North America Rivers
North American Rivers
If you're looking for a cruise vacation that's completely different from any other, come discover Mark Twain's America . . . on board an authentic paddlewheel steamboat!
A Steamboatin' vacation offers delightfully diversified pleasures - the excitement of exploring quaint rivertowns; the thrill of travelling along America's great rivers; the tranquility of watching the sun set on the river; the romance of a moonlight stroll on deck; and the reward of pure relaxation.
The USA has a host of navigable rivers and waterways that offer wonderful river cruise experiences.
The Columbia and Snake rivers allow round trip cruises from Portland into the Pacific North West
Mississippi cruises are often split into Lower Mississippi which is south from St Louis and Upper Mississippi which is north from St Louis. These cruises are generally on Paddle Steamers. Cruises also make use of the Mississippi’s main tributaries including the Ohio, Tennessee and Arkansas rivers.
The St Lawrence and Great Lakes have cruises that can go from Quebec and through the lake system to Chicago and into Lake Superior.
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway extends from Key West in Florida to Boston, Massachusetts and covers a region rich in both history and geography. Its 1200 mile course includes manmade canals, bays protected by barrier islands, natural river channels, and estuaries.
Cruise types
The vessels used range from Mississippi Paddle Steamers, to small ships and to river boats. The destination and the rivers drive the ship type as often as not.
Cruise season
Seasons vary by river. Lower Mississippi cruises operate year round, while cruises on the Coastal Waterway, the St Lawrence and the Columbia don’t operate in the winter and their schedules may be set to enjoy Fall Colours or historical events.
Main ports
Columbia and Snake Rivers - Portland
Mississippi – New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, St Louis, St Paul and more
St Lawrence and the Great Lakes – Quebec, Montreal, Chicago
Intracoastal waterway – Quebec, Toronto, Chicago, Buffalo
Weather
The weather varies according to the region, river and season. Fall cruises to view the autumn colours will be cooler while summer cruises on the lower Mississippi will be warm to hot.
Photo Credit: American Queen
Destinations
Destination Specials
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- from AU $3369
- Jewels Of The Lower Mississippi - American Queen
- 8 Night Jewels of the Lower Mississippi Cruise onboard American Queen from Memphis to New Orleans!
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- from US $3318
- American Empress - Columbia River Cruise - 21st Apr 2019
- Cruise & Stay 8 nights with American Queen Steamboat`s American Empress on a Columbia/Snake River cruise from Clarkston to Vancouver(USA).
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- from AU $5325
- Pacific Northwest Splendour - American Empress
- EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT^ 8 Night Cruise & Stay Pacific Northwest Splendours Cruise onboard American Empress from Vancouver to Clarkston including a pre-cruise stay in Vancouver!
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- from AU $5919
- Pacific Northwest Splendour - American Empress
- EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT^ 8 Night Cruise & Stay Pacific Northwest Splendours Cruise onboard American Empress from Vancouver to Clarkston including a pre-cruise stay in Vancouver!
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- from AU $4209
- Taste Of The True South - American Duchess
- EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT^ 8 Night Cruise & Stay Taste of the True South Cruise onboard American Duchess from New Orleans to Memphis including a pre-cruise stay in New Orleans!
