red wing mn boat cruise

On The River

We welcome all boats.

According to those who love the water, Red Wing is one of the best stops along the river. Whether you are looking to visit via your pleasure craft or planning the vacation of a lifetime on a cruise ship, the view is phenomenal all year through. Take a walk in Levee Park between July and October to find one of the many massive riverboat vessels docked for an overnight stay. These majestic boats start their journey from New Orleans and travel up the mighty Mississippi offering various stops along the way. To plan your luxury travel experience you must visit their website or call to make arrangements. 

North, just a few miles on the river (around river mile 796.9), you will find Red Wing Lock and Dam #3. It was constructed and placed in operation in July 1938 and rehabilitated from 1988 through 1991. Both commercial and pleasure crafts are welcome to lock through heading north or south. Keep in mind you must radio ahead. For the more adventurous ones, try experiencing the lock via a kayak or canoe. There’s so much more to learn about the mighty Mississippi, and we are sure you will enjoy your adventure.

Curious when the river boats will be in Red Wing?

Treasure Island Casino offers Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner cruises out on the Mississippi River!

Meet our river boat greeters.

This fabulous team of volunteers (plus 15 individuals not shown), greet people visiting Red Wing from the massive vessels that are moored at Levee wall. River boat passengers are often shuffled from their cruise ship to coach buses venturing on a guided tour. Some passengers choose to explore on foot, visiting boutiques and points of interest. Greeters provide friendly faces and resources from mid  June through the end of October.

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Riverboat Cruises in Red Wing, Minnesota

River islands, bluffs, woods, prairies and river towns flank the edges of the upper Mississippi River with a nostalgic charm worth seeing from the water. Red Wing, Minnesota, known for its pottery, boots and bluffs has long served as a port of call for the great paddle boats that still wheel up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. Seasonal riverboat cruises, originating in Red Wing or nearby, offer travelers the chance to view eagles, fall foliage and modern locks and dams.

Pearl of the Lake

A replica of the original riverboats that once wheeled up and down the great Mississippi River, the Pearl of the Lake (pearlofthelake.com) is a modern vessel that offers public cruises around Lake Pepin. Known as the largest lake on the Mississippi, Lake Pepin extends 21 miles long and its shores are dotted with communities, including Red Wing. While the Pearl of the Lake cruises up to Red Wing, it originates 17 miles south in Lake City.

Rusty’s River Rides

Captain Rusty Mathiasmeier loved the Mississippi River so much he joined the Merchant Marines when he was only 14 years old and he has been travelling the river ever since. He believes the stretch of river around Red Wing to be the most beautiful, which is why he started his own sightseeing cruises, Rusty’s River Rides (rustysriverrides.com). Originating from the Red Wing Port of Call, this cruise runs mid-April through October and offers binoculars to every adult passenger. You can choose from a 90-minute or 150-minute cruise that begins and ends in Red Wing.

Spirit of the Water

Just 11 miles north of Red Wing is Treasure Island Resort and Casino, which operates the Spirit of the Water (treasureislandcasino.com). You can enjoy different dining options while cruising past Red Wing in a 120-passenger yacht, such as pizza night or a formal brunch buffet. Summer cruises start in May and end in October, and are typically offered Wednesdays through Sunday. You can enjoy the river sights while cruising in style. Most cruises last a few hours, which is plenty of time to digest your meal.

Magnolia Blossom Cruises

Originating in St. Paul, Magnolia Blossom Cruises (magnoliablossom.net) offers day-long cruises to the Red Wing area. Reminiscent of an old steamer, this vessel accommodates up to 125 people and specializes in private parties. Like the Spirit of the Water, private or public excursions are built around meals and sightseeing. Often, Magnolia Blossom Cruises offers specialty cruises with a jazz band and has a stereo system and dance floor on the upper deck.

In addition to public cruises, any of the riverboats that ply the Mississippi in the Red Wing area contract their vessels and services for charter. Charters accommodate small weddings or receptions, corporate parties or team building outings and other group excursions. A riverboat cruise can be more than a scenic affair; it can be the backdrop to business or pleasure. Like public cruises, charters are seasonally available in the Red Wing area, typically between mid-April through October. Most of the cruises can provide catering.

• Redwing: Activities
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Lake Pepin
• Pearl of the Lake: Public Excursions
• Rusty’s River Rides: Public Excursions

About the Author

Charli Mills has covered the natural food industry since 2001 as a marketing communications manager for a highly successful retail cooperative. She built teams, brands and strategies. She is a writer and editor of "This is Living Naturally," a consultant for Carrot Ranch Communications and a Master Cooperative Communicator.

