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Memphis to New Orleans – Mississippi Golf Cruise 25 April to 9 May 2023

Memphis to New Orleans Mississippi Golf Cruise 14 Night Tour with 7 Golf Games - 25 April to 9 May 2023

from USD 9,205 per person twin share (includes USD 4,650 pp golf package)

Cruise Prices include USD 400 / Stateroom Discount for Trendsetter Golf Group

Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours Pty Ltd announces a repeat of its popular Lower Mississippi Golf Cruise departing 25 April 2023.  There are 7 nights on board the 150 passenger riverboat American Heritage (recently renamed from Queen of the Mississippi) with a total of 7 nights in hotels pre and post cruise.  The re-naming followed a complete redesign and make-over of the ship in late 2021/early 2022 which included all staterooms, suites, lounges and dining rooms.  The make-over included new colour palettes, luxurious textiles and linens, new furniture and carpets, and artwork and flourishes throughout.  While in Memphis, we visit both Graceland (a truly fascinating place even for those who don’t care much for Elvis) and the National Civil Rights Museum.  Our golf in Memphis includes Colonial Country Club, for many years the regular PGA tour stop and home of the Fedex St. Jude Classic.

The club is famous as the place where the 1st sub 60 round on the PGA Tour was shot.  This leisurely cruise down the Mississippi allows plenty of time to visit some of the famous ports such as Vicksburg, Natchez, St Francisville and Baton Rouge while still providing time for 3 golf games.  Our 7 games of golf, most on top 10 ranked courses in their respective states, includes such famous names as Carter Plantation and Mirimichi.

Three of the courses we play on the tour are either current regular PGA Tour stops (TPC Louisiana) or for many years were regular PGA tour stops (Colonial Country Club and Lakewood Golf Club).

We chose to sail on American Cruise Lines as it offers the premier product on the market for Mississippi paddle wheelers with a near all-inclusive cruise offering.  And its standard size rooms are the largest available when cruising on the Mississippi River.  Deck plans and brochures on the cruise are available on request.  Standard room sizes are significantly larger than on European river cruise ships (and just about all rooms have a private balcony) due to the much wider American Heritage as no requirement to use locks to travel the river.

Our cruise includes all meals while on-board American Heritage, wine and beer with dinner, complimentary cocktails every evening pre-dinner and post dinner while attending the shows, gratuities, complimentary (and usually fast) wifi and standard shore excursions.  In addition, we include 7 nights of pre and post tour hotel accommodation, breakfasts each day, a day trip including both Gracelands and the National Civil Rights Museum, welcome and farewell dinners, 7 rounds of golf including coach transfers, motorised carts, prize money, and drinks post golf.

Golfers with non-playing partners can enjoy their games, knowing those partners are having an equally fine time checking out the sights, or relaxing on-board.  American Heritage has a limited number of single private balcony staterooms, thus offering unique value for a single traveller.  On this golf cruise, we typically sell more single rooms and rooms to couples where one is a non-golfer than on any of our other golf cruises and tours.

Importantly, late April is an ideal time to cruise the lower Mississippi with late spring golfing conditions.

Plenty of time is included in both Memphis and New Orleans for independent exploring.  Both cities are famous for their night life, in particular Memphis’ Beale Street and New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Your tour hosts Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, Directors of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours, are both enthusiastic golfers, and are both longstanding members of a prestigious Sydney golf club. They have golfed and cruised extensively throughout the world.

They invite you to join them on this fantastic cruise, stopping at great ports, with long port days combined with the chance to play 7 golf games, all at a wonderful selection of courses.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tuesday 25 April 2023 – Memphis, Tennessee

Arrive independently in Memphis, the home of Elvis Presley and located on the banks of the Mississippi River. Stay the next 3 nights at the Hyatt Centric Beale St Memphis Hotel. A new property to the Memphis hotel market, it is very well located in Beale St and over-looks the Mississippi River. Your 325 sqft room has a King bed. Breakfast each morning is in the main restaurant.

Meet your fellow tour participants for drinks and welcome tour dinner at the hotel. Many will choose to arrive a day earlier, particularly if flying into Memphis that day from Australia or overseas. Additional nights at the hotel pre-tour are priced at USD 250/room night (including approximate 20% tax but excludes breakfast).

