THE ROUTE OF JEAN LAFITTE

New Orleans to Galveston • December 2-9, 2008 • 8 Days • 376 River Miles
Lower Mississippi River, Inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Atchafalaya River

A charismatic and daring buccaneer who helped defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans, Jean Lafitte is one of history's most colorful and misunderstood characters. From his base at Grand Terre Island on the edge of the expansive Barataria Swamp, "The Gentleman Pirate" commanded a force of over 1,000 privateers and fifty ships. Sought out by Andrew Jackson, who promised Lafitte and his men American citizenship in exchange for their help, the Baratarians' superior cannon skills were a deciding factor in the Battle of New Orleans.

After the battle, most of Lafitte's men settled down becoming trappers and fishermen, whose descendants still live on these shores. But Lafitte was restless; he chose to travel south along the coast toward Texas and Mexico in search of more adventure. Rumor has it that he buried troves of treasure along this route. Many have searched, but Jean Lafitte's treasure has never been found. Until now. We have found the long-searched-for treasures of Jean Lafitte along the Louisiana and Texas gulf coast. It has been here all along, disguised in the form of the beautiful places and incredible scenery witnessed on The Route of Jean Lafitte.

Feel the excitement from the moment you come aboard. This is an excursion unlike any other, featuring exciting vistas that can only be experienced from the R/B River Explorer, our exclusive mode of travel.

BOARDING LANDING
This 8 day The Route of Jean Lafitte excursion begins with an overnight stay in historic New Orleans , La., America’s most European city and home to the largest and longest port in the world covering 233 river miles. New Orleans was founded in 1718, by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and named for the regent of France, Philippe II, duc d’Orleans. It remained a French colony until 1763, when it was transferred to the Spanish. In 1800, Spain ceded it back to France. In 1803, New Orleans, and parts of what would become 13 states west of the Mississippi, was sold by Napoleon to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. We conveniently dock next to the Riverwalk Marketplace.

Enjoy great shopping and entertainment. Your excursion includes a pass to visit The National World War II Museum. The museum celebrates the American spirit, teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who won World War II. You’ll also receive a pass to visit Mardi Gras World. See how the world-famous Mardi Gras floats are created. Take our complimentary shuttle with stops including the historic French Quarter, Harrah’s Casino, The National World War II Museum and the Canal Street Ferry. New Orleans is known as the Big Easy, so take your time and enjoy the good food, music and people of this great city.

BARGING
We begin with a short ride on the wide and mighty Lower Mississippi River . It is the largest river in North America and is the mother of New Orleans. The Mississippi has served as the city’s lifeline from the time of her first settlers to present day, nurturing the city’s growth. This stretch of the river offers sights that aren’t seen anywhere else along the river’s route. We share the river with gigantic ocean-going ships that carry cargo to and from the Four Corners of the earth. We’ll pass through Algiers Lock and begin our barging adventure on the Inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The waterway was built to provide a protected inland coastal route from Texas to Florida and is a striking feat of modern engineering.

We’ll pass through Bayou Boeuf Lock before doing a short stint on the Atchafalaya River . Once we pass through Bowman Lock , which prevents salt water from entering freshwater areas, you’ll again see freshwater swamps, brackish marsh, lakes, bayous, canals and rivers that combine to make this route interesting. Sizable tracts of land along this route have been set aside as wildlife preserves — keep your stateroom binoculars handy! There’s plenty of wildlife to see, from alligators to white-tailed deer and several species of migratory waterfowl. We will traverse Calcasieu Lock , which also prevents saltwater and freshwater areas from mixing. There is no other way to see this part of the country and the beautiful scenery and wildlife it has to offer.

HOST LANDINGS ALONG THE WAY
Our stop near New Iberia, La., puts us in the heart of Cajun Country. The French-speaking natives here welcome you to a place where counties are called “parishes” and where “passing a good time” is the order of the day. We’ll treat you to a visit to Avery Island, located on a salt dome that is the highest land in Louisiana and home to Tabasco brand Pepper Sauce. See how Tabasco Sauce is made and visit the 200-acre Jungle Gardens. Situated on the banks of Bayou Teche, set among towering live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, is Shadows-on-the-Teche. This carefully restored southern plantation is a National Trust Historic Site. We’ll also visit St. Martinville, La., known as the “birthplace of Acadiana.” Between 1895 and 1902, St.

