Memphis is a major start and end point for Lower Mississippi river cruises. Riverboats dock at Beale Street Landing, steps from Beale Street's blues clubs, with Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum nearby.
River cruise ships dock at Beale Street Landing on the downtown riverfront.
About 5–10 minutes uphill.
At the Lorraine Motel, 15 minutes' walk.
About 20 minutes south.
One downtown river landing.
| Cruise line / ship | Typical berth / arrival | Dock or tender |
|---|---|---|
| American Queen Voyages, Viking & American Cruise Lines | Beale Street Landing | 📍 Docked |
Typical arrangements only — your ship's berth is confirmed in the daily planner.
These typical arrangements are retained from the supplied port guide and have not all been independently reverified. Map links are location searches, not live ship assignments. Confirm the berth, tender landing and boarding arrangements for your sailing. Read this port’s researched access notes →
✈️ Airport: Memphis International (MEM) — about 20 min
🚐 Getting to the ship: Taxi, rideshare or cruise-line hotel transfer.
🏨 Where to stay: Downtown near Beale Street or the Peabody.
Memphis is a river-cruise port — none of our eight featured ocean lines sail here. River cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Columbia rivers are run by lines such as American Cruise Lines and Viking.
Melody can help with river, Great Lakes and small-ship cruises too — just ask.
Compare access requirements for this port before booking an excursion →
The shore excursions most worth your time in Memphis.
Tours booked through Viator, Cruise Travellers' excursion partner. Check the operator’s written return-to-ship policy; a guarantee is not assumed.
These are sightseeing suggestions. Distances and walking difficulty labels do not establish a step-free route. Read the port-specific access notes before choosing a route.
Beale Street, the Peabody ducks and the Civil Rights Museum.
Best time: April–June and September–October. Warm, 75–85°F / 24–29°C.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F / 10°C | 32°F / 0°C | 10 |
| Feb | 55°F / 13°C | 36°F / 2°C | 10 |
| Mar | 64°F / 18°C | 44°F / 7°C | 11 |
| Apr ⭐ | 73°F / 23°C | 52°F / 11°C | 10 |
| May ⭐ | 81°F / 27°C | 61°F / 16°C | 10 |
| Jun ⭐ | 89°F / 32°C | 70°F / 21°C | 8 |
| Jul | 92°F / 33°C | 73°F / 23°C | 8 |
| Aug | 92°F / 33°C | 72°F / 22°C | 6 |
| Sep ⭐ | 85°F / 29°C | 64°F / 18°C | 6 |
| Oct ⭐ | 75°F / 24°C | 53°F / 12°C | 7 |
| Nov | 62°F / 17°C | 43°F / 6°C | 9 |
| Dec | 52°F / 11°C | 35°F / 2°C | 10 |
⭐ = best months to visit. Approximate long-term averages — check the forecast before you sail.
Downtown and Beale.
Downtown line.
About 20 minutes.
Prices are typical ranges and change — confirm before you ride.
Other port guides close to Memphis.
Tours, prices, transport fares and pier assignments change. Always confirm with the operator, your cruise line and your ship's all-aboard time before relying on anything here.
Mississippi River cruise hub — Graceland, Beale Street blues and the Civil Rights Museum.
Graceland distinguishes wheelchair users from scooter users on its shuttle, and the mansion basement and aircraft have genuine access exclusions.
Published sources reviewed October 17, 2026. This is desk research, not an on-site access audit. Access can change with the ship, berth, equipment and operating conditions.
Partial mansion access; scooter-seat transfer
Graceland’s tour shuttle has a lift, but scooter users must move into a shuttle seat. Two basement rooms require stairs; an alternative route and monitor show those spaces for visitors unable to descend.
Accessible complex; aircraft interiors excluded
Graceland describes Elvis Presley’s Memphis as wheelchair accessible. The Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II aircraft are not wheelchair accessible; a gift-shop video is offered. Limited loan chairs serve the mansion portion only.
Planning suggestion: Use your own appropriate device, arrange accessible transport to Graceland and choose the mansion bypass and exhibition complex without promising aircraft boarding.
Detailed access-planning questions · Save these arrangements in your day plan
Discuss my access needsTurn the interests in this guide into a private shore-day brief. These are ideas to discuss with Melody, not confirmed bookable products.
Before booking, request the named operator, inclusions, vehicle specification, entry tickets, cancellation terms and a written return plan. Private access, special entry and availability must be confirmed.
Request a Curated Ashore proposal Book a consultationSave a personal checklist on this device, then print it or share your brief with Melody. Times are your inputs in ship time; this tool does not calculate travel times or guarantee return.
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Confirm piers, fares, transfers, admission, tour duration and assistance with your cruise line and the relevant operator. Weather tables are inherited indicative averages, not a forecast. Report a correction.
