the Mississippi & the Gulf Coast

Aboard the American-Flagged, 138-Guest Yorktown

November 18 30, 2012

treasures of

Featuring Onboard Jazz Performances

nO single supplement

ONBOARD JAZZ PERFORMANCES

New Orleans and the surounding areas are the birthplace of jazz. To celebrate this uniquely American expression, which is known and enjoyed throughout the world, we are pleased to have with us talented musicians who will not only perform, but will also delve into the history and the roots of the Deep Souths musical tradition.
Professor Bill Messenger studied musical composition at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and has accompanied many nationally known performers, including Lou Rawls and Cass Elliot. As a jazz pianist, he has played in ragtime, swing, Dixieland, and modern jazz groups. Gary Chalmers, a seasoned percussionist, has in recent years evolved into an on-call session drummer for various musical projects of Bill Messenger, including Teaching Company recordings and live performances. Del Pushert is known to the music world as a saxophone players saxophone player. Today he lends his dynamic sound to some of the top Western Swing groups on the storied Austin music city circuit.

The stately Houmas House

Dear Vanderbilt Travelers and Friends, The Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast have seen the canoes of Native Americans, the flotilla of French and Spanish explorers, and the flatboats of settlers. Yet to most travelers today, this is undiscovered territory. Now we invite you to join us on a cruise to explore both waterwaysthe gracious plantations, historic cities, and Civil War battlefields along the Mississippi; and the historic and cultural sites of the Gulf Coast. Your voyage begins in New Orleans French Quarter, the heart of this vibrant city. Famous for its cuisine, its native jazz music, and its romantic French colonial architecture, New Orleans possesses an irresistible charm. In Mobile, a city that also has deep French and Creole roots, you will visit architectural treasures that are among the finest along the Gulf Coast. Cruising along the Mississippi River, you will stop in one of the loveliest and oldest towns in the South, Natchez, and also will have the opportunity to tour a select few of the grandest historical plantations in the region. Civil War enthusiasts will enjoy Vicksburg, the Confederate stronghold besieged for 47 days by General Ulysses S. Grant, and Helena, site of an 1863 battle in which the Confederates attempted to drive the occupying Union forces out of the town. Joining you on this voyage will be Professor John Whiteclay Chambers II, who will enhance your appreciation of this regions deep history with lectures and discussions. Additionally, you will be treated to onboard concerts from a trio of talented jazz musicians: Bill Messenger, Gary Chalmers, and Del Pushert. For this idyllic voyage we have the ideal vessel. Yorktown is an American ship, staffed by American crew and officers. It accommodates 138 passengers in 69 exterior cabins. With its large sun deck, comfortable lounge, and spacious dining room, Yorktown offers its guests the finest small-ship experience. This fall, join fellow Vanderbilt alumni aboard Yorktown for a leisurely voyage along Americas remarkable Gulf Coast and Mississippi River. Sincerely,

EXPERT STUDY LEADER

Notable American history scholar John Whiteclay Chambers II will provide insightful discussions about the places visited.
John Whiteclay Chambers II, Distinguished Professor of American History at Rutgers University, has taught at both Columbia University and Rutgers. He is author or editor of more than a dozen books, including The Oxford Companion to American Military History; To Raise an Army: The Draft Comes to Modern America; and The Tyranny of Change: America in the Progressive Era. A regular book reviewer for the Washington Post, Professor Chambers has received fellowships or grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has been a visiting fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the University of Rome and the University of Tokyo. He is currently writing a book about the Civil War.

Carroll Kimball, BA84 President, Vanderbilt Alumni Association

Cover: Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana

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or

inFormation, please call us

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615-322-3673

Arkansas Helena
Mississippi Ri ve

MEMPHIS Tennessee

USA
Vicksburg

lush acres of gardens, ponds, and a majestic live oak alley. During the late autumn when you will be visiting, the gardens are blanketed with the colors of the harvest season. Stroll through these exquisite grounds and tour the restored mansion. (B, L, D) Sunday, November 25 n BATON ROUGE | ST. FRANCISVILLE | BATON ROUGE From the capital city of Baton Rouge, visit 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 18th- and 19th-century houses and buildings, including grand and small plantations. Visit some of these sites as you explore this quaint town then return to Baton Rouge for a tour of the Old State Capitol Museum. (B, L, D) Monday, November 26 n NATCHEZ, Mississippi Call at Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River and what was 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 these magnificent buildings and learn about Natchezs fascinating history. (B, L, D) Tuesday, November 27 n VICKSBURG As Yorktown continues along the Mississippi, you will explore historic