Martinville established Evangeline Oak Park on the banks of Bayou Teche and designated one of its trees as the Evangeline Oak. The oak came to be promoted as a “sacred relic” of Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline and the Acadian exile. Port Arthur, Texas, is in the heart of the Texas Golden Triangle region, where “Black Gold” created enormous wealth and prosperity. Texas oilmen, called wildcatters, sunk speculative wells in the years following the first discovery here at Spindletop; fortunes were made — and lost. We’ll visit the 39,000 square foot Museum of the Gulf Coast that combines conventional and unconventional approaches to telling the exciting stories of the
Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast Region.

DESTINATION LANDING
This journey ends with a 2 night stay in Galveston Island, Texas, one of the most historic and picturesque cities on the Gulf Coast. We dock close to the action in the Port of Galveston at the foot of the island’s famous shopping and entertainment district, the “Strand.” Antique and gift shops, museums, restaurants and wonderful Victorian architecture are yours to see and explore. Experience the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the celebrated 1877 tall ship Elissa. Walk the decks of this floating National Historic Landmark and imagine the days when daring sailors challenged the world’s oceans.

The museum also tells the story of a rich legacy of seaborne commerce and immigration. Visit Pier 21 and see The Great Storm, a powerful, panoramic documentary that recreates the devastation of the deadliest natural disaster in United States history, the 1900 hurricane. Or, step back in time to the age of pirates with The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte. This film chronicles the adventures of the pirate who called Galveston home and seeks to explore the questions of his character.

Visit the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum at Pier 19 that is dedicated to expanding the awareness of the vast energy resources beneath the world’s oceans. Step on board the drilling rig and see equipment exhibits, interactive displays and videos that show the day to day excitement of offshore drilling and production. We’ll be visiting Galveston during their annual Dickens on the Strand Festival. Food and entertainment fill the area with sight and sounds that will take you back to another era. Hundreds of costumed vendors and performers will transport you back to the time of Charles Dickens. We’ll take a motorcoach to Houston, Texas, to visit the Space Center Houston. At Space Center Houston, guests can understand the past, experience the present and be a part of the future of the space program. We’ll also visit Moody Gardens where the possibilities to learn and have fun are endless.

NEW ORLEANS TO GALVESTON DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DUE TO VARYING RIVER AND WATERWAY CONDITIONS, SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE .

Day 1 - TUES - 12/2 - Boarding in New Orleans , La., begins at noon. Your stateroom is available at 3:00 p.m. Take our complimentary shuttle from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. with stops including the historic French Quarter, Harrah’s Casino, The National World War II Museum and the Canal Street Ferry. Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

Day 2 - WED - 12/3 - Your barging experience begins with an early morning departure from New Orleans on the Lower Mississippi River with a passage through Algiers Lock. Enjoy barging on the Inland Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway with a late evening passage through Bayou Boeuf Lock . We’ll also enjoy a short stint on the
Atchafalaya River .

Day 3 - THUR - 12/4 - We’ll have a morning arrival in New Iberia, La. with an overnight stay. Enjoy a visit to Avery Island, Shadows-on-the-Teche and St. Martinville, La.

Day 4 - FRI - 12/5 - Early morning departure from New Iberia. Experience beautiful barging along the inland Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. A midday passage through Bowman Lock will be an added attraction to this day.

Day 5 - SAT - 12/6 - Early morning passage through Calcasieu Lock with an afternoon arrival in Port Arthur, Texas. Visit the Museum of the Gulf Coast, Pompeiian Villa and see other sights before our late evening departure.

Day 6 - SUN - 12/7- Early this morning we arrive in Galveston Island, Texas, where we’ll have a 2 night stay. Enjoy a full day of the fun and festivities at Dickens on the Strand. Visit the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum at Pier 19 before 4:00 p.m., the Texas Seaport Museum, home of the Elissa before 5:00 p.m.,
and the museum at Pier 21 before 8:00 p.m. All of these attractions are within walking distance of our
docking location.

Day 7 - MON - 12/8 - Galveston Island will be the springboard for our trip to Houston, Texas, where we’ll visit Space Center Houston and Moody Gardens in Galveston Island.

Day 8 - TUES - 12/9 - Enjoy a hearty breakfast before your morning disembarkation that includes a narrated limited city tour of Galveston on the way to the Houston airports for those guests with flights after 1:00 p.m. or later out of William P Hobby Airport and guest with flights 1:30p.m. or later out of George Bush Intercontinental.