Whether or not you are fascinated by American historical past, tradition and delicacies, otherwise you’ve loved river cruising in Europe however at the moment are trying to discover nearer to dwelling, U.S. river cruises are a simple and pleasing trip possibility.
Select from two important waterways in your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River — which flows via 9 states from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans — or the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise traces additionally enterprise onto three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, the Cumberland and the Tennessee. It’s also possible to discover New York’s Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.
For cruise information, opinions and suggestions, join TPG’s cruise publication.
Your selection of cruise line is equally restricted. Simply two firms supply a number of itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Line sails all of the waterways talked about above, whereas Viking provides itineraries solely on the Mississippi. Moreover, Lindblad Expeditions has launched a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Learn on for our picks of the seven greatest U.S. river cruises. They vary from 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-night 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 sails you thru a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You may traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville, or vice versa.
In Tennessee’s two well-known music cities, you will have an opportunity to go to Elvis Presley’s Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Road and take a look at the Grand Ole Opry. You may additionally go to Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, the place experiences embody whiskey and bourbon tasting, excursions of landmark artwork murals and, after all, Civil Battle historical past.
Whereas cruising, you will get pleasure from nightly leisure that celebrates the area’s musical heritage. American Cruise Strains provides this itinerary on 4 ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships — American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade — are 180-passenger trendy river ships launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The fourth, American Splendor, is a 180-passenger paddlewheeler that debuted in 2016.
Associated: Reserving your first river cruise? Here is what you must know
Every day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Viking’s 14-night America’s Nice River Cruise
Need the entire Mississippi expertise? You’ll be able to cruise all the size of this mighty river as you go to 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking’s two-week crusing.
Out there 3 times a 12 months (in July, September and October), the America’s Nice River cruise begins in Minnesota (both St. Paul or Crimson Wing) and concludes in New Orleans, permitting you to expertise an intricate tapestry of American historical past and tradition.
There’s eagle recognizing in Crimson Wing and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You may get pleasure from Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such because the hovering Gateway Arch, in St. Louis. As you cruise the decrease Mississippi, you will delve into civil rights historical past in Memphis; Civil Battle battles and historic structure in Mississippi’s Vicksburg and Natchez; Cajun and Creole music in Baton Rouge; and the legendary culinary treats and jazz of New Orleans.
All sailings are aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Launched in 2022, it is at the moment the biggest river ship within the U.S. and options three eating places and an aft infinity pool.
American Cruise Strains’ 8-Evening Columbia & Snake River Cruise
In case your trip preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, take into account American Cruise Strains’ eight-night Columbia & Snake River Cruise. You may discover the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa).
On the Pacific finish of your voyage, you will go to Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal metropolis on the mouth of the Columbia River is understood for its Victorian houses, wineries, brew pubs, and Lewis and Clark heritage. Subsequent, from Kalama, Washington, you’ll be able to be part of an tour to go to the remnants of the realm round Mount St. Helens, which suffered a devastating eruption 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 get adventurous on a river kayak tour. Throughout a name on Richland, Washington, you’ll be able to admire the scenic magnificence across the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea State Park. Extra wine tasting or out of doors journey awaits on the best way to Clarkstown.
American Cruise Line provides this itinerary on 5 ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships (American Track, American Jazz and American Concord) are 180-passenger trendy river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Pleasure is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995.
Associated: Finest river cruise traces all over the world
Viking’s 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms
For those who’ve by no means visited New Orleans, or it has been some time, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails 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 — plus the benefit of a round-trip flight reserving. Viking’s seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic structure, Cajun tradition and Civil Battle landmarks.
From Darrow, Louisiana, you will stroll beneath canopies of towering reside oak timber to go to historic mansions or glide via the bayou. Extra historic structure, together with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is dwelling to one of many Civil Battle’s most well-known battlefields. Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, has one thing to fulfill each curiosity, from Cajun delicacies to excursions of the restored World Battle II-era USS Kidd.
The cruise, which is offered in November and December 2024 and January, November and December 2025, ends with a full day of exploration again in New Orleans earlier than one final night time aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.
American Cruise Strains’ 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise
Not solely is the autumnal panorama in New York’s Hudson Valley visually charming, however the small cities and cities that line the river’s shores are stuffed with fascinating early American historical past relationship again greater than 400 years.
Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York Metropolis on American Cruise Strains’ seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise. You may go to Catskill, dwelling to the Hudson River College Artwork Path and the Olana Historic Website, or discover extra actively on 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 too can go to the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. Really feel like apple-picking? That is an possibility right here, too.
Subsequent, throughout a name at Kingston/Hyde Park, you’ll be able to tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt Nationwide Historic Website, dwelling to the thirty second U.S. president’s library and museum. It’s also possible to head to the Vanderbilt Mansion Nationwide Historic Website, that includes an American Beaux-Arts mansion accomplished in 1899. The USA Army Academy at West Level, based in 1802, can also be on the itinerary, as is 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 will have time to discover earlier than saying farewell to your ship.
Sailings can be found from late September to early November 2024, 2025 and 2026. Sailings are onboard both the 100-passenger American Eagle, American Liberty, American Glory or American Legend (all inbuilt 2023 or 2024), or the older 90-passenger American Star and American Independence, launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively.
Associated: River cruise packing listing: What to pack when touring by riverboat
Lindblad Expeditions’ 7-night Columbia & 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 & Snake Rivers: Meals, Wine and Historical past cruise on a number of dates in April, September and October 2024; there are additionally sailings in March, April, September and October 2025. The voyages will sail between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington.
Complementing the itinerary can be connoisseur Pacific Northwest delicacies and greater than 40 regional wines curated by an onboard culinary group. All components can be sourced from inside 250 miles of the ship’s route. A naturalist, historian and geologist can be available to information you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.
Off-ship experiences embody sampling native beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or mountain climbing Beacon Rock; and having a non-public winery go to and downtown wine stroll in Walla Walla, Washington.
These sailings happen on two similar Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger Nationwide Geographic Sea Lion and Nationwide Geographic Sea Chicken.
American Cruise Line’s 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise
Do you know that you could cruise from Pittsburgh to St. Louis? If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — with out driving is interesting, take into account the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise provided by American Cruise Strains. You may get pleasure from regionally impressed eating and eclectic landmarks alongside the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.
Over two weeks, you will go to Native American burial grounds and archeological websites in West Virginia and study concerning the underground railroad in Ohio. You’ll be able to style bourbon and discover the Louisville Slugger Museum & Manufacturing unit or the Kentucky Derby Museum & Horse Park in Louisville. Take time to understand American artistry on the Nationwide Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Relaxation up out of your portside adventures throughout 5 days of scenic river cruising.
This itinerary is offered from June to August 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:
