Treasures of the Mississippi River & the Gulf Coast. A Round-trip New Orleans to Vicksburg Voyage Aboard the 138-Guest Yorktown

Transcription

1 HARVARD ALUMNI ASSOCIAT I ON 2013 WO R L D W IDE TRAV E L PRO G RAM 2013 Treasures of the Mississippi River & the Gulf Coast A Round-trip New Orleans to Vicksburg Voyage Aboard the 138-Guest Yorktown March 29 April 8, 2013

2 TREASURES OF THE MISSI SSI PPI R I V ER & THE GULF COA ST March 29 April 8, 2013 T RIP OVERV IEW Riverboat on the Mississippi River near Natchez For many visitors, the Deep South seems like another country. Its culture, especially in Louisiana and coastal Alabama, is rooted in French and Spanish, African and Caribbean influences. Its architecture, particularly the Antebellum mansions of Natchez, Mississippi, reveal a flair for the dramatic. And there is a reverence for tradition here and a graciousness extended to visitors that is rarely encountered in the sprawling metropolitan areas elsewhere in the United States. This voyage takes you into the heart of this enchanting region. Cruise into spacious Mobile Bay, where French colonists founded a city in 1702 and where blockade runners found shelter during the Civil War. An excursion outside Mobile takes you to Bellingrath Gardens, among the most spectacular in the country, with magnificent floral displays that change with the seasons. Once Yorktown enters the Mississippi River, you will find yourself immersed in the culture of the Old South. Standing along the banks of the river are grand Antebellum plantations, such as Oak Alley and the Laura Plantation. Farther up the Mississippi are the lovely towns of St. Francisville and Natchez. St. Francisville has a warm, hometown charm, while Natchez has a grand character thanks to the town s opulent 19 th -century mansions, once the homes of wealthy cotton barons. Go ashore at Vicksburg to see the museum dedicated to the USS Cairo, a Civil War ironclad gunboat that sank in 1862 and was recovered from the river bottom in You ll also explore the Vicksburg Military Park where, after a six-week siege, General Ulysses S. Grant captured Vicksburg, thereby restoring control of the Mississippi River to the Union. The Yorktown is an appropriate vessel for this Deep South voyage. It is an American ship, staffed by American crew and officers. It accommodates only 138 passengers in 69 exterior cabins and offers a large sun deck, comfortable lounge, and spacious dining room. FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL

3 ONBOARD JAZZ CONCERTS Jazz is an all-american style of music, born in the African American community of New Orleans in about It drew upon ragtime, the big brass sound of marching bands, the hymns of African American churches, and the rhythms of traditional African drumming. To celebrate this uniquely American expression, we are pleased to have with us on this journey talented musicians who will not only perform personal, onboard jazz concerts, but will also delve into the history and the roots of the Deep South s musical tradition. Gary Chalmers, a seasoned percussionist, has in recent years evolved into an on-call session drummer for various musical projects, including Teaching Company recordings and live performances. Pianist Charlie Etzel has recorded in his own right and also with Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, and Whit Williams. Ashton Fletcher has toured with international recording star Bobby Vinton, was the bassist for ten years on the NBC television special, Christmas in Washington, and performed on the international television spectacular, Liberty Weekend. Most recently, Ashton opened the Fletcher Music School. HARVARD STUDY LEADER As this brochure goes to print, we have not yet confirmed the faculty study leader for this program. We intend, however, that you will be joined by a Harvard lecturer who will enhance your travel experience. You will discover that our lecturers are not only first rate scholars and teachers but also friendly traveling companions, eager to share their insight through conversation as well as in scheduled presentations. ADDIT I ONA L LE CTURER Andrew F. Smith is a freelance writer who teaches food studies and professional food writing as a part-time faculty member at the New School University in New York City. He is the author or editor of twenty-one books, numerous magazine and journal articles, and is regularly interviewed on radio and television. For this voyage, Andrew will tell the story of some of the most crucial episodes of the Civil War, including the siege of Vicksburg and the Union blockade of New Orleans. Cover: St. Francisville, Louisiana Below: The French Quarter, New Orleans FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL OR CALL