Alabama Florida

Mississippi
Natchez

Louisiana
St. Francisville Baton Rouge Houmas House

Mobile

Pensacola

NEW ORLEANS

Oak Alley Plantation

Horn Island Ship Island G ulf

of M ex ico

I t in e r ar y
Sunday, November 18, 2012 n NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana | EMBARK Fly to New Orleans to embark Yorktown. Overnight aboard ship. (D) Monday, November 19 n NEW ORLEANS Discover New Orleans, described by some as the most unique city in America, with U SA a walking tour of the French Quarter, or Vieux Carr, the 80-block area that is the geographical and spiritual heart of the city. (B, L, D) Tuesday, November 20 n MOBILE, Alabama Sailing the spacious Mobile Bay, Yorktown will dock in the graceful city of Mobile. Tour Mobiles historic landmarks and sites, which include Fort Cond, originally built in 1711, the Cond-Charlotte Museum, the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion, one of the citys finest antebellum homes, and the Bellingrath Gardens and Home, beautifully set along the Fowl River. (B, L, D) Wednesday, November 21 n PENSACOLA, Florida Pensacola is a beautiful Deep South city with a rich historic past. Visit the 19th-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. Navys first aircraft.

Alternatively, travel to Fort Barrancas, with fortifications dating to 1797 and trails overlooking Pensacola Bay. (B, L, D) Thursday, November 22 n 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. After visiting these serene seashores, enjoy a special Thanksgiving dinner aboard ship. (B, L, D) Friday, November 23 n LAURA PLANTATION | OAK ALLEY PLANTATION, Louisiana The only plantation that retains its original slave cabins, the Laura Plantation was the location where Alce Fortier recorded the tales of Brer Rabbit in the 1870s. Explore the homes of the owners and the slaves, as well as the lovely grounds. Continue to Oak Alley Plantation, with its breathtaking one-quarter-mile canopy of live oaks that lead from the Mississippi to the entrance of the elaborate Greek Revival mansion. (B, L, D) Saturday, November 24 n HOUMAS HOUSE Built in the early 1800s, the large Greek Revival mansion of the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is surrounded by

Musician in New Orleans

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Vicksburg. Its position on a bend in the Mississippi River made Vicksburg a bustling trade port and a prime target during the Civil War. Tour the Vicksburg National Military Park and see the USS Cairo, the first of the City class ironclad gunboats from the Civil War. (B, L, D) Wednesday, November 28 n CRUISING Enjoy a relaxing day on the Mississippi appreciating Yorktowns amenities. (B, L, D) Thursday, November 29 n HELENA, Arkansas Call at the quaint port town of Helena and explore the elegant Pillow-Thompson House, one of several homes in Helena designed by architect George Barber. Tour the Delta Cultural Center to learn about the history of Southern Blues and hear disc jockey Sunshine Sonny Payne, whose nationally syndicated radio show King Biscuit Time is the longest running broadcast in the country. (B, L, D) Friday, November 30 n MEMPHIS, Tennessee | DISEMBARK Disembark in Memphis and transfer to the airport for return flights home. (B)
Grumman F-14A Tomcat, National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida

Monmouth Plantation, Natchez

Program Inclusions
12-night cruise aboard the 138-guest Yorktown Complete program of tours and excursions Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner Concerts from accompanying jazz trio performed aboard ship Enrichment program of lectures and discussions by onboard study leader Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff Complete pre-departure materials Port and embarkation taxes Gratuities to guides and drivers not incluDeD: Airfare; transfers; luggage and trip cancellation insurance; alcoholic beverages other than wine and beer with lunch and dinner; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel airFare: Airfare is not included in the Cruise and Land Rates. Please contact your preferred airline, travel agent, or the Travel Dynamics International air desk operated by Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. (VWTI) for airfare information and to reserve flights. Consultants are available Monday Friday from 9:00 am 5:30 pm (EST) toll-free at 1-877-711-9896. Please have your tour name, code (12620), and dates handy for reference.
Sunset over the Mississippi in Natchez

Rosedown Plantation, St. Francisville

Cabins face outside and feature attractive amenities

YOR kTOwN
The Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of Americas great coastal waterways. Built in Florida in 1988 specifically for coastal cruising and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Yorktown flies the American flag and is staffed by friendly and experienced American officers and crew. At 257 feet long and 43 feet wide with a draft of 8 feet, the Yorktown is able to maneuver in secluded waterways and visit small ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. And Yorktowns American registry makes it possible to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships. In addition to a large sun deck, the Yorktown boasts a spacious lounge for social gatherings and lectures as well as quiet space for private conversation. The ships cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions and specialties. Both the lounge and dining room are surrounded by large picture windows that afford unobstructed views of the passing scenery. Accommodating 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.

