Whether or not you are fascinated by American historical past, tradition and delicacies otherwise you’ve loved river cruising in Europe however are actually seeking to discover nearer to dwelling, U.S. river cruises are a simple and pleasing trip choice.
Select from two foremost waterways in your U.S. river cruise: 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 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 provide a number of itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Strains sails all of the waterways talked about above, whereas Viking presents itineraries solely on the Mississippi (although it additionally presents Nice Lakes sailings). Moreover, Lindblad Expeditions presents 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 Sneakers” 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 will 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 will 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 Struggle historical past.
Whereas cruising, you may get pleasure from nightly leisure that celebrates the area’s musical heritage. With departures operating from April to October or November in 2025, 2026 and 2027, this itinerary is obtainable 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 overall Mississippi expertise? You possibly can 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.
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Accessible thrice a yr (in July, September and October), the America’s Nice 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 Purple Wing, Minnesota, and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You will 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 Struggle 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 biggest river ship within the U.S. and options three eating places and an aft infinity pool.
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American Cruise Strains’ 8-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
In case your trip preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, think about American Cruise Strains’ eight-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. You will 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 possibly can 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 possibly can 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 possibly can admire the scenic magnificence across the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea Historic State Park. Extra wine tasting or outside journey awaits on the way in which to Clarkston.
American Cruise Line presents this itinerary on seven ships from March to October, with departures in 2025, 2026 and 2027. 5 of the vessels will probably be among the many line’s rising fleet of 180-passenger fashionable river ships (American Track, 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 Delight and 110-passenger American West.
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Viking’s 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms
If you happen to’ve by no means visited New Orleans, or it has been some time, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Large Simple. 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 Struggle landmarks.
From Darrow, Louisiana, you may stroll beneath canopies of towering reside oak timber to go to historic mansions or glide by means of the bayou. Extra historic structure, together with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez. Vicksburg is dwelling to one of many Civil Struggle’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 Struggle II-era USS Kidd.
The cruise, which is obtainable 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 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 full of fascinating early American historical past courting 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 will go to Catskill, dwelling to the Hudson River College Artwork Path and Olana State Historic Web site, or discover extra actively on the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, based in 1609, you possibly can tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol constructing, constructed within the late 1800s; you can even 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 possibly can tour the House of Franklin D Roosevelt Nationwide Historic Web site, the place you may discover the thirty second U.S. president’s library and museum. You may also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion Nationwide Historic Web site, that includes an American beaux arts mansion accomplished in 1899. The USA Navy Academy at West Level, based in 1802, can be on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hole. The Sleepy Hole legend involves life throughout a tour of the native cemetery the place creator Washington Irving is buried. Again within the Large 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 means of late October in 2025, 2026 and 2027; there’s additionally an early November departure in 2027. The ships that supply them embrace American Cruise Strains’ 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: Meals, Wine and Historical past 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 will probably be gourmand Pacific Northwest delicacies and greater than 40 native wines handpicked by the corporate’s govt wine editor. All components will probably be sustainably sourced from the area. A naturalist, a historian and a geologist will probably 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; visiting Multnomah Falls or mountaineering 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 Fowl.
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American Cruise Strains’ 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise
Do you know that you would be able to 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 supplied by American Cruise Strains. You will 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 unit, 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 obtainable 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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