Inclusions: Dinner including drinks both pre dinner and over dinner

Day 2– Wednesday 26 April 2023 – Memphis – Golf - Colonial Country Club

Today we coach some 30 minutes east of our hotel and play Colonial Country Club.  Prior to the PGA Tour transferring the Memphis Open to TPC Southwind, Colonial Country Club held the annual PGA Tour event in Memphis for 30 years.  Perhaps its most famous year was in 1977 when Al Geiberger became the 1st player on the PGA Tour to shoot 59 and break the famous 60 figure.  Perhaps just as notable, this was the year when President Gerald Ford, a golfer of renowned limited ability, shot his 1st (and only) hole in one in the Pro-Am event.  The course and clubrooms offer great hospitality and importantly provides us with a shot gun start enabling us to all finish around the same time.

The evening is free to explore Memphis and perhaps visit the famous Beale Street or the many restaurants located down Main Street, a short walk from your hotel.

Inclusions: Breakfast, transfers, golf (including carts)

Day 3 – Thursday 27 April 2023 – Memphis – Golf - Mirimichi

Today we travel 30 minutes to play the Championship course at Mirimichi, rated the best public access course in the Mid South and one of the best golf courses in Tennessee.  The course had been owned by Justin Timberlake who reportedly spent US$16 million upgrading the course.  We have been accorded another multiple tee start.

Your evening is free again to independently explore Memphis and its many great restaurants

Inclusions: Breakfast, Transfers, Golf (including carts)

Day 4 – Friday 28 April 2023 –Memphis – Graceland and National Civil Rights Museum

Today we check out of Hyatt Centric Beale St with an eventual transfer to spend our final night in Memphis at The Guest House Graceland – a premium hotel located 300 metres from the entrance to Grandland. Your standard room will be 40 sqm with a king bed and the hotel is a comparable standard to the Hyatt Centric and undoubtedly the best hotel of the many in the Graceland precinct.. We are staying at the hotel as this is where the American Cruise Line cruise commences with a coach transfer the following morning to American Heritage.

However, prior to checking into The Guest House Graceland, we will have a significant day of touring with our 1st stop being a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum (opens at 9 am).  Indeed it is a must visit venue with many compelling (and at times confronting) displays showing the civil rights movement – mainly through the 1950s and 1960s.  It is built around the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated in April 1968.  The museum has been expanded in size to cover a neighbouring building where the assassin was believed to have fired the fatal shot – with a history provided of shooting and capture of the assassin.  We suggest you budget a minimum of 2 hours for your visit.  For those finishing their tour of the museum early, there are plenty of coffee shops nearby the Museum.

We will leave for Graceland by coach at 12 noon and have reserved tickets for approximately 12.30 pm.    After you have concluded your tour of Graceland you can either walk the 300 to 400 metres (circa 5 minutes) to The Guest House Graceland or organise a taxi transfer (while you are in Graceland, your luggage will be unloaded).  There are several restaurants, mostly themed, for you to have lunch having entered Graceland.  You should expect your tour of Graceland to take 2 to 3 hours (including time for lunch) with so much to see including Elvis’ personal jet, his car collection, his burial plot (with his parents), shooting range and many museums of memorabilia of Elvis and his time.

Your evening is free and assume you will look to dine at one of the two Guest House Graceland restaurants while retaining the option to taxi the 15 minutes to down town Memphis.

Inclusions:  Breakfast, transfers and entry to both Graceland and National Civil Rights Museum

Day 5 – Saturday 29 April 2023 – Memphis – Depart Memphis 1.30 pm

Check out late morning and take a coach transfer to American Heritage at the Memphis down-town riverboat jetty arriving around 11 am where your rooms should be available. During an a la carte lunch in the dining room (from 12.30pm), our ship starts its journey down the Mississippi around 2.00 pm.

We sail leisurely down the river and through the night heading towards the historic town of Vicksburg. We take the route adopted by the Union iron clads in the American Civil War in 1863 as they risked the fire of many accurate Confederate cannons over-looking the Mississippi and sought to bi-pass Vicksburg and land General (later President) Ulysses S Grant’s army south of Vicksburg on the east bank of the Mississippi.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Transfer to Cruise Ship American Heritage, Lunch (drinks included), Cocktail Hour and Dinner (drinks included) and after dinner entertainment.

Day 6 – Sunday 30 April 2023 – Arrive 2 pm in Vicksburg (stay overnight)

On 4 July 1863, the day immediately following the 3 day battle of Gettysburg in far away Pennsylvania (the largest and most significant battle in American history), Confederate forces at Vicksburg surrendered to Grant’s Union Army. While the Civil War continued for another 21 months, these two events effectively ended the Confederate hopes of defeating the Union forces and forcing the Union to accept the separate nation of the Confederate States of America. The Confederates continued to fight on in the hope that mounting Union losses would cause sufficient political pressure to see the Union seek a negotiated peace (and recognise a separate Confederate State with its unique and infamous institution of slavery).

