New Orleans to Memphis, or Memphis to New Orleans?
Same river, same ports, different finale: choosing your direction.
Get Lower Mississippi QuotesMississippi River Cruise New Orleans to Memphis, or the Reverse?
The classic Mississippi river cruise New Orleans to Memphis runs upstream, finishing in Tennessee. Every line also sells the reverse. Here is how to decide.
| Northbound: New Orleans to Memphis | Southbound: Memphis to New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|
| First impression | Start with the energy of New Orleans | Start with Memphis music and the civil rights museum |
| Finale | End on Beale Street | End in the French Quarter, ideal for a post-cruise stay |
| History order | Plantations, then Natchez and Vicksburg, then the Delta | Delta first, then the Civil War towns, then the River Road |
| Best if | You want to recover in a calmer city | You want to celebrate at the end |
Other Ways to Shape the Trip
Some travelers add days: a pre-cruise stay in New Orleans, a post-cruise drive to Nashville, or a longer voyage that continues past Memphis toward St. Louis. Viking’s longer itineraries also link the lower river to the Ohio River and Louisville.
If you only have a few days, a round trip from New Orleans covers the River Road, Baton Rouge and Natchez without needing two airports.
Season Matters More Than Direction
Spring brings azaleas and the Natchez pilgrimage season, when private historic houses open their doors. Autumn is dry and comfortable. High summer is hot, and the river can run low in late summer and fall, which occasionally changes landings. River Cruising Is Safe explains how lines handle river levels.
Longer Options
For more time on the river, Viking’s 15-day voyage between New Orleans and St. Louis (Alton) adds the stretch north of Memphis, and its 2027 Bayous, Blues & Bluegrass itinerary runs from New Orleans up the Mississippi and Ohio to Louisville. American Cruise Lines offers longer sailings on selected dates as well. Our cruise advisors can price a lower-river week alongside these longer trips so you can compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mississippi river cruise New Orleans to Memphis different from Memphis to New Orleans?
The ports are mostly the same; the order is reversed. Southbound finishes with the big party city, northbound with the music city. Pick the one whose ending you would rather linger in.
Does sailing upstream take longer?
The boat works harder against the current, but itineraries are planned around it, so the trip length is the same in both directions.
Which is easier for flights?
Both airports are well served. Check fares both ways once you have a shortlist of dates; open-jaw tickets are usually priced fairly.
Compare Both Directions
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will quote northbound and southbound sailings side by side so you can choose.
Compare Directions