Photo Credits

• Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

THE BEST Red Wing Boat Rides & Cruises

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1. Red Wing Marina

Viking America’s Heartland

Explore the history and wild beauty which inspired Mark Twain to write his great novels. You’ll see the best of the heartland with many opportunities to see rural small town American life, and the ingenuity that followed as immigrants arrived from all over the world to build and expand the growing country. Visit the John Deere Pavilion, Old Fort Madison, the National Eagle Center, and the Red Wing Pottery. Opt for an outdoor adventure with kayaking and fishing,  or choose the Figge Art Museum, a farm-to-table lunch, and a botanical garden. There are so many ways to explore America’s heartland!

Ports of call:

• St. Louis, Missouri
• Hannibal, Missouri
• Burlington, Iowa
• Quad Cities, Iowa
• Dubuque, Iowa
• LaCrosse, Wisconsin
• Red Wing, Minnesota
• St. Paul, Minnesota

Cruise Details

or call 800.578.1479

*Per person/double occupancy. Special single rates apply where listed. Excludes port fees. Itineraries may operate in reverse.

Your Itinerary

1 Embark in St Louis Welcome aboard the Viking Mississippi!

2 Hannibal, MO This is the town where Mark Twain was born and raised! You'll spend the day seeing the sites that inspired his famous novels, like the white picket fence at the house he grew up in.

3 Burlington, IA Burlington is a charming city, and the Historic Burlington tour will help you get to know and experience small-town American life. Other activities include an art project with a local artist, visiting Old Fort Madison, the Historic Nauvoo tour, a farm to table lunch a local farm, or a visit to a sustainable dairy farm.

4 Quad Cities, IA You won't want to miss the John Deere Pavilion and tour of the historic Deere family homes, as it gives you insight into farming and agriculture history with these iconic green and yellow farming inventions. Other tours include the Botanical Center, and Iowa farm visit, the Rock Island Arsenal, or the Figge Art Museum.

5 Dubuque, IA Enjoy the Historic Dubuque tour with a stop at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. If that's not up your alley, try Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin.

6 La Crosse, WI Your included excursion today is the River Town Discovery tour, for a look at historic sites. Premium excursions include the Vesterheim Museum, the La Crosse Queen Steamboat ride, a guided bike ride. a fishing adventure, or kayaking local waterways.

7 Red Wing, MN Tour Red Wing and learn more about our country's national symbol at the National Eagle Center! Other options include the Pottery Museum with beautiful stoneware, or spend the afternoon at Lake Pepin with a winery tour.

8 Disembark in St. Paul, MN Disembark and return home on your flight, or extend your stay with a hotel package!

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*Prices may vary due to seasonality

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10000 NE 7th Ave Suite 125, Vancouver, WA 98685 Contact

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American Queen Steamboat Upper Mississippi Cruise

Red Wing, MN, USA

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About this trip

CABINS ARE STILL OPEN as of mid-April 2021. Join us! CHAMPAIGN COUNTY FARM BUREAU'S Lois Wood & Mary Beth Kurasek invite you to join them on Mark Twain's Mississippi. Many would argue that Samuel Clemens, best known by his pen name Mark Twain, is quite simply one of America’s greatest authors. On this magnificent journey along the Upper Mississippi River, you will discover the beauty of the region from the unique perspective of the river. At our stops between Alton, MO & Red Wing, MN our included Hop-on Hop-off tours allow you to explore Twain’s childhood hometown of Hannibal, Missouri; the town from where much of the inspiration for his beloved classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is derived. You will not want to miss this opportunity to share the Mississippi River with Mark Twain. The newest gem in our riverboat fleet, American Countess welcomes 245 guests along American rivers. Her sleek, contemporary design offers plenty of open space for gathering and sharing the fun, and you’ll love the great forward-facing windows and the portside bar with an 80-foot view.

• Local departure from Central Illinois cities • Choice of Accommodations • All meals, & at dinner with beer and wine • Includes extra features like taxes, crew tips and travel insurance • Shore excursions included at each port with optional premium excursions at extra cost • Tour host accompanies the group throughout to assure all goes well

Cruise package operated by American Queen Steamboat Company. Click here for Print Friendly Flier with Deck Plans . All prices are per person, based on occupancy (call for a single rate for double staterooms). • Document required is government-issued photo ID like driver's license. • Insurance coverage included is Deluxe Group Plan from Travel Guard and for coverage details see steviejaytravel.com/insurance covering cancellation charges; other terms at steviejaytravel.com/terms which are incorporated by reference. • All entertainment, events, tours, and prices are subject to change without notice. Springfield & Decatur pick-ups cost $50/person extra. Acct#200802s 12Apr21 17:44

Coverage is included

• Your package price includes Travel Insurance so if you become ill or have an accident and can't go, you will get a full refund of all but the insurance premium—even the day of departure.

• The travel insurance includes family members and traveling companions. See the insurance description for details: steviejaytravel.com/insurance

• All categories booked online are on a "request basis" and if not available with American Queen Steamboat Co., you will be given the choice of another category(ies) or you may cancel for a full refund.