The surrender of Vicksburg resulted in Union forces controlling all of the mighty Mississippi River and separated the Confederacy into a Western and Eastern part. This effectively prevented any significant amount of food and other resources being moved from the Western states of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana to supply the Confederate armed forces.

To put the Civil War in context, at that stage the population of the USA was less than 1/10th the size of today but aggregate deaths in the combined armed forces of the North and South during the Civil War exceeded 620,000 (and were probably over 700,000 if deaths due to the war in the 12 months following the surrender of the armies of the Confederacy are included). This is more USA military deaths than in all other wars combined (which includes WWI, WWII and Vietnam). Much of the south (but obviously limited to the white population) still describes the Civil War as “The War Between the States”, “War of Northern Aggression” of simply the “War”.

After arriving in Vicksburg, we take a coach tour of Vicksburg and the battlefield that surrounds the town. Our tour includes a visit to the Cairo Museum located adjacent to the battlefield where you can see the partially restored iron clad battleship Cairo which was used to attack Vicksburg until sunk by the Confederate defenders. This tour may be deferred to the following morning with the activities each day reversed.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch (drinks included), Guided coach tour of Vicksburg Battlefield Park, Cocktail hour, Dinner (drinks included) and after dinner entertainment.

Day 7 – Monday 1 May 2023 – Vicksburg – depart mid-afternoon

We spend the morning independently exploring the town of Vicksburg with the opportunity to visit the several fascinating museums located within the town.

We leave Vicksburg mid afternoon and sail down the Mississippi arriving early evening in Natchez, a town famous for its many grand ante bellum homes. During the Civil War, Union forces destroyed a large proportion of the ante bellum homes throughout the Confederate/southern states and Natchez, like Savanah in Georgia, remains one of the few towns which remained unscathed from the Union forces.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Lunch (drinks included), Cocktail hour, Dinner (drinks included) and after dinner entertainment.

Day 8 – Tuesday 2 May 2023 –– Natchez – Golf at Beau Pre

We drive 20 minutes south of Natchez to play Beau Pre Golf Club. Constructed in 1998, Beau Pre is a private members course and considered one of the premier golf clubs in the greater Southern Mississippi – Louisiana region. We depart that evening and head down river to St Francisville.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Transfers, Golf (including carts), Cocktail hour, Dinner (drinks included) and after dinner entertainment.

Day 9 – Wednesday 3 May 2023 – St Francisville - Optional Golf

No golf is scheduled today as part of our 7 game golf programme due to the recent closure of the The Bluffs Golf Resort.  However, subject to sufficient demand, we will include an optional game of golf at Copper Mill Golf Club, an approximate drive 25 minutes south of St Francisville.

American Heritage will berth for a full day in St Francisville and 4 complimentary shore excursions are offered – all to historic homes and plantations.  A shuttle coach will also take you into the main street of historic St Francisville which you can independently explore at your leisure.

Inclusions:  Ships tours, Cocktail hour, Dinner (including drinks) and after dinner entertainment

Day 10 - Thursday 4 May 2023 – Baton Rouge – Golf at Carter Plantation

After a short coach tour of Baton Rouge, we travel an hour east of Baton Rouge to Carter Plantation Golf Club. Glenn Hickey, in conjunction with Louisiana native David Toms, created the highly rated Carter Plantation Golf Club in 2003. We expect to again be accorded a multiple tee start.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Transfers, Golf (including carts), Cocktail hour, Dinner (drinks included) and after dinner entertainment.

Day 11 – Friday 5 May 2023 – Houmas House – Golf at Pelican Point – Arrive early morning – depart early evening

Having berthed at Houmas House Plantation Landing early morning, we take a short 10 minute transfer by coach to play Pelican Point Golf Club, one of the leading private golf courses in Baton Rouge with a multiple tee start scheduled from 9 am.

Post golf and prior to the scheduled 6 pm cruise departure, there will be time to undertake a complimentary tour of the Houmas House 1840 Plantation Complex including Mansion and gardens. In addition, there is an excellent history museum nearby.

These tours are self guided and are complimentary to our tour party.

We depart early evening and sail down the Mississippi arriving late evening in New Orleans.

Inclusions: Golf (including carts), breakfast, tour of Houmas House Plantation, Cocktail hour, Dinner (including drinks), and after dinner entertainment

Day 12 – Saturday 6 May 2023 – New Orleans

We berth this morning in New Orleans and will have an 8 am transfer to Intercontinental Hotel, one of New Orleans’ leading hotels located within a short walk of the French Quarter. Extra nights can be booked post tour at USD 300/ room ( including taxes and breakfast).

