US River & Coastal Cruises
Paddlewheels, small ships and American history, without leaving the country.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesCruising America’s Rivers and Coastline
US river and coastal cruises are small-ship journeys through the country’s history and landscapes: paddlewheelers on the Mississippi, the Columbia River Gorge, Hudson Valley mansions and the marshes of the Southeast. Ships are US-flagged, crews are American, and there is no foreign port and usually no passport needed.
The main routes
- Mississippi River — New Orleans to Memphis, St. Louis and the upper Mississippi, with plantation, Civil War and music themes.
- Columbia & Snake Rivers — Portland to eastern Washington and Idaho, following the route of Lewis and Clark.
- Hudson River & New England — historic estates, fall color and island harbors.
- Southeast coast — Charleston, Savannah and the Intracoastal Waterway.
- Alaska and Pacific Northwest small-ship voyages.
Who Sails Here
American Cruise Lines is the largest operator of US-flag river and coastal ships, with modern riverboats, paddlewheelers and small coastal ships. Viking also sails the Mississippi, and several small-ship adventure lines operate in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
For every US river line, ship and itinerary, visit the Official River Cruise Directory. For European and world river cruises, the same directory covers the Rhine, Danube, Nile and more.
Get Quotes on a US River or Coastal Cruise
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