How to Cruise Without Leaving the United States

By Brooke Franco

So you want to take a cruise but are not ready to travel too far from home? We recommend taking a closer look at river and lake cruises based in the United States.

A number of cruise operators sail vessels strictly in U.S. waters, mainly significant rivers and lakes around the county. These voyages are a fun way to see new parts of the United States while getting the experience of being on a cruise. Typically U.S.-based cruises have a set start/ending homeport and spend a mix of days cruising or visiting ports along the voyage.

The U.S.-based cruises may depart from the United States, but most include a port stop or two in Canada. When planning your cruise, you will want to keep this in mind when researching itineraries. Depending on your cruise operator, you may be required to bring your passport when sailing on voyages with Canadian stops.

Some travelers opt for cruises solely based in the United States to keep closer to home, not require a passport, to be within driving distance of the cruise’s homeport, or are just looking for a unique way to see a new part of the country. Whatever your reasoning, taking a cruise this way is easier than ever!

Here’s how you can cruise without ever leaving the United States and what the experience is like on these voyages.

Which Lines Offer U.S.-Based Cruises?

A handful of cruise operators offer river or lake cruises from the United States. You will recognize some major brands, but some smaller lines also operate within the United States.

Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to US Rivers and has quickly become one of the major cruise operators with departures in the United States. Viking sails voyages in the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. The majority of Viking’s U.S. cruises are 7+ night itineraries.

American Cruise Line is a popular U.S.-based operator that sails a number of ships in the Mississippi River, the Pacific Northwest, the Atlantic Coast, the Southeast Coast, and New England. Our community members consistently rave about their experience sailing with American Cruise Line, so you know it’s good! If fact, American Cruise Line was named Best River Cruise Line in the 2023 Member Choice Award s along with several nods in our 2024 Awards as well. The cruise line also made the top five in the categories of best cruise lines for food/dining, best line for onboard activities/entertainment, best lines for service and staff, and best lines for staterooms.

Other U.S.-focused lines include UnCruise, and Pearl Seas Cruises. A handful of regional-specific U.S.-baed operators with one or two ships may also be available, but because of their limited capacity and itineraries are not listed on our site.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the only cruise line to offer an American-flagged ship, Pride of America, sailing roundtrip from Honolulu inter-island itineraries for seven nights.

See All Pride of America Hawaii Sailings

Homeports for U.S. Cruises

Many cruises operating in the U.S. typically homeport from the same major ports, depending on the vessel's region. You will find that many of these ports are the starting/ending points to the river (or other major bodies of water) or larger cities that allow easier access for passengers to get to for embarkation/disembarkation.

Mississippi River cruises typically start/end from these homeports: New Orleans, Memphis, St Louis, and Minneapolis/St Paul. The Mississippi River is so long that you will find the cruises offered sail between a combination of these ports, and longer voyages cruise the entire river.

In the Pacific Northwest, most cruises start/end from either in Seattle, Portland (Oregon), or Clarkston in Washington State. New England cruises commonly start/end from Boston, NYC, Portland (Maine), and sometimes Toronto, Canada. A handful of cruises in the mid-and southern Atlantic start/end from Baltimore, Charleston, Amelia Island, and Jacksonville.

Great Lakes cruises typically start/end in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Duluth, as well as Toronto and Thunder Bay in Canada.

You will also find select operators offer some cruises on less-common waterways for travelers, like the Ohio River and the Tennessee River. These cruises' standard start or end points include Chattanooga, Pittsburg, and St Louis.

Itineraries

One of the unique things about a U.S.-based cruise is the ability to see so many distinct, new places that you might otherwise never visit. On these cruises, you will see ports ranging from major cities, historically-significant towns, industrial harbors, and various beautiful locales. U.S. river cruises are a great way to see many places in a short amount of time.

In general, most U.S.-based cruises start at seven nights, with longer voyages ranging to 14+ nights. Typically, itineraries are very port-heavy, meaning you may only spend a half to one full day cruising but don’t be surprised to see sailings with no sea days.

Following are common port stops by region for U.S.-based cruises:

Mississippi River Cruises - New Orleans, Natchez, Vicksburg, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, Rosedale, Paducah, Memphis, Hannibal, St. Louis, Burlington (Iowa), Davenport, Quad Cities, Dubuque, La Crosse, Winona, Red Wing, and St. Paul.
Pacific Northwest - Clarkston, Pendelton, cruise the Snake River, Mount St. Helens, Astoria, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, and sometimes Toronto.
New England - Boston, Gloucester, Plymouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown, Portland (Maine), Bangor, Rockland, Newport, and New York.
Mid-Atlantic - Baltimore, Norfolk, Williamsburg, and Annapolis.
Southeast - Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Savannah, St. Simon’s Island, and St. Augustine.
Great Lakes - Toronto, Milwaukee, Alapena, Mackinac Island, Detroit, Cleveland, Thunder Bay, Port Colborne (Niagra Falls), and Chicago

What to Expect Onboard

*Photos by Viking River Cruises/American Cruise Line*

Typically vessels offered on these river/lakes cruises are smaller, accommodating anywhere from 90 to 200 total passengers.

On each ship, you will find a mix of comfortable public spaces, enjoyable onboard activities, unique eateries, and spacious staterooms. Some cruise lines offer more traditional ships, while others provide the unique experience of being on paddlewheel-style sailing vessels.

If you expect a larger ship with lots of waterslides and rock-climbing walls, you may be in for a bit of a disappointment. Instead, many of these smaller vessels' design themes are relaxation, sightseeing, and excellent service, minus some of the bells and whistles you would find on a traditional ocean cruise ship.

Many vessels offer several outdoor decks perfect for sightseeing, lounging, and reading. You'll also find dedicated spaces for public lectures by historians and regional experts. The guest lecturers are among the most popular aspects of these cruises.

You will also find venues onboard for music, dancing, and bar/lounge spaces. Expect to hear live musicians playing jazz, blues, and other classical music, as you cruise along to the destinations where these music genres were born! On some larger vessels, you will find a gym, a swimming pool, or other public spaces for lounging/socializing.

Dining is a crucial part of any cruise experience. Many lines cater menus to focus on the region's foods, such as lobster and seafood in New England or Cajun and Southern dishes on lower Mississippi River cruises. Depending on the size of the vessel, you may find a range of eateries; however, most ships include at minimum two dining options.

Expect to find the staterooms to be very spacious. Most lines tout that all staterooms on their vessels offer balconies. This outdoor space will become your private oasis to watch the scenery as you sail from port to port. On some paddle-wheel style ships, the rooms open onto a walking deck and offer ample seating for every stateroom. While a more public area than on a traditional ship, it’s great for getting to know your fellow travelers and enjoying the picturesque views.

How Much Do U.S.-Based Cruises Cost?

Pricing for a U.S.-based river cruise will depend on the cruise line, the voyage length, the time of year, stateroom selection, and several other factors. In general, you will find that U.S. river cruises offer a higher sticker price than you will see on a voyage from a mainstream ocean line.

Be sure to consider all the pricing inclusions, as many of these lines are considered all-inclusive. For example, the onboard costs like activities, dining, beverages, shore excursions, port taxes, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and sometimes even travel to/from your starting or ending port are often included in the fare price.

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