[
Whether or not you're fascinated by American historical past, tradition and delicacies, otherwise you've loved river cruises in Europe however are actually seeking to cruise nearer to dwelling, American river cruises are a straightforward and pleasant trip choice.
Select between two major waterways on your American river journey: the Mississippi River – which flows by means of 9 states from St. Paul, Minnesota to New Orleans – or the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise traces additionally enterprise on three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee. You may also discover New York's Hudson River on a Fall Foliage Cruise.
For cruise information, evaluations and ideas, join TPG's Cruise e-newsletter.
Your selection of cruise traces is equally restricted. Solely two firms provide a number of itineraries on American rivers. American Cruise Line travels on all the waterways talked about above, whereas Viking solely affords itineraries on the Mississippi. Moreover, Lindblad Expeditions has launched a meals and wine-focused river cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Learn on for our picks of the seven greatest American river cruises. They final seven to fifteen nights and go to locations in 16 states; Itineraries take you thru the colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America's agricultural heartland, and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest.
American Cruise Strains' 8-Evening Music Cities Cruise
From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley's “Blue Suede Footwear” to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Strains' eight-night Music Cities Cruise introduces you to the chronology of the American music scene. You'll cross three rivers (Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland) in your manner from Memphis to Nashville, or vice versa.
In two of Tennessee's well-known music cities, you'll have the prospect to go to Elvis Presley's Graceland, stroll down blues club-lined Beale Road, and see the Grand Ole Opry. You'll additionally go to Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, the place experiences embrace whiskey and bourbon tasting, touring historic artwork murals, and, after all, Civil Struggle historical past.
Throughout the cruise, you’ll get pleasure from nightly leisure that celebrates the musical heritage of the world. American Cruise Strains affords this itinerary on 4 ships from April to October in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The three ships – American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade – are 180-passenger trendy river ships launching in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The fourth, American Splendor, is a 180-passenger paddlewheeler that debuted in 2016.
RELATED: Are you reserving your first river journey? Right here's what it’s essential know
each day newspaper
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG's consultants
Viking's 14-Evening Nice River Cruise of the Americas
Need the total Mississippi expertise? On Viking's two-week crusing you’ll be able to journey your entire size of this mighty river whereas visiting 14 cities in seven US states.
Obtainable thrice a 12 months (in July, September, and October), the Nice River Cruises of the Americas start in Minnesota (both St. Paul or Purple Wing) and finish in New Orleans, taking you on a journey by means of the complicated tapestry of American historical past and tradition. Can expertise.
Eagle Recognizing in Purple Wing and Agricultural Innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You'll get pleasure from architectural landmarks like Mark Twain's lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and the towering Gateway Arch in St. Louis. As you journey down the decrease Mississippi, you'll delve deeper into the historical past of civil rights in Memphis; Civil Struggle battles and historic structure in Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi; Cajun and Creole music in Baton Rouge; and the well-known culinary delights and jazz of New Orleans.
All sailors are aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Launching in 2022, it’s at the moment the biggest river ship within the US and options three eating places and an aft infinity pool.
American Cruise Strains' 8-Evening Columbia and Snake River Cruise
In case your trip priorities are mountainous landscapes, wine tasting, and pioneer lore, contemplate American Cruise Strains' eight-night Columbia and Snake River Cruise. You'll discover the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa).
On the Pacific finish of your journey, you'll go to Astoria, Oregon – the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal city on the mouth of the Columbia River is thought for its Victorian properties, wineries, brew pubs, and Lewis and Clark heritage. Subsequent, from Kalama, Washington, you’ll be able to be a part of a tour to see the stays of the world round Mount St. Helens, the place the devastating eruption occurred in 1980.
In The Dalles, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a sommelier-led tasting of Columbia Valley wines, go to Multnomah Falls or thrill on a river kayak journey. Throughout the name in Richland, Washington, you’ll be able to admire the pure magnificence surrounding the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers at Sacajawea State Park. Extra wine tasting or out of doors adventures await on the best way to Clarkstown.
American Cruise Line affords this itinerary on 5 ships from April by means of October in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The three ships (American Music, American Jazz, and American Concord) are 180-passenger trendy river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Satisfaction is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger skilled paddlewheeler launched in 1995.
