Mississippi River Odyssey

Gain an appreciation of textile artistry during a visit to the National Quilt Museum. You may choose to walk or take the available shuttle service to the museum. Devoted to fiber art, the museum features tapestries by artists from all across the country, with more than 650 works on display. Upon arrival, enjoy an opportunity to explore on your own. View a wide range of quilting styles and techniques, from traditional patchwork to contemporary designs. Admire these intricate works of art that tell stories, evoke emotions and showcase remarkable craftsmanship. You will also learn about quilting’s rich tradition of community and collaboration, and how the museum fosters connections among quilters, artists and enthusiasts with educational programs. At the end of the tour, return to your ship at your leisure, either on foot or via the shuttle service.

Create a personal quilt block using established techniques and materials during a hands-on workshop. You may choose to walk or take the available motor coach to the National Quilt Museum. Devoted to fiber art, the museum features more than 650 tapestries by artists from across the country. Upon arrival, view a wide range of quilting styles and techniques, from traditional patchwork to contemporary designs. Admire these intricate works of art that tell stories, evoke emotions and showcase remarkable craftsmanship. Then, put your inspiration to work as you sit and create your own quilt block. Gain insight into how quilting has affected American culture as you learn firsthand the care and skill used to create this functional art. At the end of your class, you will have a memento of your visit to take home with you and, perhaps, a newfound hobby.

Discover the stately architecture of the Lower Town neighborhood, including a visit to one of its historic homes. Embark on a short drive by motor coach to the neighborhood, where you will set out along the sidewalks on foot with a local guide through one of the city’s oldest residential areas. Dating to 1836, Lower Town prospered in the years before and after the Civil War and was home to mayors, bank presidents, factory owners and Henry Wisdom—Paducah’s first millionaire. Admire the variety of Victorian-era architectural styles on display, such as Queen Anne, Romanesque, Italianate and Gothic. You will have an opportunity to step inside one of the homes for a closer look. Learn what this community means to Paducah and its residents and how they keep their history alive through its preservation. Afterward, return to your coach and transfer to your awaiting ship.

Explore an important part of African American history, the Hotel Metropolitan. Originally built in 1908, the hotel became part of the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” a network of music venues and hotels across the East Coast, South and upper Midwest of the US that served as safe havens for traveling African Americans during segregation. Today, it is an African American history museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a short drive to the Metropolitan, where you will meet Betty Dobson, a local resident who led efforts to preserve and restore this historic location. Betty will offer insight into the lives of those who worked here and notable guests such as US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and entertainers Ella Fitzgerald, Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles and B.B. King. After your tour, you will return to your ship.

Delve into the world of Kentucky bourbon during in-depth visits to a distillery and a bourbon collector’s shop. Bourbon is a type of barrel-aged American whiskey made from a grain mixture, primarily corn. Introduced during the 18th century, it has become a cornerstone of commerce and the economy in Kentucky, the only place in the world that produces true bourbon. You will travel to a distillery, located in Hopkinsville. Here, you will meet your bourbon expert, who will provide firsthand knowledge about the bourbon-making process, which involves extra steps in fermentation, distillation and aging in charred oak barrels that impart the whiskey with rich flavors. Then, indulge in a tasting of four different bourbons, followed by a delicious lunch. Afterward, return to Paducah, stopping for a guided tour of one of the largest bourbon collections in Kentucky en route to your ship.

Step behind the curtain at a local museum to examine priceless quilts and learn how they are preserved. Set off on foot through the streets of Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City, a designation awarded to communities that center their development around creative and cultural pursuits. Arrive at the National Quilt Museum, one of the largest quilting museums in the world. Explore the facility with the museum’s Director of the Collection, stepping behind the scenes to see the storage space, where priceless quilts are stored and protected, and the conservation room, where they are repaired and preserved. Don a pair of museum-grade white gloves and learn how to handle and preserve this textile art under expert supervision. Hear about quilt stewardship and gain a new perspective on the craft as a fine art. After, explore the museum on your own before returning to your ship.

Visit the Ingram Distillery, a facility shaped by America’s inland waterways, and enjoy a guided tour and tasting. Drive through Kentucky’s scenic countryside to the Ingram Distillery, a modern craft facility that embraces its riverside location through its operations and production. Upon arrival, your host will welcome you and guide you through a series of curated experiences including whiskey tasting with a Viking-exclusive cocktail, as well as a tour of its production facility to view the copper stills, fermentation tanks, aging barrels and behind-the-scenes access to a working whiskey barge. Here, you will see how the movement of the river, combined with the local climate and transport, is integral to the distillery’s unique production methods. After you will have time to browse the on-site gift shop to purchase locally made products, before returning to your ship.