4 SCHEDULE BY DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013 NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana EMBARK Fly to New Orleans to embark Yorktown. Overnight aboard ship. (D) SATURDAY, MARCH 30 NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana Spend the day on a walking tour of New Orleans French Quarter, the 80-block area that is the geographical and spiritual heart of the city. Admire the old architecture that lines the Quarter s narrow streets and passageways and enjoy free time to explore what some call the most unique city in America. (B, L, D) SUNDAY, MARCH 31 MOBILE, Alabama Today Yorktown docks in the graceful city of Mobile. Tour Mobile s historic landmarks and sites, which include Fort Condé, originally built in 1711, the Condé-Charlotte Museum, the Bragg- Mitchell Mansion, one of the city s finest Antebellum homes, and the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens and Home. (B, L, D) MONDAY, APRIL 1 PENSACOLA, Florida Pensacola is a beautiful Deep South city with a rich historic past. Visit the 19 th -century buildings of Historic Pensacola Village and the Naval Aviation Museum, one of the largest in the world with over 150 restored aircraft including an A1 Triad (1911), the U.S. Navy s first aircraft. Alternatively, travel to Fort Barrancas, with fortifications dating to 1797 and trails overlooking Pensacola Bay. (B, L, D) Longwood, Natchez, Mississippi TUESDAY, APRIL 2 HORN ISLAND and SHIP ISLAND, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi Considered the jewel of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Horn Island is a 13-mile-long isle with lagoons that attract over 280 bird species as well as pine and palmetto forests. Ship Island is the most historic of these barrier islands. (B, L, D) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 LAURA PLANTATION OAK ALLEY PLANTATION, Louisiana The only plantation that retains its original slave cabins, the Laura Plantation was the location where Alcée Fortier recorded the tales of Br er Rabbit in the 1870s. Explore the homes of the owners and the slaves, as well as the grounds. Continue to Oak Alley Plantation, with its one-quartermile canopy of live oaks that lead from the Mississippi to the entrance of the Greek Revival mansion. (B, L, D) THURSDAY, APRIL 4 BATON ROUGE ST. FRANCISVILLE BATON ROUGE From the capital city of Baton Rouge, visit at tranquil St. Francisville, set on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. Founded by Spanish Capuchin monks, the town retains more than one hundred of its 18 th - and 19 th -century houses and buildings, including grand and small plantations. Visit some of these sites while exploring this quaint town, then return to Baton Rouge for a tour of the Old State Capitol Museum. (B, L, D) FRIDAY, APRIL 5 NATCHEZ, Mississippi Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi, is set on a high bluff overlooking the river. Originally occupied by the Natchez Indians, it was settled by the French in the early 1700s, and later the British and Spanish. Initially, tobacco and indigo were the crops of choice, but the Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile, Alabama FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL

5 advent of the cotton gin in 1795, along with slavery and its busy slave market (one of the South s busiest), made Natchez one of the wealthiest towns in the United States prior to the Civil War. Today, Natchez boasts numerous Antebellum structures, with more than 1,000 buildings on the National Register. You will visit some of its magnificent Antebellum buildings and explore its fascinating history. (B, L, D) SATURDAY, APRIL 6 VICKSBURG Vicksburg s position on a bend in the Mississippi River made it a bustling trade port and a prime target during the Civil War. Once inhabited by the Natchez and later the conquering Choctaw tribes and the Spanish, the final Confederate stronghold saw one of the longest sieges in military history 47 days in 1863 and was considered by President Lincoln imperative to Union victory. In addition to its Civil War sites, Vicksburg is home to lovely plantations and mansions, some of which you will visit. (B, L, D) SUNDAY, APRIL 7 CRUISING Enjoy a relaxing day on the Mississippi River appreciating Yorktown s amenities. (B, L, D) MONDAY, APRIL 8 NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana DISEMBARK Disembark in New Orleans and transfer to the airport for return flights home. (B) DETAILS SHIP SIZE: 69 Cabins PRICING: Per person, double occupancy Category CAT. E CAT. D CAT. C CAT. B CAT. A CAT. AA CAT. S LOW SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of cabins are available for solo travelers WHAT IS INCLUDED: a Harvard study leader and additional experts Yorktown and soft drinks with lunch and dinner RATES WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: Airfare; transfers; visa and passport fees (if applicable); port and embarkation taxes; luggage and trip cancellation insurance; meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel Interior, Louisiana Old State Capitol THIS TRIP IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THE VANDERBILT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