Points of Interest
- Alton, Illinois, USA
- Ashport, Tennessee, USA
- Augusta, KY, USA
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Beardstown, Illinois, USA
- Beaver Island, Michigan, USA
- Bettendorf (Quad Cities), IA, USA
- Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Blennerhasset Island, West Virginia, USA
- Brandenburg, KY
- Bristol, Rhode Island
- Burlington, Iowa, USA
- C&D Canal
- Cairo, Illinois, USA
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
- Cave-In-Rock, Illinois,USA
- Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
- Chester, Illinois, USA
- Chestertown, MD, USA
- Chicago, USA
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Clarkston, Washington, USA
- Clarksville, Tennessee, USA
- Clifton, Tennessee, USA
- Clinton, Iowa
- Columbia River Gorge, USA
- Columbus, Kentucky, USA
- Columbus, Mississippi, USA
- Davenport, Iowa, USA
- Decatur, Alabama, USA
- Demopolis, Alabama, USA
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Dover, Tennessee, USA
- Dubuque, Iowa, USA
- Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
- Florence, Alabama, USA
- Fort Canby, Washington, USA
- Fort Madison, Iowa, USA
- Fort Monroe, Virginia
- Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA
- Gallipolis, Ohio, USA
- Grafton, Illinois, USA
- Grand Gulf, MS, USA
- Grand Rivers, Kentucky
- Grandview, Illionois, USA
- Greenville, Mississippi, USA
- Hanford Reach, Washington, USA
- Hannibal, Missouri, USA
- Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA
- Havana, Illinois, USA
- Havre de Grace, MD
- Helena, Arkansas, USA
- Henderson, Kentucky, USA
- Henry, Illinois, USA
- Holland, Michigan, USA
- Hood River Valley, Oregon, USA
- Horse Heaven Hills & Red Mt, Washington, USA
- Houmas House Plantation, Burnside, Louisiana, USA
- Hudson River, New York, USA
- Huntington, West Virginia, USA
- Hyde Park, NY, USA
- Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Jeffersonville, IN, USA
- Joliet, Illinois, USA
- Jonesville, Louisiana, USA
- Kitty Hawk, NC
- Klickitat, Washington, USA
- Kuttawa, Kentucky
- La Crosse, WI
- Lake Pepin, WI
- Le Claire, Iowa, USA
- Leavenworth,Kansas, USA
- Lewiston, Idaho, USA
- Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Madison, Indiana, USA
- Manistee, Michigan, USA
- Marietta, Ohio, USA
- Maysville, Kentucky, USA
- Memphis Tennessee, USA
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Mississippi Delta, USA
- Mobile, Alabama, USA
- Mount St Helens, WA
- Mt Vernon, Indiana, USA
- Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Natchez, Mississippi, USA
- Nauvoo, IL, USA
- New Castle, Delaware, USA
- New Madrid, Missouri, USA
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Newburgh
- Newport News, Virginia, USA
- Nottoway, Louisiana, USA
- Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, Louisiana, USA
- Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
- Ottawa, Illinois, USA
- Owensboro, KY
- Oxford, Maryland
- Paducah, Kentucky,USA
- Pendleton, Oregon, USA
- Pensacola, Florida, USA
- Peoria, Illinois, USA
- Peru, Illinois, USA
- Petit Jean, Arkansas, USA
- Pickwick, Tennessee, USA
- Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Plantation Road, LA
- Point Pleasant, West Virginia, USA
- Port of Iberia, Louisiana, USA
- Port of Kalama, WA
- Portland, Oregon, USA
- Portsmouth, Ohio, USA
- Potomac River, Washington D.C. USA
- Poughkeepsie, NY
- Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA
- Quad Cities (Bettendorf), IA
- Rainier, Oregon
- Red Wing, Minnesota, USA
- Richland, Washington, USA
- Richmond, Virginia
- Sacajawea State Park, WA
- Savannah, Tennessee, USA
- Smithland
- Snake River, Oregon, USA
- Spokane, Washington (USA)
- St Charles, Missouri, USA
- St Francisville, Louisiana, USA
- St Johns River, Florida
- St Louis, Missouri, USA
- St Michaels, MD
- St Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Stevenson, WA
- Tell City, Indiana, USA
- The Dalles
- Tolomato River, Florida
- Troy (for Albany), Georgia USA
- Tunica, Mississippi
- Umatilla Landing, Oregon, USA
- Vacherie, Louisiana, USA
- Vancouver, Washington, USA
- Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
- Wabasha, Minnesota, USA
- Walla Walla, Washington, USA
- Wellsburg, West Virginia, USA
- Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
- Willamette River, Oregon, USA
- Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
- Winona, Minnesota, USA
- Wyandotte, Michigan, USA
- Yonkers, New York
