St. Paul is set to be a central excursion point for a pair of 50-plus-day river cruises in 2026, billed by American Cruise Lines as the longest such voyages on the market.

At 51 nights, the Great United States Cruise covers 14 states, including visits to three national parks. After heading from the Pacific Northwest to Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks, travelers will fly to New Orleans for a complete Mississippi River cruise ending in St. Paul (or mostly complete; sorry to all the Lake Itasca fans out there), then fly from the Twin Cities to Boston for a New England experience. This cruise runs May 29 to July 19, 2026.

The longer Great American Fall Foliage Cruise, 54 nights, trades the national parks for a cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage, then a cruise from St. Louis to St. Paul and an exploration of more of the East Coast, cruising from Portland, Maine, to Washington, D.C. This cruise runs Sept. 5 to Oct. 29, 2026.

Both itineraries also include a daylong stop each in Winona and Red Wing.

We did not make the cut, evidently, for the Spring Across America cruise in April and May, which begins in South Carolina and Florida and only explores the Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans before heading to the Pacific Northwest and up to Alaska.

Prices for these cruises are not made available online; potential customers must request a custom quote. However, American sailed a similar itinerary, covering 20 states in 60 days, in 2024, and the per-person price for that journey ranged from $51,060 to $77,945.

The price is all-inclusive of meals, daily excursions, transportation between cruise segments and, for the Great United States Cruise, an “American Cruise Lines jacket and gear pack.”

The impetus for these extended itineraries, according to the cruise line, is the country’s semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, in 2026.

River cruising has been making a comeback in St. Paul in recent years, with luxury liners appearing to largely replace the paddle-wheelers of the past.

Run by the international company Viking River Cruises, the splashy Viking Mississippi set sail from St. Paul in 2022, the first luxury cruise liner here in about a decade. Until American Cruise Lines reinstated service here a few years ago, the company’s cruises had not stopped in St. Paul since 2018; its luxury ships made their final port-of-call instead in Red Wing.

Related Articles

Full-time living on a cruise ship? Florida couple goes all in

Get into all national parks for free on April 19

Professional deal finder reveals truth about cheap airfare

Acclaimed designer reveals the item to pack for a good night’s sleep at any hotel

‘Coolcations’ surge in popularity as travelers seek escape from summer heat

The company currently operates fleets of both modern cruise ships — most of which have been newly constructed within the past half-decade or so — and renovated traditional paddle-wheelers.

Meanwhile, paddle-wheeler stalwart American Queen Voyages stopped operations in St. Paul by 2019 and folded altogether last year.

The broader statewide tourism industry has struggled a bit over the past three years, though, after a brief COVID-induced outdoor vacation surge in 2021. Last summer’s tourism season was especially tough for businesses affected by major flooding along the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.

Before they all sang “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams, musician Traiveon Dunlap reminded the elementary schoolers seated in a circle in front of him at 825 Arts of their parts in the song.

The whole group will sing the first verse together. Esme will take the first chorus, he said; Summer will sing the next one. Dunlap will clap the beat and cue the ad-libs and “yeah!” shouts. You ready?

This is ComMUSICation, a youth music program centered in Frogtown that runs a variety of after-school programming, including elementary, middle and high school choirs and other music classes focusing on topics like drumming, ukulele, songwriting and cultural music.

Student participants in ComMUSICation, a youth-development program that aims to build life skills through music performance, sing on July 27, 2024. With a focus on making music accessible, ComMUSICation’s after-school programming is all free and snacks or meals are provided at each rehearsal. (Courtesy of ComMUSICation)

Programming is led by professional musicians, like Dunlap, and student groups have previously performed with Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and VocalEssence and alongside Broadway actor Leslie Odom, Jr. at Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis in 2018. But ComMUSICation is not exactly a music school, per se: The organization’s primary aim is to build access to music so kids can learn the life skills that ensemble music performance can provide: confidence, teamwork, reliability, collaboration, peer leadership.

“It’s not only about singing; it’s about how we use the singing to help facilitate that learning,” said Georgina Chinchilla Gonzalez, ComMUSICation’s executive director. “A lot of what they learn through music (is), ‘This seems really hard, how am I going to do this?’ — and then they figure it out. And that ripples out into school and into communities.”

Performing with ComMUSICation offers a space where you can sing without judgment and feel supported in taking risks, said Angel, a 5th-grader in the elementary choir.

“You think you’re going to be scared, and you could be — but once you get up there, for me, you know you’ve gotta do it,” she said. “And it’s better because you’re not alone.”

ComMUSICation students from a variety of the organization’s choirs and programs are presenting a spring showcase at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at 825 Arts on University Avenue. Free tickets can be reserved online. The following week, the high school Soar choir is also planning and staging its own cabaret-style show, at 5 p.m. Friday, May 2, also at 825 Arts; free to attend with a pay-what-you-can bake sale.

‘Skills to be successful’

The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders rehearsing with Dunlap on a recent afternoon were not singing “Happy” because adult leaders had chosen their repertoire: The participants themselves, even the elementary schoolers, take the lead on choosing their own music.

“The young people are the ones making decisions,” Gonzalez said — which, like in adulthood, also carries responsibilities. At each rehearsal, students can also be assigned jobs: “techie,” who runs the screen that displays the lyrics; secretary, who chooses the order in which they’ll rehearse the songs; time keeper; materials manager. (I asked Esme, a third-grader, what that particular job’s responsibilities include. “They manage the materials,” she told me. Gotcha.)

Younger ComMUSICation participants do tend to pick more popular karaoke-style songs, said Carey Shunskis, the music and program director. But as they get older, she said, it’s gratifying to watch them willingly challenge themselves with more ambitious music.

And in addition to life skills, participants do come away with solid musical chops.

Take Mahogany Robinson, for example. She initially joined ComMUSICation more than a decade ago during its first years in operation, when she was in second grade at St. Paul City School. She returned to the organization as a high schooler, and now is a teaching fellow with ComMUSICation and a freshman music student at the University of Minnesota.

Now, by working with the kids who are sitting where she once did, she said, she is able to help show them that music, even classical performance, is not monolithic and contains many avenues for self-expression.

Student participants in ComMUSICation’s Soar choir, comprised of 9th through 12th graders, jump for a photo in front of the Minnesota State Capitol after performing there March 28, 2025. The group sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as part of Black Youth Mental Health Day. (Courtesy of ComMUSICation)

“I got into the University of Minnesota for vocal performance, which I would credit almost 100 percent to ComMUSICation,” she said. “There are so many barriers to music education…and there’s so much of the musical world that (young people) might not know about because it’s inaccessible.”

ComMUSICation, as Robinson and Gonzalez both explained, is specifically oriented toward making the musical world accessible: All the programs are offered at no cost, free transportation is provided, and snacks or meals are served at every rehearsal.

“We want humans who feel valued and loved and appreciated, and who have the skills to be successful in whatever they choose to do with their lives, whether or not that’s music,” Gonzalez said.

‘Sing your heart out here’

During that recent rehearsal, Shunskis pulled a few kids out into a side room for a brief interview. As one might expect for a group of performative elementary schoolers, things quickly went off the rails.

For example: What would each kid say to someone else in their grade about why they should consider joining ComMUSICation?

Angel, 5th grade: “If you ever wanted to become a singer, then this would be the place. Not a comedian, not a firefighter, not a dance class. But — if you become a celebrity and you don’t know how to dance, then social media is going to eat you, so…”

Shunskis: I think we’ve lost the plot.

Summer, 4th grade: “You can meet new friends. You’ll probably like it because it looks like an old building. And you can sing your heart out here.”

Esme, 3rd grade: “Because we need the money.”

Shunskis: Esme, y’all don’t pay for this program. We don’t get money from you, it’s free for you!

Esme: “Oh. Well in that case, then because it’s free. (Long pause) And because there are a lot of nice teachers, and it’s just really fun. And snack is, like, the best part.”

