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 residence, U.S. river cruises are a simple and pleasing trip choice.
Select from two most important waterways on your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River, which flows by 9 states (from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans), or the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise strains additionally enterprise onto three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, the Cumberland and the Tennessee. You possibly can even discover New York’s Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.
Simply two firms supply a number of itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Lines sails all of the waterways talked about above, whereas Viking affords itineraries solely on the Mississippi (although it additionally affords Great Lakes sailings). Moreover, Lindblad Expeditions affords 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 Traces’ 8-night Music Cities Cruise
From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Footwear” to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Traces’ eight-night Music Cities Cruise sails you thru a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You may traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville (or vice versa).
In Tennessee’s two well-known music cities, you may have an opportunity to go to Elvis Presley’s Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Avenue 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 embrace whiskey and bourbon tasting, excursions of landmark artwork murals and, in fact, Civil Battle historical past.
Whereas cruising, you may get pleasure from nightly leisure that celebrates the area’s musical heritage. With departures working from April to October or November in 2025, 2026 and 2027, this itinerary is out there on two ships: fashionable river ship American Symphony and paddlewheeler American Splendor, every with a capability for as much as 180 passengers.
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Viking’s 14-night America’s Nice River Cruise
Need the entire Mississippi expertise? You possibly can cruise the complete size of this mighty river as you go to 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking’s two-week crusing.
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Obtainable thrice a 12 months (in July, September and October), the America’s Great River cruise begins in St. Paul 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, Minnesota, 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 may 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, Louisiana; and the legendary culinary treats and jazz of New Orleans.
All sailings are aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Launched in 2022, it is the most important river ship within the U.S. and options three eating places and an aft infinity pool.
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American Cruise Traces’ 8-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
In case your trip preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, think about American Cruise Traces’ eight-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. You may discover the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkston, Washington (or vice versa).
On the Pacific finish of your voyage, you may go to Astoria, Oregon — the oldest everlasting American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal metropolis 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 an tour to go to the remnants of the world 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 Historic State Park. Extra wine tasting or out of doors journey awaits on the way in which to Clarkston.
American Cruise Line affords this itinerary on seven ships from March to October, with departures in 2025, 2026 and 2027. 5 of the vessels shall be among the many line’s rising fleet of 180-passenger fashionable river ships (American Tune, American Jazz and American Concord, in addition to American Encore and American Anthem in 2026 and 2027, respectively). The others are paddlewheelers: 150-passenger American Satisfaction and 110-passenger American West.
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Viking’s 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms
Should you’ve by no means visited New Orleans, or it has been some time, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Massive Straightforward. They provide time earlier than or after the cruise to benefit from the metropolis’s meals, music and iconic structure — plus the convenience 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 may stroll beneath canopies of towering reside oak timber to go to historic mansions or glide by the bayou. Extra historic structure, together with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez. Vicksburg is residence 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 out there in November and December 2025, January and December 2026 and January, June and December 2027, ends with a full day of exploration again in New Orleans earlier than one final evening aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.
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American Cruise Traces’ 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 Traces’ seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise. You may go to Catskill, residence to the Hudson River Faculty Artwork Path and Olana State 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 may as well go to the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. Really feel like apple-picking? That is an choice right here, too.
Subsequent, throughout a name at Kingston/Hyde Park, you’ll be able to tour the House of Franklin D Roosevelt Nationwide Historic Website, the place you may discover 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. America Navy 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 Massive Apple on day seven, you may have time to discover earlier than saying farewell to your ship.
Sailings can be found from late September by late October in 2025, 2026 and 2027; there’s additionally an early November departure in 2027. The ships that supply them embrace American Cruise Traces’ 4 100-passenger catamarans (American Eagle, American Glory, American Legend and American Liberty); 90-passenger American Independence and American Star; and 130-passenger American Ranger.
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Lindblad Expeditions’ 7-night Columbia and Snake Rivers: Meals, Wine and Historical past
Nature-focused cruise line Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Meals & Wine journal to supply a brand new seven-night Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History cruise on a number of dates, together with September and October 2025, in addition to March, April, September and October 2026. The voyages will sail between Portland and Clarkston within the Pacific Northwest.
Complementing the itinerary shall be gourmand Pacific Northwest delicacies and greater than 40 native wines handpicked by the corporate’s govt wine editor. All components shall be sustainably sourced from the area. A naturalist, a historian and a geologist shall be available to information you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.
Off-ship experiences embrace sampling native beer and oysters in Astoria; visiting Multnomah Falls or mountain climbing Beacon Rock; and having lunch at an area vineyard and exploring the artsy downtown in Walla Walla, Washington.
These sailings happen on two an identical Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger Nationwide Geographic Sea Lion and Nationwide Geographic Sea Chook.
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American Cruise Traces’ 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, think about the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise provided by American Cruise Traces. You may get pleasure from regionally impressed eating and eclectic landmarks alongside the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.
Over two weeks, you may be humbled by the Underground Railroad and step again in time as you stroll the Northwest Territory’s earliest settlement in Ohio. You possibly can style bourbon and discover the Louisville Slugger Museum & Manufacturing facility, or the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Kentucky Horse Park (each additionally in Louisville). Take time to understand American artistry on the Nationwide Quilt Museum in Paducah. Relaxation up out of your portside adventures throughout 5 days of scenic river cruising.
This itinerary is out there from June to August 2025, 2026 and 2027 on the 180-passenger fashionable river ships American Melody and American Symphony, in addition to the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage.
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