7 best US river cruises

Whether you’re fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine or you’ve enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option. Choose from two main waterways for your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River, which flows through nine states (from St. …

Jun 6, 2025 - 17:12

Whether you’re fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine or you’ve enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option.

Choose from two main waterways for your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River, which flows through nine states (from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans), or the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise lines also venture onto three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, the Cumberland and the Tennessee. You can even explore New York’s Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.

Just two companies offer multiple itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Lines sails all the waterways mentioned above, while Viking offers itineraries solely on the Mississippi (though it also offers Great Lakes sailings). Additionally, Lindblad Expeditions offers a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Read on for our picks of the seven best U.S. river cruises. They range from seven to 15 nights and visit destinations in 16 states; itineraries take you through the Colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America’s agricultural heartland and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest.

American Cruise Lines’ 8-night Music Cities Cruise

american jazz ship — AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Lines’ eight-night Music Cities Cruise sails you through a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You’ll traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville (or vice versa).

In Tennessee’s two famous music cities, you’ll have a chance to visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Street and check out the Grand Ole Opry. You’ll also visit Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, where experiences include whiskey and bourbon tasting, tours of landmark art murals and, of course, Civil War history.

While cruising, you’ll enjoy nightly entertainment that celebrates the region’s musical heritage. With departures running from April to October or November in 2025, 2026 and 2027, this itinerary is available on two ships: modern river ship American Symphony and paddlewheeler American Splendor, each with a capacity for up to 180 passengers.

Viking’s 14-night America’s Great River Cruise

Want the total Mississippi experience? You can cruise the entire length of this mighty river as you visit 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking’s two-week sailing.

Available three times a year (in July, September and October), the America’s Great River cruise begins in St. Paul and concludes in New Orleans, allowing you to experience an intricate tapestry of American history and culture.

There’s eagle spotting in Red Wing, Minnesota, and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You’ll enjoy Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such as the soaring Gateway Arch, in St. Louis. As you cruise the lower Mississippi, you’ll delve into civil rights history in Memphis; Civil War battles and historic architecture 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’s the largest river ship in the U.S. and features three restaurants and an aft infinity pool.

American Cruise Lines’ 8-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise

american cruise line ship — AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

If your vacation preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, consider American Cruise Lines’ eight-night Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. You’ll explore the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkston, Washington (or vice versa).

On the Pacific end of your voyage, you’ll visit Astoria, Oregon — the oldest permanent American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal city at the mouth of the Columbia River is known for its Victorian homes, wineries, brew pubs and Lewis and Clark heritage. Next, from Kalama, Washington, you can join an excursion to visit the remnants of the area around Mount St. Helens, which suffered a devastating eruption in 1980.

In The Dalles, you can enjoy a sommelier-led tasting of Columbia Valley wines, visit Multnomah Falls or get adventurous on a river kayak tour. During a call on Richland, Washington, you can admire the scenic beauty around the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea Historical State Park. More wine tasting or outdoor adventure awaits on the way to Clarkston.

American Cruise Line offers this itinerary on seven ships from March to October, with departures in 2025, 2026 and 2027. Five of the vessels will be among the line’s growing fleet of 180-passenger modern river ships (American Song, American Jazz and American Harmony, as well as American Encore and American Anthem in 2026 and 2027, respectively). The others are paddlewheelers: 150-passenger American Pride and 110-passenger American West.

Viking’s 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms

If you’ve never visited New Orleans, or it’s been a while, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Big Easy. They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city’s food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking’s seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks.

From Darrow, Louisiana, you’ll stroll beneath canopies of towering live oak trees to visit historic mansions or glide through the bayou. More historic architecture, along with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez. Vicksburg is home to one of the Civil War’s most famous battlefields. Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, has something to satisfy every interest, from Cajun cuisine to tours of the restored World War II-era USS Kidd.

The cruise, which is available in November and December 2025, January and December 2026 and January, June and December 2027, ends with a full day of exploration back in New Orleans before one last night aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.

American Cruise Lines’ 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise

foliage and bridge — RUDY SULGAN/GETTY IMAGES

Not only is the autumnal landscape in New York’s Hudson Valley visually captivating, but the small cities and towns that line the river’s shores are filled with fascinating early American history dating back more than 400 years.

Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York City on American Cruise Lines’ seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise. You’ll visit Catskill, home to the Hudson River School Art Trail and Olana State Historic Site, or explore more actively at the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, founded in 1609, you can tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol building, built in the late 1800s; you can also visit the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. Feel like apple-picking? That’s an option here, too.

Next, during a call at Kingston/Hyde Park, you can tour the Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, where you’ll find the 32nd U.S. president’s library and museum. You can also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, featuring an American beaux arts mansion completed in 1899. The United States Military Academy at West Point, founded in 1802, is also on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hollow. The Sleepy Hollow legend comes to life during a tour of the local cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried. Back in the Big Apple on day seven, you’ll have time to explore before saying farewell to your ship.

Sailings are available from late September through late October in 2025, 2026 and 2027; there’s also an early November departure in 2027. The ships that offer them include American Cruise Lines’ four 100-passenger catamarans (American Eagle, American Glory, American Legend and American Liberty); 90-passenger American Independence and American Star; and 130-passenger American Ranger.

Lindblad Expeditions’ 7-night Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History

lindblad ship — DAVID VARGAS/EXPEDITIONS

Nature-focused cruise line Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Food & Wine magazine to offer a new seven-night Columbia and Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History cruise on multiple dates, including September and October 2025, as well as March, April, September and October 2026. The voyages will sail between Portland and Clarkston in the Pacific Northwest.

Complementing the itinerary will be gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine and more than 40 local wines handpicked by the company’s executive wine editor. All ingredients will be sustainably sourced from the region. A naturalist, a historian and a geologist will be on hand to guide you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.

Off-ship experiences include sampling local beer and oysters in Astoria; visiting Multnomah Falls or hiking Beacon Rock; and having lunch at a local winery and exploring the artsy downtown in Walla Walla, Washington.

These sailings occur on two identical Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird.

American Cruise Lines’ 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise

river cruise ship — AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

Did you know that you can cruise from Pittsburgh to St. Louis? If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines. You’ll enjoy regionally inspired dining and eclectic landmarks along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.

Over two weeks, you’ll be humbled by the Underground Railroad and step back in time as you stroll the Northwest Territory’s earliest settlement in Ohio. You can taste bourbon and explore the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, or the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Kentucky Horse Park (both also in Louisville). Take time to appreciate American artistry at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. Rest up from your portside adventures during five days of scenic river cruising.

This itinerary is available from June to August 2025, 2026 and 2027 on the 180-passenger modern river ships American Melody and American Symphony, as well as the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage.

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