If You Go

What: ComMUSICation’s Spring Showcase and Cabaret, highlighting the work of the local youth-driven music performance organization

When: 6 p.m. April 24 (youth showcase) and 5 p.m. May 2 (high-school cabaret)

Where: 825 Arts; 825 W. University Ave.

Tickets: Free; reserve tickets for the showcase in advance online. More info at commusicationmn.org.

Related Articles

Coachella 2025: Benson Boone, Tyla and GloRilla perform in the desert.

Concert review: Bill Murray’s bluesy musical turn at the Orpheum almost veered into karaoke

Concert review: Now in their 70s, AC/DC still know how to rock

South St. Paul: As a kid, he checked out a Cat Stevens vinyl from the library. As a grandpa, he tried to return it.

Author, wife of Weezer bassist arrested after being shot by police who say she pointed a gun at them

Today is Sunday, April 13, the 103rd day of 2025. There are 262 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 13, 1997, 21-year-old Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, finishing a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite in second place.

Also on this date:

In 1743, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

Related Articles

Today in History: April 12, Yuri Gagarin becomes first human in space

At Capitol and Stillwater, a swing to commemorate baseball history

Today in History: April 11, the liberation of Buchenwald

South St. Paul: As a kid, he checked out a Cat Stevens vinyl from the library. As a grandpa, he tried to return it.

Today in History: April 10, Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement

In 1861, Fort Sumter in South Carolina fell to Confederate forces in the first battle of the Civil War.

In 1873, members of the pro-white, paramilitary White League attacked Black state militia members defending a courthouse in Colfax, Louisiana; three white men and as many as 150 Black men were killed in what is known as the Colfax Massacre, one of the worst acts of Reconstruction-era violence.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial in Washington on the 200th anniversary of his birth.

In 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first Black performer to win an Academy Award for acting in a leading role for his performance in “Lilies of the Field.”

In 1999, right-to-die advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sentenced in Pontiac, Michigan, to 10 to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder for administering a lethal injection to a patient with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. (Kevorkian ultimately served eight years before being paroled.)

In 2005, a defiant Eric Rudolph pleaded guilty to carrying out the deadly bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and three other attacks in back-to-back court appearances in Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta.

In 2009, at his second trial, music producer Phil Spector was found guilty by a Los Angeles jury of second-degree murder in the shooting of actor Lana Clarkson. (Later sentenced to 19 years to life, Spector died in prison in January 2021.)

In 2011, A federal jury in San Francisco convicted baseball slugger Barry Bonds of a single charge of obstruction of justice but failed to reach a verdict on the three counts at the heart of allegations that he knowingly used steroids and human growth hormone and lied to a grand jury about it. (Bonds’ conviction for obstruction was overturned in 2015.)

In 2016, the Golden State Warriors became the NBA’s first 73-win team by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking the 72-win record set by the Chicago Bulls in 1996.

In 2017, Pentagon officials said U.S. forces struck a tunnel complex of the Islamic State group in eastern Afghanistan with the GBU-43/B MOAB “mother of all bombs,” the largest non-nuclear weapon ever used in combat by the military.

Today’s Birthdays:

Singer Al Green is 79.
Actor Ron Perlman is 75.
Singer Peabo Bryson is 74.
Bandleader-drummer Max Weinberg is 74.
Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov is 62.
Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III is 61.
Actor-comedian Caroline Rhea is 61.
Actor Rick Schroder is 55.
Actor Glenn Howerton is 49.
Actor Kelli Giddish is 45.
Singer-rapper Ty Dolla $ign is 43.
Actor Allison Williams is 37.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Although it mostly looks like a bear, the Minnesota Wild have never officially said what creature is represented on the sharp logo they wear on their sweaters. But whatever animal it is, it’s apparently a bad idea to back one into a corner.

Less than 20 minutes from seeing their playoff fate slip from their control, the Wild mounted a furious comeback on Saturday for a 3-2 overtime win over the Canucks in Vancouver, which notably increases the chances Minnesota will return to the playoffs after a one-season absence.

Trailing by a pair at the start of the third period, the Wild got late goals from Brock Faber and Marcus Foligno to forge a tie, and Kirill Kaprizov set up Mats Zuccarello in the extra session to help the Wild open up a five-point standings lead on Calgary, their closest pursuer.

