Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise

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To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA

Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise

Mexico & the Southern States

Combine a journey through America’s musical heartland with a sun kissed voyage through blue waters. Enjoy a hugely popular journey through the American South, and a relaxing eight-day cruise to the sun-blessed resorts of Mexico and the Caribbean. Savour the delights of Nashville, the undisputed capital of Country Music; the rock and roll cradle, Memphis; and New Orleans, the birthplace of the blues and Dixieland jazz. Pay a visit to Elvis's birthplace in Tupelo along the way, and follow your wonderful tour with rest and relaxation aboard a well-appointed Carnival cruise ship as she sails to the sun-kissed resorts of Mexico, and the blue skies and blue waters of the Caribbean.

Holiday Highlights

Discover Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry
Visit Memphis, Tennessee, home to the King
Spend two nights in the Big Easy, New Orleans
Enjoy an evening on Memphis' famous Beale Street
See Elvis' birthplace in tiny Tupelo
A cruise including three port calls and full days in Montego Bay in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel in Mexico
Spend a last night in Hank Williams' Montgomery, Alabama
Visit Chattanooga and the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" Hotel

What's Included

Visit Chattanooga and the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" Hotel
Seven nights' full-board accommodation on board Carnival Glory or Carnival Liberty, sharing an inside cabin
Return flights to Atlanta
Tips on board your cruise
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager (the ship's staff and crew will take care of you during the cruise)

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Atlanta, meet your Tour Manager, then board our coach and journey into the southeast corner of Tennessee and Chattanooga - of "Choo-Choo" fame - on the banks of the Tennessee River. Tonight perhaps enjoy your first Southern-style dinner.

Day 2

After a brief tour of Chattanooga, which includes a visit to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, a former railroad terminal and forever linked to the song of the same name, you'll journey to Nashville. After a drive through the wooded Tennessee hills and farmland, you'll arrive for a one-night stay in the world capital of country music. Home to the legendary Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry, Nashville is one of America's foremost music cities. Why not join our optional excursion, this afternoon, to discover the Country Music Hall of Fame and legendary Studio B (home to countless country hits and a galaxy of Elvis’ RCA recordings) or head out to pick up a rare record at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop or catch some live music?

Day 3

After a leisurely morning, you'll head to another of the cradles of American music, Memphis, on the bank of the Big Muddy, the mighty Mississippi. You'll spend two nights here, so why not head out this evening and soak up the atmosphere of famous Beale Street, the city’s musical heart?

Day 4

Don’t miss today's optional, full-day Memphis Sounds excursion, which will include a visit to legendary Sun Studio, where rock and roll was born in 1951, with the recording of 'Rocket 88', and where music history changed forever three years later with Elvis's live recording of Arthur Crudup's 'That’s Alright, Mama'. From Sun Studio, you'll make your way to Elvis Presley Boulevard to pay a visit to Graceland, the King’s home, last recording studio and final resting place. After a fascinating day, enjoy another evening in Memphis, perhaps sampling the pork ribs that have led to its unofficial position as The Barbecue Capital of America.

Day 5

Leaving Memphis, you'll complete your Elvis journey with a visit to Tupelo, where you may wish to visit the tiny house that was the star's birthplace. Afterwards, you'll continue south through Mississippi, following the course of "Ol' Man River" towards Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico, for a two-night stay in the great city of New Orleans. One here, waste no time in soaking up the atmosphere of the city.

Day 6

An optional guided tour introduces the Big Easy, this morning, including the time-warped, iron-balconied buildings of the French Quarter. This afternoon, you'll have the chance to join an optional Bayou and Alligators tour for a glimpse of the city’s surrounding countryside and wildlife. Later, spend a second evening in New Orleans surrounded by hot music and even hotter Creole food, or perhaps join our optional Steamboat Dinner Jazz Cruise to enjoy a cruise down the Mississippi.

Day 7

Board your Carnival cruise ship for your seven-night cruise to the Caribbean and Mexico. Settle in, then explore the ship's facilities. Why not consider an upgrade to an outside stateroom – a small supplement buys you an unforgettable ocean view?

Days 8 & 9

Enjoy the pool, the spa or perhaps just a seat at the bar on your first days at sea.

Day 10

Our first port of call is Jamaica's Montego Bay. Kick back to the rhythms of reggae and enjoy time shopping for hand-woven straw hats and delicate wood carvings or, more simply, relax barefoot at one of the many beach bars.

Day 11

Today is spent in Grand Cayman, where you can choose from a range of optional tours sold on board the ship - including the best scuba diving in the Caribbean Sea. Otherwise, stretch out on the glimmering white sands at Seven Mile Beach or stroll around the shops, cafes, and museums of George Town.

Day 12

Enjoy a full day in the celebrated Mexican resort of Cozumel. Among the activities you can book here you'll find sightseeing tours, sub-aqua diving and even a submarine tour.

Day 13

Spend another day relaxing at sea as your Carnival cruise ship sails back across the Gulf of Mexico towards the USA.

Day 14

You'll return to New Orleans this morning, and journey north to Alabama to spend your final night in Montgomery, the city that is final resting place of country legend Hank Williams.

Day 15

After a free morning, transfer to Atlanta airport to check in for your flight home.

Day 16

Arrive back in the UK after an overnight flight.

Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise Touring Hotels

The hotels used on our tours will meet the standard of a good, three-star European hotel. Rooms will have private bathrooms, telephones and TV. The vast majority will also have tea- and coffee-making...

Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise Touring Hotels

Passports and visas

When travelling to the USA, British citizens require passports with an integrated chip (shown on the front by a small rectangular symbol beneath the word PASSPORT), valid beyond the return date from the USA. Visas are not normally required for entry, but visitors must apply for an ESTA online with US Immigration at least 72 hours before departure at www.cbp.gov/esta. The current charge is $21 for British Citizens. British subjects and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested should consult the US Embassy as a visa may be required. Note too that if you have visited Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationality with any of these countries, you do require a US visa and cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Programme.

Your cruise ship

Sailings after 1 September 2024 will be aboard Carnival Liberty, as opposed to Carnival Glory. They are sister ships and virtually identical in size as well as in on-board facilities, dining and state rooms.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately three hours.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

On your flight

All outbound flights depart and arrive on the same day. All return flights leave in the evening and land in the UK the next day. On-board meals will usually include lunch and a snack on outward flights, and dinner and breakfast on flight home. Soft drinks are complimentary, but some airlines will charge for alcoholic drinks.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Tipping

Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. The customary gratuity for a coach driver or Tour Manager is about $5 per person per day. It is normal to tip 15-20 per cent of the bill for a taxi or in a restaurant, and to leave a dollar or so per drink in a bar. When on board your cruise, tips are included in the tour price.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted on any coach forming part of your holiday; regular stops will be made though for your comfort en route. The majority of hotels in North America are non-smoking throughout including in all bedrooms. In general smoking outside is acceptable, but do look out for signs prohibiting this close to public entrances or bus stops.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.

Hotel rooms

Standard hotel rooms in North America will contain one or two double- or queen-sized beds, and it is not possible to add extra beds to the room. Parties consisting of more than two travellers, but who have only booked one room, will be expected to make use of the two beds provided. If this is a concern, you may wish to consider booking more than one room for your group.

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Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise Touring Hotels

Deep South Rhythms, New Orleans & Caribbean Cruise Touring Hotels

Passports and visas

Your cruise ship

Hotel transfer times

Foreign Office travel advice

On your flight

Luggage allowance

Special requirements

Disabled access

Tipping

Smoking

Itinerary changes

Changes to your hotels

Hotel rooms

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