RELATED: Finest River Cruise Strains Across the World
Viking's 7-Evening New Orleans & Southern Attraction
If you happen to've by no means visited New Orleans, or it's been some time, take a Mississippi River cruise that leaves round-trip from the Huge Straightforward. They provide time earlier than or after the cruise to benefit from the metropolis's meals, music and iconic structure – in addition to the convenience of reserving a round-trip flight. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses completely on ports of name in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic structure, Cajun tradition and Civil Struggle websites.
From Darrow, Louisiana, you'll stroll below a cover of towering dwell oak bushes to see historic mansions or glide alongside the creek. Hen-watching, in addition to extra historic structure, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is among the most well-known battlefields of the Civil Struggle. Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, has one thing to fulfill each curiosity, from Cajun delicacies to a tour of the renovated World Struggle II-era USS Kidd.
The cruise, accessible in November and December 2024 and January, November and December 2025, ends with a full day of exploration in New Orleans earlier than a closing evening aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.
American Cruise Strains' 7-Evening Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise
Not solely is the autumn panorama in New York's Hudson Valley visually charming, however the small cities and cities positioned alongside the river are stuffed with fascinating early American historical past relationship again over 400 years.
Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York Metropolis on American Cruise Strains' seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise. You'll go to the Catskills, dwelling of the Hudson River College Artwork Path and Olana Historic Web site, or go extra lively with the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, based in 1609, you’ll be able to tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol constructing, constructed within the late 1800s; You may also go to the New York State Museum, which dates again to 1836. Really feel like choosing apples? That's additionally an choice right here.
Subsequent, throughout a name in Kingston/Hyde Park, you’ll be able to go to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Nationwide Historic Web site, dwelling to the thirty second U.S. President's library and museum. You may also go to the Vanderbilt Mansion Nationwide Historic Web site, which homes an American Beaux-Arts mansion accomplished in 1899. The USA Navy Academy at West Level, based in 1802, can be on the itinerary, in addition to Sleepy Hole. The Sleepy Hole legend involves life throughout a tour of the native cemetery the place writer Washington Irving is buried. Again within the Huge Apple on day seven, you'll have time to discover earlier than saying goodbye to your ship.
Sailings can be found from late September to early November in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Sailings are on both the 100-passenger American Eagle, American Liberty, American Glory or American Legend (all in-built 2023 or 2024), or the older 90-passenger American. Star and American Independence, launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively.
RELATED: River Cruise Packing Record: What to Pack When Touring by Riverboat
Lindblad Expeditions' 7-Evening Columbia and Snake Rivers: Meals, Wine and Historical past Cruise
Nature-focused cruise line Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Meals & Wine journal to supply a brand new seven-night Columbia and Snake River: Meals, Wine & Historical past cruise on a number of dates in April, September and October 2024; There will even be voyages in March, April, September and October 2025. The journeys will happen between Portland, Oregon and Clarkston, Washington.
The itinerary will embrace scrumptious Pacific Northwest delicacies and greater than 40 regional wines ready by the onboard culinary workforce. All supplies might be sourced from inside 250 miles of the ship's route. A naturalist, historian and geologist might be readily available to information you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.
Off-ship experiences embrace sampling native beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or mountaineering Beacon Rock; and a personal winery tour and downtown wine stroll in Walla Walla, Washington.
These sailings happen on two equivalent Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger Nationwide Geographic Sea Lion and the Nationwide Geographic Sea Hen.
American Cruise Line's 15-Evening Grand Ohio River Cruise
Do you know you’ll be able to journey from Pittsburgh to St. Louis? If visiting Central America – Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri – with out driving is interesting, contemplate the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise provided by American Cruise Strains. Throughout the journey you'll get pleasure from regionally impressed delicacies and various sights alongside the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
Over two weeks, you'll go to Native American cemeteries and archeological websites in West Virginia and study in regards to the Underground Railroad in Ohio. You possibly can style bourbon and tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and Manufacturing facility or the Kentucky Derby Museum and Horse Park in Louisville. Take time to understand American artistry on the Nationwide Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Loosen up out of your port adventures throughout a five-day scenic river cruise.
This itinerary is accessible from June by means of August in 2024, 2025 and 2026 on the 180-passenger trendy river ship American Melody and the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales: