Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Best Cruise Ships & Vacations in the US

cruise within usa

And big-ship lines also now offer a few itineraries up and down the West Coast that call at some combination of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria. A rare and delicious cruise itinerary I found while researching this post is yet another with American Cruise Lines. This enchanting 8-day cruise takes you through the San Juan Islands, with abundant wildlife and natural scenery, to the Puget Sound and Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada. A list of the best cruises in the U.S. would only be complete with mentioning a classic Mississippi River cruise. This iconic American river flows through a stunning variety of landscapes, from rich forests to revered southern cities and towns. Enjoy live music, thrilling riverboat casinos, and impeccable southern cuisine on a cruise with American Queen Steamboat Company while taking in the beauty and history of the Mississippi River.

Set your watch to Hawaiian Islands time

In fact, Majestic America Line—parent of Delta Queen and American West Steamboat companies—is dormant and trying to find a buyer. Given today’s financial climate, I wouldn’t expect anything for 2010, either. As far as I can tell, only one big-ship company, Norwegian Cruise Line, operates cruises entirely within the U.S. One ship—the Pride of America—cruises entirely within the Hawaiian Islands, with a crew that complies with U.S. citizenship requirements.

Pacific Coast Explorer

Leaving Wyoming, you’ll fly to Louisiana where you’ll board the American Symphony in New Orleans and travel north to St. Paul, Minnesota. From New Orleans, sail 1,393 miles, through 10 states along the most comprehensive Mississippi River cruise available. Guests will explore the historic gems of the South, the rolling farmland of the Midwest, and the extraordinary beauty of the Upper River, from to Mark Twain’s boyhood home to the most populous Bald Eagle concentration in North America.

Best for wildlife spotting: Holland America’s Alaskan Explorer

Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic cruise line possesses four American-flagged ships that cruise Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. After the champagne departure from Portland and a stop at Astoria, Oregon, the ship passes through the Columbia River Gorge. Passengers can disembark for a guided hike, then return for a wine tasting with the ship's sommelier. The gourmand adventures continue with an excursion to Walla Walla, Washington, which includes visits to olive oil makers, chocolatiers, and family-owned wine cellars. Day five begins at the mouth of the Palouse River, where guests can kayak or paddleboard. The next day, passengers can visit Columbia Hills State Park and Rowena Plateau on foot or by skiff boat while enjoying river dips, farm-to-fork delights, and a wine tour and tasting.

The U.S. offers a variety of cruises, both on the ocean and river, that cater to different interests, ranging from exploring the wonders of Alaska to savoring the Pacific wine country. On sailings like ours with many sea days, the kitchen staff has fewer options than in Europe for instance, where vendors are plentiful. "In Europe, it's a little bit like heaven for a chef," said Yardley-Salisbury. All elements of the travel experience will be fully curated, and all arrangements handled with the utmost care by American Cruise Lines’ dedicated travel team, ensuring guests have an impeccable experience throughout this monumental U.S. Cruise ships provide a distinct method of travel and are a popular choice among passengers. They usually operate during two seasons – a European summer season and a Caribbean winter season – and utilize the same ships for both.

THE 25 BEST 2 Day Cruises (with Prices) on - Cruise Critic

THE 25 BEST 2 Day Cruises (with Prices) on.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:49:04 GMT [source]

USA Cruises

Usually departing from Long Beach, California, Mexican cruises are excellent cruises for first-timers or a weekend trip, with either three or four-night options if you are pressed for time. The cruise covers a wide range of stops along the Pacific coast, including some of the most famous destinations such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Astoria, Vancouver, and Victoria in Canada. Each of these stops has a unique flavor and charm that leaves a lasting impression on the visitors. With an array of amenities such as drinks packages, multiple restaurants, entertainment, swimming pools, and other activities, you can enjoy an all-inclusive experience while exploring new destinations and even new countries. The trips detailed on our website comprise many of the most phenomenal cruises we’ve put together for you.

Test the crystal-clear waters of the Eastern Caribbean

Both on and off the ship, I had the chance to spot many a whale—along with puffins, otters and other adorable and astonishing creatures that call the Last Frontier home. Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, this bucket-list itinerary includes scenic cruising through the Puget Sound and Glacier Bay, along with stops in Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Ketchikan, and last but not least, Victoria, British Columbia. New England and Canada are popular destinations for cruise enthusiasts and offer various itineraries, including four-, seven-, or twelve-night cruises. Most of these cruises start from major cities such as Quebec City, New York, Boston, or Baltimore.

