The Best Luxury River Cruises in the USA
Five classic American river journeys, and who each one suits.
Get Free Luxury River Cruise QuotesThe Routes
The best luxury river cruises in the USA are defined as much by the river as by the boat. These are the routes the deluxe lines sail most.
| Route | Typical length | Highlights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Mississippi (New Orleans – Memphis) | About 8 days | Plantation houses, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis | First-timers, Southern history, music |
| Upper Mississippi (St. Louis – St. Paul) | About 8 days | Bluffs, Hannibal, river towns, fall colour | Scenery, Mark Twain, autumn |
| The whole Mississippi | About 3 weeks | New Orleans to the Twin Cities | Travelers with time to spare |
| Music Cities (Memphis – Nashville) | About 8 nights | The Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers | Blues and country music fans |
| Columbia & Snake | About 9 days; longer versions | The Columbia Gorge, Lewis and Clark sites, wine country | Western scenery and history |
| Hudson River (fall) | Limited fall sailings | Fall foliage and Hudson Valley scenery | Leaf-peepers, Northeast travelers |
The Mississippi
The Mississippi is the heart of American river cruising. The lower river is the South of plantation houses, bayous and jazz; the upper river is bluffs, small towns and wide valleys. For the full story of the river, see Mississippi Riverboat Cruises.
The Pacific Northwest
The Columbia and Snake rivers follow the Lewis and Clark route inland from the Pacific through the Columbia River Gorge. American Cruise Lines has added longer itineraries, including a 16-day Grand Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise. Columbia River Cruising and Columbia River Cruises cover the region in depth.
The Hudson in Fall
American Cruise Lines offers a limited number of fall cruises on the Hudson, round trip from New York, timed for foliage. For more on cruising within the U.S., including ocean itineraries, see Cruising America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which U.S. river cruise is best in the fall?
The Upper Mississippi and the Hudson are favourites for autumn colour; the Columbia and Snake season also runs into the autumn.
What are the best luxury river cruises in the USA for a first trip?
A week on the Lower Mississippi from New Orleans, with plantation houses, Civil War sites and Memphis music, is the classic introduction. The Columbia and Snake suit travelers who love scenery and history of the West.
How long are the longest U.S. river cruises?
Full-length Mississippi voyages between New Orleans and St. Paul run about three weeks on both main lines.
Matching the Season to the River
Spring brings azaleas and mild temperatures to the Lower Mississippi; summer is hot and humid in the South but pleasant on the upper river; autumn is the favourite on the Upper Mississippi and the Hudson for colour, and in the Columbia Gorge for crisp, clear days. Our advisors will suggest the best month for the route you choose.
Choose Your American River
Tell us what you would like to see. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will match you with the right route and boat.
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