We avoid a hotel located in the French Quarter as coaches are prevented within the French Quarter.  The remainder of today is free to independently explore the many sights of New Orleans.  The French Quarter comprises well over a square mile of historic buildings which have been transformed into restaurants, bars and many fascinating shops.  New Orleans is one of the great cities of USA and will not disappoint.  While not within the French Quarter, walking distance is the National World War II Museum which follows both the European and Pacific battle campaigns.  If not visited today, a visit on the morning of Tuesday 9 May is recommended.

Inclusions:  Breakfast and transfer from ship to hotel accommodation

Day 13 – Sunday 7 May 2023 – New Orleans – Golf at TPC Louisiana

A highlight of our tour is a chance to play TPC Louisiana, home to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans since 2005, a regular event on the US PGA Tour – usually played in late April. A Pete Dye design, while built on a flat landscape, it can be brutal with its over 100 bunkers and 5 lakes. Post golf, there will be time to relax in the magnificent club rooms. The evening is free to explore New Orleans and perhaps visit the famous French Quarter.

Inclusions: Breakfast, transfers, golf and carts.

Day 14 – Monday 8 May 2023 – New Orleans – Golf at Lakewood – Farewell Dinner

Today, we play the highly rated Lakewood Golf Club, a short 15 minute drive from our hotel where we have been accorded a multiple tee start.  Lakewood has been rebuilt since the disastrous Hurricane Katrina.  Lakewood provides great history – it was host of the New Orleans PGA Tour stop from 1963 to 1988 and includes such famous winners as Gary Player, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw.

This evening we meet for drinks at 7.00 pm and have our tour farewell dinner at a private room in the historic Dickie Brennan’s Tableau Restaurant.

Inclusions: Breakfast, transfers, golf, carts and farewell dinner (including drinks)

Day 15 – Tuesday 9 May 2023 – New Orleans - Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour ends and it is time to go our separate ways.

The Finer Details...

ALL Trendsetter clients, as part of our golf tour, will receive:

  • Host services by Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper.
  • 14 night golf tour includes 7 night all-inclusive cruise, 7 games of golf, coach transfers, motorised carts, prize money, drinks post golf, 7 additional nights in leading hotels, breakfast, welcome/farewell tour dinners (including drinks) and tours of both Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum.

 

25 April to 9 May 2023

– Lower Mississippi River Golf Tour (including Cruise)

All Twin Share unless stated otherwise Picture Window Suite
(290 sqft)
(5 suites)
Private Balcony Suite
(304 sqft)
prices vary by deck
(48 suites)
Large Private Balcony Suite
(328 sqft)
(6 suites)
Owners Suite
(445 sqft)
(6 suites)
Private Balcony
(single room, 230sqft)
(18 
suites)
Cruise Fare (USD pp) USD 4,555 From USD 5,165 to USD 5,880 USD 6,385 USD 8,210 USD 6,270
Golf Package Golfer (USD pp) USD 4,650 USD 4,650 USD 4,650 USD 4,650 USD 6,150
(includes
USD 1,500 single supplement)
Total Cruise Fare and Golf Package (USD pp) USD 9,205 From USD 9,815 to USD 10,530 USD 11,030 USD 12,860 USD 12,420
Golf Package – Non Golfer Partner (USD pp) USD 2,400 USD 2,400 USD 2,400 USD 2,400  USD 3,900
Total Cruise Fare and Golf Package (non golfer partner) (USD pp) USD 6,955 From USD 7,565 to USD 8,280 USD 8,785 USD 10,610  USD 10,170

Per Person Deposits – Golf Package USD 1,000 pp – Cruise USD 500 pp– Total USD 1,500 pp- Balance of both cruise fare and golf package payable 120 days from departure. Cruise deposit refundable up to 120 days from departure but subject to an ACL USD 250 pp administration fee. While Golf Package deposit non-refundable, it can be used as a credit against a future Trendsetter golf cruise programme booked within 18 months from the date of cancellation where cancelled outside of 120 days from the tour start. If cancellations occur after final payment, there is no right of any refund.

Above prices include port taxes and fees of USD 250 pp and are quoted twin share unless otherwise stated. Cruise prices subject to change until deposit paid and price locked in. Prices reflect a USD 400/stateroom discount on America Cruise Line web page pricing. ACL web page pricing is exclusive of USD250 pp in port taxes and fees. 

