example of Smithsonian Journeys expanding its river cruise portfolio this year. The operator has always had strong demand for its river cruise itineraries, a spokesperson said. For example, it has partnered with AmaWaterways to offer expert-led river cruises in Europe next April with 33 departures. Two experts will be aboard each ship and give lectures.
"We've seen an overwhelmingly positive response from the market, underscoring a continuing and growing demand for meaningful and enriching travel," Smithsonian Travel marketing vice president Angela Ferragamo told me.
Smithsonian Journeys has signaled its interest in expanding its cruise portfolio elsewhere in recent years. The brand partnered with Ponant in 2022 in its first alliance with an expedition line.
Smithsonian Journeys also offers river cruises in Canada and Peru. The brand will offer a Nile River cruise in 2027 to view the total solar eclipse.
Correction: An earlier version of this insight incorrectly gave the month of the Smithsonian Journeys Mississippi River cruise: It is in March 2026, not May.