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 seeking to discover nearer to dwelling, U.S. river cruises are a simple and fulfilling trip choice.
Select from two most important 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’ll be able to even discover New York’s Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.
Simply two corporations supply a number of itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Traces sails all of the waterways talked about above, whereas Viking provides itineraries solely on the Mississippi (although it additionally provides Nice Lakes sailings). Moreover, Lindblad Expeditions provides a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Learn on for our picks of the seven finest 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 Sneakers” 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 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 will 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 embody whiskey and bourbon tasting, excursions of landmark artwork murals and, in fact, Civil Battle historical past.
Whereas cruising, you will 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 accessible 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’ll be able to cruise the whole 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 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 Crimson 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 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, 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 Traces’ 8-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise
In case your trip preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, take into account American Cruise Traces’ 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 will 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 understood for its Victorian houses, wineries, brew pubs and Lewis and Clark heritage. Subsequent, from Kalama, Washington, you may 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 may 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 may 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 best way to Clarkston.
American Cruise Line provides this itinerary on seven ships from March to October, with departures in 2025, 2026 and 2027. 5 of the vessels can 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 Delight and 110-passenger American West.
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Viking’s 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms
In case 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 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 Battle landmarks.
From Darrow, Louisiana, you will stroll beneath canopies of towering stay 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 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 accessible 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 night time 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 fascinating, however the small cities and cities that line the river’s shores are stuffed with fascinating early American historical past courting 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 will go to Catskill, dwelling to the Hudson River College 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 may 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 choice right here, too.
Subsequent, throughout a name at Kingston/Hyde Park, you may tour the House of Franklin D Roosevelt Nationwide Historic Website, the place you will discover the thirty second U.S. president’s library and museum. You can too head to the Vanderbilt Mansion Nationwide Historic Website, that includes an American beaux arts mansion accomplished in 1899. The USA 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 creator Washington Irving is buried. Again within the Massive Apple on day seven, you will 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 provide them embody 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: 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 can be connoisseur Pacific Northwest delicacies and greater than 40 native wines handpicked by the corporate’s govt wine editor. All substances can be sustainably sourced from the area. A naturalist, a historian and a geologist can be readily available to information you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.
Off-ship experiences embody sampling native beer and oysters in Astoria; visiting Multnomah Falls or mountaineering Beacon Rock; and having lunch at a neighborhood vineyard and exploring the artsy downtown in Walla Walla, Washington.
These sailings happen on two equivalent 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 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 supplied by American Cruise Traces. You will get pleasure from regionally impressed eating and eclectic landmarks alongside the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.
Over two weeks, you will be humbled by the Underground Railroad and step again in time as you stroll the Northwest Territory’s earliest settlement in Ohio. You’ll be able to 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 accessible 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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