DECk PLAN
S79 S77 S80 S78

SUN DECK
P75 P73 P76 P74 P71 P69 P67 P65 P63 P61 P72 P70 P68 P66 P64 P62 P59 P57 P55 P53 P51 P49

P60 P58 P56 P54 P52 P50

PROMENADE DECK
L47 L45 L43 L48 L46 L44 L41 L39 L37 L35 L33 L31 L29 L27 OBSERVATION LOUNGE L42 L40 L38 L36 L34 L32 L30 L28

LOUNGE DECK
M25 M23 M21M19 M17 M15 M11 DINING ROOM M26 M24 M22 M20M18 M16 M14 M12

Forward Lounge

MAIN DECK

CRUISE & LAND RATES

PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
category

description
Outside cabins with two lower beds, two portholes, and private bathroom. Cabins M11-M17 Outside cabins with two lower beds, two windows, and private bathroom. Cabins L43-L48 Outside cabins with two lower beds, two windows, and private bathroom. Cabins P49-P76 Outside cabins with two lower beds, two picture windows, and private bathroom. Cabins M18-M26 Outside cabins with two lower beds, two picture windows, and private bathroom. Cabins L29-L42 Outside cabins with two lower beds that can convert to a queen bed, two picture windows, and private bathroom. Cabins L27, L28, P59*, P60. *P59s two lower beds cannot be converted. Superior outside cabins with walk-out balcony, queen bed, and private bathroom. Cabins S77-S80

rate

E D C B A AA S

$4,995 $5,795 $6,495 $7,195 $7,895 $8,595 $8,995

Dining Room

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A limited number of cabins in Categories C-A have been set aside for single occupancy at no supplement. Once these cabins are filled, cabins for single occupancy may be available at the applicable supplement.

The spacious lounge, ideal for reading and relaxing

Superior cabins include a walk-out balcony

For reservations

or

inFormation, please call us

at

615-322-3673

r e g i s t r at i o n

VAND 12620

Enclosed is my check or credit card no. for $________ ($750 per person) as a deposit to hold ____ place(s) on Treasures of the Mississippi and the Gulf Coast. I understand that final payment is due ninety (90) days prior to departure and is payable by check only. Please make check payable to: Travel Dynamics International and mail with this registration coupon to: Vanderbilt Travel Program PMB 407735, 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville, TN 37240-7735 o AmEx o Discover o Visa o MasterCard No. __________________________________ Exp. __________________________________ 3- or 4-Digit Security Code ______________ Please select cabin category in order of preference: S__ AA__ A__ B__ C__ D__ E__ o Twin Beds o Single Occupancy o Double Bed o Share

(Cannot be guaranteed)

Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.

First

Last

cLass year

Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.

First

Last

cLass year

aDDress

city/state/Zip

teLephone (Day)

(evening)

e-MaiL

Each participant must sign below: I/We have read the General Information section and agree to its terms.

signature

Date

signature

Date

General InformatIon
Payment Schedule: A deposit of $750 per person is required to reserve your space on the tour. 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 are subject to a $300 per person fee. Cancellations received 61-90 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. InSurance: We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. ItInerary: The itinerary, accommodations, and arrangements are subject to change at the discretion of Travel Dynamics International. 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 tours sponsoring organization. The passenger is also advised to review his/her separate ticket passage contract with the vessels 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 tours 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 passengers 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 passengers 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 tours 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 persons 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 passengers 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: Travel Dynamics International reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement, without prior notice, if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $85 per barrel. This supplement may be charged even if the cruise fare has been paid in full. ShIPS reGIStry: USA CST #204 3599-40 TDI

Vanderbilt Travel Program PMB 407735 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville, TN 37240-7735

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Travel Dynamics Intl

PAID

Featuring OnbOard Jazz perfOrmances nO single supplement

VAND 12620

New Orleans famed French Quarter

To make reservations or for further information, please contact the vanderbilt travel program at 615-322-3673 or e-mail: alumni.travel@vanderbilt.edu, or call Travel Dynamics International toll-free at (800) 257-5767 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EST).

Laura Plantation, Louisiana