Accommodations

(8) total number of nights

St. Louis (1) TBA

Cruising (7) American Countess

Dining Request

Another reason to book as soon as possible is to have a better chance of getting your preference of evening dining times in the Grand Dining Room :

• Early 5:15PM

• Late 7:45 PM

If you have friends booking that you want to sit with each evening, please enter their names in the booking form field, Notes To Organizer. Dinner meals at the Grand Dining Room are assigned each evening.*

The other two meals are "open seating" between 7:00-9:00 AM for Breakfast and 11:30 AM-1:30 PM for Lunch. *Casual dining is available also in the River Grill daily: Breakfast 6:30-9:30 AM, Lunch 11:00 AM-2:00 PM and Dinner 5:30-8:15 PM.

Departure Points

• Bloomington • Champaign • Decatur* • Springfield* *A $50/person is required for these two departure points because we must arrange a van for these people to join the coach enroute to St. Louis or home from Red Wing.

The boat is going fast!

As of 7/2/21 there are category B & E cabins available. Book securely online by clicking the Green Select button above or call Mary Beth at 217 840-8724 or Stevie Jay at 217 840-9913.

What’s included

• Round trip motor coach transportation from Champaign, Bloomington, Decatur & Springfield to Minneapolis & return from Alton with drivers’ tips
• Wine and beer with dinner
• Free Internet
• Perks snacks and fresh baked cookies throughout the day
• 24 hour room service
• Shore excursions Hop-on hop-off the tour coach in each port
• Port charges
• Crew gratuities
• Fitness Room
• Baggage handling
• Travel insurance AIG Travel Guard’s deluxe group program
• 21 Meals 8 Breakfasts 6 Lunches 7 Dinners
• Choice of stateroom aboard the riverboat
• Led by Mary Beth Kurasek and Lois Wood of the Champaign County Farm Bureau

What’s not included

• Premium shore excursions instead of the included excursion at any port you choose
• Bar drinks (but beer and wine are included at dinner)

Available Packages

 Our Inside Staterooms invite you to relax and unwind in modern comfort. These spaces offer a tranquil retreat in which you can feel at home on the river and prepare for exciting days brimming with fun activities.

• 170 sq. ft. (wheelchair-accessible rooms are 220 sq. ft.)

• Queen bed or two single beds

• Full bathroom with shower 

• Writing desk with chair

• Interior access 

• Cabin and Observation Decks

NOTE if you are a single and want the room to yourself, please choose option Cat E Single Supplement. Otherwise, if you want us to find you a roommate or have a roommate booking shortly, choose that under Occupancy .

Start your morning on the river by opening sliding doors to enjoy fresh air and picturesque landscape as we gently drift past. Indulge in some snacks on the deck outside your stateroom, socialize with fellow guests or simply enjoy a luxurious day of lounging.

• 220 sq. ft. with open veranda (wheelchair-accessible rooms are 300 sq. ft.)

• Queen bed or two single beds 

• Furnished lounge area with sofa and desk

• Sliding doors open to deck 

• Observation Deck 

NOTE if you are a single and want the room to yourself, please choose option Cat B Single Supplement. Otherwise, if you want us to find you a roommate or have a roommate booking shortly, choose that under Occupancy .

These staterooms offer the perfect break from a busy day on the river. Settle in at your desk or relax on the couch, open the doors to your veranda and peacefully watch the riverbanks of America’s heartland drift by.

• 255 sq. ft. with 40-sq.-ft.private veranda (wheelchair-accessible rooms are 325 sq. ft.) 

• Sliding doors open to veranda 

• Cabin Deck 

NOTE if you are a single and want the room to yourself, please choose option Cat A Single Supplement. Otherwise, if you want us to find you a roommate or have a roommate booking shortly, choose that under Occupancy .

Available options

Join the Champaign County Farm Bureau’s Lois Wood with Mary Beth Kurasek as they welcome you aboard and we head southwest (pick-up also in Bloomington, with Decatur and Springfield departures) to Missouri. 

Enjoy your complimentary stay in St. Louis. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. Our Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and our friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Both American Queen Steamboat Company and local representatives will be readily available to provide you with dining, entertainment and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

Pictured: St. Louis' Gateway Arch & a map of our route up the Mississippi

We are taken to Alton IL for free time before boarding the steamboat. This adventurist’s oasis is always welcoming to our guests – as dewdrops of   watercraft greet them from the shorelines. Founded in 1837, Alton has preserved its small-town aesthetic, but mated it with the modern industry and art that birthed its contemporary ambiance. Cafés overlook limestone bluffs draped in greenery as breezes and birds alike whistle through the trees. Enjoy both the indoor and outdoor treasures that showcase the enchantment that this river town has to offer.  With afternoon transfer to the American Countess . We board the Riverboat! (B, D)

Pictured: Alton & departing on American Countess

Hannibal could be described as ordinary, but the father of American literature would beg to differ. The town, with style and dignity, comes to life in the writings of Mark Twain. People, entities and livelihoods of   Hannibal’s past endure within the pages of masterpieces such as “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Life on the Mississippi,” and the town’s preservation efforts allow our quests to step right onto the page where Twain left off. Today, the river stretches north toward country that’s almost as wild and beautiful as it must have been then, and, still enlivened by the coming and going of rivercraft, this exuberant port marks the start of adventure for all who visit. 

