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If you feel like airfare to the embarkation port is impeding you to go on a Mississippi cruise, consider leaving from the Gulf of Mexico. The two main Gulf Coast cities are now increasingly offering cruise departures up the Mississippi. Galveston and New Orleans are not only close and Mississippi cruise vacationers; these are great but lesser-known American cities worth a visit in their own right.

Galveston is a lovely place to start on a Mississippi cruise, being a short drive from Houston, and an interesting sight in its own way. It already was a bustling port city on the 19th century, and was an arriving point to many immigrants to the country.

Before leaving on your Mississippi cruise you may want to stop in the city for a couple of days, as interesting sights abound. There are several close and lovely beaches for sunbathing and swimming, for instance, as well as some lovely landscaped gardens in the city proper.

New Orleans is another very good spot from where to begin a Mississippi cruise, and is also worth a stay to savor its colorful history and great town center. The city is mostly recovered from the recent hurricanes, and areas of visitor interest are all accessible.

In fact, the Mississippi cruise business is important for the city and those who want to help New Orleans get back on her feet can't do better than by leaving for a Mississippi cruise from her port, after having spent a couple of days in the city.

For visitors, the most interesting part of the city is the French Quarter. This is the area for strolling, people-watching, window shopping, and feeling the heat before leaving for a Mississippi cruise.

Food options are also wide-ranging and will enthrall you if you are of the gourmet type. You will find a wide range of options, from highbrow oysters to the more low-key local takeaway snack, the muffaletta, an Italian-originated sandwich on an olive bread base. Both may be also served during a Mississippi cruise lunch.

Talking about cuisine, you will find that two distinctive styles predominate. These are Creole and Cajun cooking. Creole food is inspired by French bourgeois cuisine and is more refined and heavy, which makes it popular for formal dinners during a Mississippi cruise.

Cajun cuisine is lighter than Creole, and it's also spicier due to African influences, and it features lots of exotic preparations such as alligator stew and turtle soup, all inspired by the availability of these meats in the delta. Prepare to be offered these recipes on your Mississippi cruise too!

Concerning your safety, make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen if you are leaving for your cruise in the summer and be especially vigilant for pickpockets in the town centers. You can relax your guard once you have boarded your Mississippi cruise.