6 SPECIFICATIONS YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: 1988 YEAR OF RENOVATION: 2012 OVERALL LENGTH: 257 feet MAXIMUM PASSENGERS: 138 FLAG: American AMENITIES Exterior cabins with s, spacious lounge, dining room, sun deck, and Internet access. YORKTOWN CATEGORY S Superior outside cabins with walk-out balcony, full-size bed,, and mini-refigerator CATEGORY AA Outside cabins with two lower beds that can convert to a queen bed, picture window, and S79 S77 S80 S78 CATEGORY A picture window, and SUN DECK P75 P73 P71 P69 P67 P65 P63 P61 P59 P57 P55 P53 P51 P49 CATEGORY B picture window, and CATEGORY C two windows, and CATEGORY D two windows, and L47 L45 L43 L48 L46 L44 P76 P74 PROMENADE DECK LOUNGE DECK MAIN DECK L41 L39 L37 L35 L33 L31 L29 L27 L42 P72 P70 P68 P66 P64 P62 L40 L38 L36 L34 L32 L30 DINING ROOM P60 P58 P56 P54 P52 P50 L28 OBSERVATION LOUNGE M25M23 M21M19 M17M15 M11 M24M22 M20M18 M16M14 M12 M26 CATEGORY E two portholes, and GENERAL INFORMATION PAYMENT SCHEDULE For your convenience, you may charge your deposit to your American Express, Visa, Discover, or MasterCard. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Credit cards are not accepted for final payment. However, personal checks are accepted for both deposits and final payment. CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS: All cancellations of confirmed reservations are subject to a fees assessed by the purveyors of services, including airlines or hotels used in the itinerary. Cancellations received days prior to departure will be assessed a penalty equal to 50% of the total program cost per person. Cancellations received within 60 days of departure are subject to 100% cancellation penalties. Requests for cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds will be made for any part of this program in which you choose not to participate. Service fees may apply to deviations and are non-refundable. INSURANCE: We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. An application for trip cancellation insurance will be provided by the HAA upon confirmation. The pre-existing medical conditions exclusion is waived if the insurance is purchased within 15 days of initial deposit. Neither the HAA nor the tour operator will take responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guests dependents or traveling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, cancellation or curtailment of the tour, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money, and goods. As a service to our travelers we automatically provide emergency medical evacuation insurance. You will receive detailed coverage approximately 30 days prior to your departure. RESPONSIBILITY: Please read carefully the following terms and conditions, which constitute the sole, legally enforceable agreements between the passenger and Travel Dynamics International and the tour s sponsoring organization. The passenger is also advised to review his/her separate ticket passage contract with the vessel s owner/operator, which will constitute the sole, legally enforceable terms of carriage for this tour and is available on request from Travel Dynamics International. Travel Dynamics International and the tour s sponsoring organization act solely as agents for the passenger with respect to all transportation, hotel and other tour arrangements. In that capacity, we exercise all reasonable care possible to ensure the passenger s safety and satisfaction, but, we neither assume nor bear any responsibility or liability for any injury, death, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity arising in connection with the services of any ship, airplane, train, automobile, motor coach, carriage or other conveyance, or the actions of any third-party, involved in carrying the passenger or in affecting these tours. We are not responsible for damages, additional expenses, or any other losses due to cancellation, delay or other changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, civil disturbances, acts or threats of terrorism, travel warnings or bans, termination or suspension of war risks or other carrier insurance, quarantine, acts of God or other causes beyond our control. All such losses must be borne by the passenger, and tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. In the event of cancellation, delay or rescheduling mandated by any of the aforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall have the option of accepting in lieu of the original tour such rescheduled tour or other substituted tour(s) as may be offered by us, or else, receiving a refund of as much of such advance tour expenditures as we are able to recover on the passenger s behalf from carriers, third-party tour vendors, etc., but, we shall not have any obligation or liability to the passenger beyond the foregoing. We reserve the right to make alterations to the tour s itinerary and to substitute hotels, ships, or lecturers if this is required. We reserve the right to cancel, delay, or reschedule any tour prior to departure, and, so long as this is not due to any of the aforesaid causes beyond our control, the passenger shall be entitled to a full refund of all monies paid to that point if he/she so desires. No refund shall be made for any unused portion of any tour. By forwarding their deposit(s), the passenger certifies that he/she and/or their dependents, minors or others covered thereby do not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that could create a hazard for them or other passengers. We reserve the right to decline to accept or to decline to retain any person as a member of any tour should such person s health, condition or actions adversely affect or threaten the welfare or safety of other passengers or impede the tour. Baggage or valuables brought on the tour shall be transported, handled or stored at the passenger s risk entirely, and, we shall bear no liability or responsibility for any damage or other loss thereto. Passenger tickets are not transferable and are not subject to alteration by the passenger. No suit shall be maintainable against the carrier, or vessel, for any losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passengers, unless written notice of the claim, with full particulars, is delivered to the carrier or its agents at its office at the port of sailing or at the port of termination within six months from the day when such incident occurred. In no event shall any such suit or any claim against the carrier or vessel for any losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passenger be maintainable unless such suit is commenced within one year from the day when the incident causing such losses, accidents, damages to person, property, personal injury (including death or other types of bodily injury) of the passenger occurs, notwithstanding any provision of law of any state or country to the contrary. Resolution of any disputes arising hereunder shall be brought within the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, pursuant to the applicable general maritime law, and applying the applicable general maritime law and Federal maritime statutes. RATES: Tour costs are based upon current airfares, tariffs, and currency values. While we do everything possible to maintain the listed prices, they are subject to change. FUEL SUPPLEMENT: Our Tour Operator reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement, charged even if the cruise fare has been paid in full. SHIP S REGISTRY: USA QUESTIONS: Please call HAA Travels at or , haatravels@harvard.edu CST # TDI TO BOOK A TRIP CALL OR VISIT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL

7 HAA Trips LAND & RAIL: CRUISES: RIVERS & LAKES: R E G I STRAT I ON FOR M VILLAGE LIFE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT SEP 29-OCT 7, 2012 THE BEST OF PATAGONIA, BUENOS AIRES AND SANTIAGO NOV 2-16, 2012 MARK VAN BAALEN EGYPT AND JORDAN BY PRIVATE PLANE DEC 30, JAN 13, 2013 PAUL BERAN & HILARY RANTISI MYSTICAL INDIA JAN 3-20, 2013 SUE SCHOPF EXPLORING MYANMAR: LAND OF THE GOLDEN PAGODA FEB 23-MAR 7, 2013 THE LANDSCAPES OF ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES, MENDOZA AND THE LAKE DISTRICT MAR 12-23, 2013 DIANA SORENSEN FLEMISH LANDSCAPES ON AMALYRA APR 12-23, 2013 ROBERT KIELY BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA, AND ZIMBABWE APR 14-27, 2013 JONATHAN LOSOS THE BEST OF BOTSWANA: HARVARD UNIVERSITY ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM APR 19-MAY 5, 2013 THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMANOVS: FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OF DYNASTY MAY 2-14, 2013 MOROCCAN DISCOVERY MAY 11-24, 2013 CHARLES COGAN SILK ROAD ODYSSEY: THE FIVE STANS, MAY 25-JUN 12, 2013 LAURA ADAMS HIMALAYAN KINGDOMS MAY 31-JUN 14, 2013 BORNEO & SULAWESI: ACROSS THE WALLACE LINE ON ORION II SEP 15-OCT 2, 2012 ZARIN MACHANDA VENICE TO DUBROVNIK ON SEA CLOUD II OCT 2-9, 2012 SIDNEY & CYNTHIA VERBA ANCIENT WONDERS: HERAKLION TO ANTALYA ON CLIPPER ODYSSEY OCT 6-18, 2012 HISTORY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: A VOYAGE FROM ISTANBUL TO CASABLANCA ON CORINTHIAN II OCT 13-29, 2012 SICILY BY SEA ON SEA CLOUD II OCT 22-31, 2012 CATHERINE MCKENNA THE ANCIENT COAST OF TURKEY & AEGEAN SEA ISLANDS ON CALLISTO OCT 25-NOV 3, 2012 CAROL SAIVETZ SPLENDORS OF INDIA WITH SRI LANKA/MALDIVES ON CLIPPER ODYSSEY NOV 18-DEC 5, 2012 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA ON CORINTHIAN II DEC 30, JAN 11, 2013 MICHAEL MCELROY BELIZE & GUATEMALA ON YORKTOWN JAN 12-19, 2013 BRIAN FARRELL HISTORY & GARDENS OF THE CARIBBEAN: ROUND-TRIP ANTIGUA ON SEA CLOUD II JAN 13-20, 2013 JOYCE CHAPLIN & DAVID ARMITAGE BRUNEI TO BALI ON CLIPPER ODYSSEY FEB 11-27, 2013 MARK VAN BAALEN AFRICA GRAND VOYAGE FROM CAPE TOWN TO CASABLANCA ON CORINTHIAN FEB 17-MAR 24, 2013 THE ONCE AND FUTURE EGYPT ON SUN BOAT III MAR 12-25, 2013 TAREK SWELIM TREASURES OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER & THE GULF COAST ON YORKTOWN