Learn more about the region in which you are traveling with a number of enrichment programs we offer. See for yourself the highlights of each port that we visit on one of our guided Hop-On Hop-Off shore excursions, or elect to take part in one of our expertly designed premium experiences. And our onboard historians – we like to call them Riverlorians – provide interesting lectures on the history and culture that surrounds you as you roll down the river. (B, L, D)

Pictured: Hannibal and a Riverlorian telling about life on the river

Watch small river towns and lush landscapes slowly become lost in the horizon as sunlight plays upon the deck. Take hold of a literary classic, curl up on a plush chair in a cozy corner and relish in the moment of tranquility. Experience the fulfillment that river cruising offers. 

Entertainment on the American Countess is one-of-a-kind. Make plans to spend your evenings with nightly river cruise entertainment. Live entertainers will bring down the house in The Theater. Catch world-class entertainment, relive a historical moment or hear a famous river tale originally told by Mark Twain. And be sure to bring your dancin’ shoes to the The Library to enjoy a late-night live set by our talented musicians. (B, L, D)

Pictured: Room Service, Hospitality, Entertainment, Surf & Turf aboard

At the height of its economy during the late 19th century, Clinton was regarded as the lumber capital of the nation. Today, agriculture plays a big part in Clinton’s economy, which is visible in beautiful rolling fields filled in late summer with luscious, fresh harvest crops. Explore the history of this fascinating river town, and discover a lifestyle that will stand out from today’s norm. 

The rhythm of the river is slow as a southern drawl that invites us all to take a deep breath and enjoy the simple moments. Take in the sunrise with a cup of coffee as you sit on one of the many social verandas, or have a drink in the Grand Lobby as meet new traveling companions. Or Perks – a self-serve snacking area – invites you grab a freshly baked cookie and curl up with a good book. (B, L, D)

Pictured: Grand Lobby with 80' wide view & Clinton's Sawmill Museum

Explore Dubuque, the roots from which Iowa sprouted. It’s brimming with opportunity for river travelers to experience an All-America City. Check off your outdoor bucket list in the perfect nature getaway for any adventure, and explore historic districts peppered with preserved history. From the architectural delight of Tiffany-designed windows in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to the exhibits of the Dubuque Museum of Art, this city captures artistry. Victorian meets bohemian in this ever-growing Mississippi River gem that’s sure to leave dazzling memories.

Inspired by America’s heartland and our Southern heritage, our menus showcase the varied cultural and culinary influences of our nation. Savor each succulent bite, swirl and sip amidst the rich ambiance of the Grand Dining Room. If you are looking for a more casual atmosphere, the River Grill is for you. Meals there feature favorite main dishes, such as roast prime rib alongside irresistible sides – roasted new potatoes, classic mac-and-cheese and fresh salads. (B, L, D)

Pictured: after Dubuque's Fenelon Place Elevator, elevate a glass of wine with Duck Confit & Minnesota Lingonberries

This river town has a long-standing romance with the steamboat era, and as our paddlewheeler kisses its port, guests are welcomed by its eye-catching vistas and expansive waterfront park. Car buffs won't want to miss the Dahl Auto Museum. Within its depths, La Crosse harbors a vibrant community; the cultural exchange among it and its six sister cities showcases a deep appreciation for enrichment through diversity. Influences from far-off destinations such as Bantry, Ireland, and Bavaria, Germany, woven into the history and charm of this scenic port, will certainly stir a traveler’s soul. (B, L, D)

Pictured: Dahl Auto Museum & the riverboat staff's gracious service

Red Wing was included on National Geographic Traveler’s list of the world’s most historic places. In addition to the Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum, the city offers endless opportunities to travel back in time and learn about settlers and pioneers who occupied the land before today, or admire the craftsmanship and creativity of local artisans of both the present and the past. (B, L, D)

Pictured: Red Wing downtown & giant boot at Red Wing Shoe outlet & museum

Arrival 8:00 a.m. Thank you for joining us and escaping the ordinary! We hope that you had a memorable experience and look forward to welcoming you aboard in the future. Don't worry about your bags, we'll take care of those, so just hop aboard our private motor coach which will return you to Springfield, Decatur, Champaign or Bloomington with wonderful memories of Steamboatin’ Down the River! (B)

Your Organizer

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