The Wild need just a point in their season finale on Tuesday to clinch a playoff berth.

Minnesota Wild’s Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrate after scoring the winning goal against Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen during overtime of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

“The expectation was to get back to a style of game that gives us a chance to win. I thought we did that tonight. And just happy for the guys,” said Wild coach John Hynes, who had been disappointed a night earlier when his team missed a chance to clinch in a 4-2 loss in Calgary.

“It was a long night last night, and then you come in tonight, and I thought we played a pretty solid game,” Hynes said. “And to come out and continue to push in the third period and get rewarded for it is obviously a big two points for us. But I think it’s important for another reinforcement of when we do the right things and play the right way, we’re a hard team to play against and give ourselves a good chance to win.”

Filip Gustavsson had 12 saves for the Wild, who head back to Minnesota for the regular-season finale having won three of their last four.

Playing before a smaller audience, due in part to the fact that Vancouver was eliminated from the playoff race days earlier, the Canucks got the crowd involved early regardless when defenseman Marcus Pettersson found a small gap over Gustavsson’s right shoulder barely 3 minutes into the game.

The Wild outshot Vancouver in the first period and had the game’s initial power play but were frustrated by goaltender Kevin Lankinen for their second consecutive game against the Canucks’ backup netminder.

Minnesota’s already-thin defensive ranks lost another man early in the second period when Petterson hit Declan Chisholm hard into the end boards. While it was deemed a clean hit, with no penalty called on the play, Chisholm’s helmeted head made hard contact with the glass, and he was helped from the ice.

Hynes and his staff rotated five defensemen for the rest of the period, which has been an all-too-common challenge for the Wild in this injury-plagued season. Already were without injured Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton, the Wild got Chisholm back in the third period.

“I mean, you see that happen and you’re like, you know, ‘Here we go again.’ But I’m glad he was OK and just shaken up,” Foligno said. “If it’s a full-on head hit, then somebody would have been done, but you know, it’s tough. You’re walking that line of answering it and not trying to hurt the team at the same time.”

The visitors took a pair of penalties in the middle frame, killing the first one, but seeing Jake DeBrusk slide to the side of the net and clank a shot past Gustavsson for a 2-0 Canucks lead after two periods.

Faber got his 10th goal of the season just 22 seconds into the third, cleaning up a loose puck in the low slot, and giving the visitors some much-needed life. Minnesota went down another man a few minutes later when fourth line wing Yakov Trenin was ejected following a fight with former Duluth East standout Derek Forbort.

Then Ryan Hartman fed Foligno in front of the net to knot the score in a third period the Wild dominated from start to finish. In overtime, Kaprizov circled with the puck to draw the Vancouver defenders to him, which left Zuccarello wide open in front of the net for the game-winner.

“It’s a little bit long shift. I don’t know how many circles we did in our zone,” said Kaprizov, averaging a goal a game since returning to the lineup last week. “Just try and play in the moment. Nice play by Zuccy.”

Hynes said he does not believe it was a set play.

“I think it’s just those two guys. They have the chemistry … when they get in some of those situations,” the coach said. “It happens 5 on 5, if they’re on the same line, but when they get in special situations, 3 on 3, power plays, things like that, I think it’s just the natural instincts. There’s a little bit more time and space on the ice, and the skill level and the talent that they have combined with the chemistry is tough to defend.”

Lankinen finished with 30 saves for Vancouver.

Middleton missed his fourth contest in a row with an upper body injury, and captain Spurgeon sat out after reportedly taking a puck to the throat in Friday’s loss at Calgary. Hynes did not offer a severity assessment of Spurgeon’s injury before the game. Cameron Crotty made his Wild debut on the blue line, playing in his second-ever NHL game after getting into one contest for Arizona last season.

The Wild will have Sunday off, then are expected to have a roster addition for their Monday practice in St. Paul. Denver defenseman Zeev Buium is widely anticipated to sign with the team and arrive in Minnesota in time to meet the team, get in a few skates and make his NHL debut on Tuesday.