It’s warmer than Europe and closer to home—and now only time will tell if cruisers will buy Natchez as a Christmas market destination.

American Queen Voyages is giving it a go, partnering with the city of Natchez, MS, to recreate a traditional Christmas market for cruisers on select itineraries during the 2023 and 2024 holiday seasons.

AQV president Cindy D’Aoust called Natchez “the quintessential Christmas town,” perfect for fusing “European yuletide nostalgia and authentic Southern charm.”

Stopping in Natchez will be:
• American Countess – Memphis to New Orleans, November 27 sailing
• American Queen – New Orleans to Memphis, December 3 sailing
• American Countess – New Orleans to Memphis, December 4 sailing
• American Queen – Memphis to New Orleans, December 10 sailing
• American Countess – Memphis to New Orleans, December 11 sailing
• American Queen – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 17 sailing
• American Countess – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 18 sailing
• American Queen – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 23 sailing
• American Countess – Roundtrip New Orleans to Memphis, December 25 sailing

AQV also will offer special “Holidays on the River” experiences for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, all of which are now available for booking.

The cruise line in June announced that despite solid bookings, it was pulling out of the Great Lakes to focus on its river and Alaska itineraries.