  • While both the cruise and golf package are priced in USD, as a group, all tour participant payments are to Trendsetter who will directly pay the cruise fares. You will pay for the tour in AUD with the USD amounts converted into AUD (or NZD) based upon a rate better than the best USD sell rate from the Major 4 banks available to Trendsetter Travel.
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE IS COMPULSORY WHILE IN USA although it need not be purchased through Trendsetter
  • American Cruise Lines General Terms and Conditions (including cancellation provisions etc) can be found on http://americancruiselines.com/general-information

The package price does NOT include golf club hire but includes motorised carts at all courses, range balls at most courses, prize money for all golf games and drinks post golf. Trendsetter has booked the courses as specified but cannot be held responsible for any cancellation/s necessitated by a change to the ship’s itinerary due to weather or any other event, or late amendment by the golf course or concern by Trendsetter at the condition of the golf course (say due to course maintenance). If such an event occurs and, in the unlikely event, Trendsetter cannot organise an alternative golf course, Trendsetter will pass through any refund available.

Contact David Cooper (0413 010 638) or email david@trendsettertravel.com.au for further information on this tour. For information on all upcoming golf cruises refer www.trendsettertravel.com.au/golf-cruises-tours/introduction-testimonials/

Policies of Memphis to New Orleans – Mississippi Golf Cruise 25 April to 9 May 2023

Golf cruises offer golfers an interesting way to travel, enjoy your passion for the game and remain fit while partaking in the gourmet delights most luxury cruise ships offer.  For those looking at the options available for you and your fellow keen golfers, here are some pro tips to help you find a cruise that meets all your needs. Finally, your ship has come in!  

Check the itinerary

Check the itinerary before you book, to ensure it is a realistic schedule. Seek a cruise that features long and plentiful shore days at ports with good golf courses.  You will probably appreciate the occasional sea day to rest up and relax.  

Go all-inclusive to save

High-profile US tour companies typically price their golf at US$500 (A$650) plus per person per round in addition to the cost of the cruise. Trendsetter Travel and Cruise Centre specialises in small all-inclusive luxury ships, and recommends this for the best experience.  Playing the same courses as its more expensive pier group, the golf package component of a Trendsetter cruise less than half the price of its international competitors.  

Ship size does matter

Be wary of cruises for more than 1,300 passengers.  Large ships will give priority to their own tours when it comes to disembarking, preventing independently organised golfers from exiting the ship quickly.  Delays can mean missing tee-off times.  Even if you can overcome a late arrival, the delay can cause disappointment when you must abandon the course early to return to your cruise shipboat. David Cooper, the director of Trendsetter Travel, recommends selecting a cruise ship with between 100 and 900 passengers. “These smaller ships can also get to the smaller ports, such as St. Tropez, St. Malo, Menorca, Portofino, which all have great golf courses.”  

Make sure you get enough time at port

Most golf excursions take at least eight hours—including return transportation to the course, an un-pressured golf game and importantly time post golf at the club for refreshments and prize giving. To make the most of your day, aim for a minimum of ten hours in port. Your group will need to arrive at the course an hour prior to tee-off, and allow for a round of four balls to be completed (plan on four and ½ hours hours).  

Healthy competition and fair play

Select a golf cruise where the organisers incorporate adjustments up and down for players’ handicaps, after each round.  This means that the prize money is spread around over the tour. David Cooper advises to ask about this when you are booking.  “We run a handicap adjustment system after each round to establish a par stableford score for the day,” he says. “After eight games, the better performers may see their handicaps reduce perhaps two shots and the ‘battlers’ might earn four or five shots back.” Every tour golfer wants at least one collect.  

Swing your partner ‘round

Cooper advises, “Where our golf tour participants book as a couple, they will always play as a couple unless they request otherwise.”  If you are booking as a single or wish to enhance the challenge by playing outside of your group, find an organiser who is mindful of matching players’ handicaps, so that you can get the most out of the cruise.  

Beware the fake golf cruise

You may discover cruises advertised as a golf tour but, on closer inspection, find they only offer golfing pre and post cruise.  Check for this, as it might not be what you have in mind. Trendsetter golf cruises schedule a minimum of six games on cruise shore days.  David Cooper mentions, “We even create opportunities where a golf enthusiast can play additional optional rounds, and others can have a more limited golf programme depending on what they are looking for with equitable downward price adjustments.”   To learn more about the great golf cruises that Trendsetter Travel and Cruise Centre have available, please contact David on (02) 9428 5900 or on david@trendsettertravel.com.au