American Cruise Lines finds Legionella bacteria on board ship - USA TODAY

American Cruise Lines finds Legionella bacteria on board ship.

Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The fish was inspected and moved onto an extension lift – think a utility vehicle modeled on Mr. Fantastic – parked near Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship. These Atlantic crossings make for great cruises and are often significantly cheaper than other cruises. Passengers can enjoy many amenities onboard, such as swimming pools, theatres, multiple restaurants, evening entertainment, and many activities. If you are a first-timer looking for a great cruise experience, then you should consider a cruise to the Bahamas. These cruises offer the possibility of a three or four-night stay, which makes them perfect if you are short on time or looking for a long weekend getaway.

cruise within usa

Day nine, finds the the ship at La Crosse, Wisconsin, famous for its rugged terrain and breathtaking vistas. The final port is Red Wing, Minnesota, home to beautifully preserved artisan workshops, factories, and pioneer-era architecture. After disembarking, passengers can explore nearby Minneapolis before going home. History buffs will love this nine-day cruise along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers aboard American Queen Voyages' 245-passenger American Countess paddle wheeler.

The best time to cruise in the USA will vary greatly depending on the region. Cruises sailing from or stopping in Florida or Southern California are available year-round, but regions like Alaska, New England and the Pacific Northwest are primarily summer and early-fall destinations. Beyond ocean cruises, river cruises also depend greatly on the region. This Alaska itinerary boasts stops in Juneau and Ketchikan where you can explore charming towns and embark on exciting excursions. Carnival Cruises emphasizes fun and entertainment and is one of the many cruise lines that sail to Alaska. Taking a cruise is an excellent way to explore the country and world without the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking.

And since they take place right here in the U.S. of A., there’s less travel time involved in getting to the embarkation points, and more time to relax and travel the winding waterways of America. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.

Feel the warm camaraderie of the crew and fellow guests as you relax in personalized comfort. No, U.S. citizens do not need passports to cruise within the United States or for cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. port. Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998.

cruise within usa

If you have time you can see a Broadway show in New York, check out the art deco architecture in Miami's South Beach, visit Pike Place Market in Seattle or tour the Kennedy Space Center near Orlando. Over the last few years, New England-Canada cruises have become quite popular for the big-ship lines. Typical itineraries include some combination of New York, Boston, Portland, Halifax, Charlottetown, Quebec, and Montreal.

The fourth ship in this line’s game-changing Edge series, the 3,260-passenger Celebrity Ascent makes its inaugural eight-day sail round trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in December 2023. This sunshine-blanketed itinerary promises four charming Caribbean ports including Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and three blissful sea days. You’ll want those onboard days to never end, with the ship providing so much outdoor space to soak up the balmy Caribbean sun and soft ocean breezes. A buzzy casino and 32 eateries, bars, and lounges are big-time lures, too. Shore excursions—chilling on powdery white sand beaches, snorkeling turquoise waters teeming with colorful coral and tropical fish, and sipping champagne on catamaran sunset sails—are mesmerizing. With its varied landscapes—ranging from majestic mountains and volcanoes to stunning beaches to lush tropical rainforests—a trip to Hawaii offers something for everyone.

Bike about Toronto, hike Canada’s La Mauricie National Park, kayak or bird-watch in Charleston. And who knew there were more than 300 resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the inlets, creeks and marsh flats around Charleston? This eight-day round-trip cruise takes in historic estates, military sites, and comunities bursting with Cajun and Creole culture. After departing New Orleans, the Viking Mississippi stops in the Louisiana towns of Darrow and St. Francisville, which boast Greek Revival mansions, Spanish moss-draped avenues, and even a haunted house.

You’ll start heading west to the mouth of the mighty Columbia River where it meets the Pacific Ocean at Astoria. From there you’ll head back east into the Columbia River Gorge, following the path of explorers Lewis & Clark, ending in Hell’s Canyon, North America’s deepest canyon. These cruises also typically include stops at destinations such as Tenerife, Portugal, Spain, the UK, the Caribbean and the Netherlands. They usually begin at a port in the United States or Europe and end at the opposite end, stopping at various islands along the way. Embarking on a Panama Canal cruise from Miami is an extraordinary way to discover the diverse cultures of Latin America.

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