MAR 29-APR 8, 2013 GREAT LAKES GRAND DISCOVERY: A VOYAGE TO THE FIVE INLAND SEAS ON YORKTOWN JUL 29-AUG 8, 2013 PRAGUE TO PARIS WITH A MAIN AND RHINE RIVERS CRUISE ON RIVER CLOUD II OCT 9-22, 2013 VIETNAM & CAMBODIA WITH THE MEKONG RIVER OCT 16-NOV 1, 2013 INDIA S HOLY RIVER GANGES ON BENGAL GANGA DEC 30, JAN 17, 2014 FAMILY ADVENTURES: FAMILY TANZANIA SAFARI DEC 26, 2012 JAN 7, 2013 KAREN KRAMER SPRING BREAK GREECE FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI MAR 15-23, 2013 GREGORY NAGY WINTER IN THE WEST: A COLORADO FAMILY GETAWAY MAR 16-23, 2013 FAMILY TANZANIA SAFARI & GORILLA TREKKING JUN 11-27, 2013 DANIEL LIEBERMAN SPORTS EVENTS: THE MASTERS GOLF TOURNAMENT APR 10-13, 2013 THE 139TH RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY MAY To register, fill out this form and return to HAA Travels some programs an additional deposit may be requested after you book. Please return this form by mail to: HAA Travels, Harvard Alumni Association 124 Mount Auburn Street, 6 th floor, Cambridge, MA Or by FAX: Please call with any questions: or I AM NOT ABLE TO MAKE THIS TRIP, BUT PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR MAILING LIST PROGRAM NAME FIRST PERSON NAME ON PASSPORT ADDRESS STREET ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP OR POSTAL CODE HOME TELEPHONE SECOND PERSON NAME ON PASSPORT ADDRESS STREET ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP OR POSTAL CODE HOME TELEPHONE METHOD OF DEPOSIT START DATE DATE OF BIRTH WORK TELEPHONE DATE OF BIRTH WORK TELEPHONE CHECK (please enclose check) MASTERCARD VISA AMEX DISCOVER CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CARD 3-DIGIT SECURITY CODE I/WE CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE READ AND ACCEPT THE GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THIS TOUR, INCLUDING REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY CLAUSE AT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL. SIGNATURE SIGNATURE ACCOMMODATIONS CATEGORY PREFERENCE DOUBLE ROOM SINGLE ROOM SHARE A ROOM WITH: ROOMMATE

8 HARVARD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 124 MOUNT AUBURN STREET, 6TH FLOOR CAMBRIDGE, MA BOOK YOUR NEXT JOURNEY WITH THE HAA TODAY! CALL OR VISIT US AT ALUMNI.HARVARD.EDU/HAA/TRAVEL PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Travel Dynamics Int l