This vast country, bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is dotted with well-known cities and natural attractions.
A cruise eliminates the bother of a road trip and continually changing hotels, allowing you to view the United States through its network of lakes and rivers instead.
These rivers aren’t any bigger than the Mississippi but there are lots of other possibilities that can catch your eye.
Here are 16 of our favorite US cruise travel agencies in 2014.
16 Top US Cruise Travel Agencies
1. Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has you covered, whether you’re leaf-crunching and admiring New England’s vibrant autumn color palette or settling into laid-back island life in Hawaii.
Regardless of the trip you choose, the line offers a variety of exciting excursions. Hike along the Atlantic coast in Acadia National Park, learn about the American Revolution on Boston’s Freedom Trail or become star-struck in Los Angeles with a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio.
2. Disney Cruise Line
This line knows how to entertain both young people and those who are young in heart. Children may experience the wonder of the sea by seeing their favorite Disney characters or becoming superheroes at Marvel’s Adventure Academy, while parents and grandparents can relax in sleek, adult-only sections.
Itineraries include three-night cruises from Miami to Key West, as well as Pacific Coast sailings from San Diego with stops in San Francisco and the Walt Disney Family Museum.
The business just inaugurated a new ship, Disney Wish, the first of three planned for 2025.
3. Holland America Line
With a nearly 150-year history, Holland America has earned a well-deserved reputation for conventional cruise experiences and exquisite ships.
Its American itineraries include a trip down the Atlantic Coast from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the historic maritime ports of Boston and picturesque Bar Harbor.
Notable shore excursions include dining on clam chowder and other New England seafood specialties at Union Oyster House, Boston’s oldest restaurant, which opened in 1826.
Children are welcome but you won’t see many outside the holiday season; the line normally attracts an adult crowd.
4. American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines was the first to provide the option of traveling aboard modern riverboats with unique front-opening bows for simple embarkation.
It offers more than 35 river and coastal trips in 30 states. While the number of itineraries is vast, the ships are tiny and intimate, with a maximum capacity of 190 passengers.
The Mississippi is the most popular but you can also choose Oregon’s lesser-known Columbia and Snake rivers, which follow the pioneering paths of 19th-century explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
5. Norwegian Cruise Line
When it comes to sailing in the United States, Norwegian has it covered, from Alaska to the Caribbean.
You might opt to sail from Puerto Rico’s bustling capital, San Juan, the second-oldest city in the Americas, to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest on US territory and part of the National Forest System.
On a tour across the Gulf of Alaska, you may see bears and whales. It also cruises along the Pacific coast to the Mexican Riviera from San Diego and offers round-trip service to New York, with the option of visiting Orlando.
Ships are equally inclusive; expect excellent facilities for everyone, from families to lone travelers.
6. Virgin Voyages
With boundary-pushing founder Richard Branson at the helm, it’s no surprise that Scarlet Lady, the entrepreneur’s maiden ship, is revolutionizing cruising.
This adults-only catamaran, which sails from Miami to San Juan, is hip from bow to stern and features rock-star staterooms and a tattoo parlor.
Shore trips are equally as unique. In Miami, “sailors,” as passengers are known, can appreciate graffiti art and in Key West, the arty southernmost city in the United States, they can try their hand at sand-sculpting or be fitted with a tail and become a mermaid or merman for the day.
7. Princess Cruises
Raise a toast aboard a cruise to California’s wine country—one of several American itineraries available by Princess.
Choose this voyage to see Astoria, the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, which was first visited in 1872, followed by a trip to a glass-blowing studio to create your own masterpiece to take home.
Back on board, Princess claims to have the best wi-fi at sea, with internet access available throughout the ship, as well as OceanMedallion technology, which replaces cabin key cards and can be used to order meals and drinks and schedule spa treatments.
8. MSC Cruises
Combine a Mediterranean cruise feel with an all-American voyage aboard one of MSC’s large and bold family-friendly cruise ships.
East coast sailings include stops in Boston, Bar Harbor and Portland, where the surrounding rocky shoreline of Maine is littered with squat lighthouses, some of which are more than 200 years old and can be visited on a beach excursion.
MSC also sails to Hawaii. Kilauea, an active volcano on the Big Island, is among the most memorable vistas here. Longer cruises travel to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
9. Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten, a Norwegian excursion line, takes guests off the usual path on west coast sailings to breathtaking national parks.
Expeditions departing from San Diego are on the Roald Amundsen, one of Hurtigruten’s latest generation hybrid-powered vessels, which also features a Young Explorers program for children aged 6 to 12 and a science center.
Visit Redwood National Park to see some of the world’s oldest and tallest trees and trek the sub-alpine Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park on itineraries designed for travelers who wish to spend as much time ashore as on board.
10. Viking Expeditions
Viking effectively joined the ocean cruise business in 2015 with simple, Nordic-inspired, adult-only vessels that mirrored its riverboat fleet. In 2022, the line made another splash with its first-ever excursion ships.
The 378-passenger Viking Octanis and Viking Polaris embark on a variety of Great Lakes itineraries that highlight historic cities, national parks, wildlife and First Nations cultures.
Notable trips include learning about the 7,000-year history of copper mining in Houghton, Michigan and then entering a 370-foot mine shaft to experience what it was like to work underground.
11. Carnival Cruise Line
When it comes to choosing a mainland cruise port as a launching point, Carnival, the large player, has you covered.
Ships depart from all coasts of the United States, including Baltimore, Galveston, Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, Mobile, New Orleans, San Diego, Tampa, New York, San Francisco, Charleston and Los Angeles.
Each offers three-night short vacations that can be easily combined with a land-based city break. The line’s ships are famed for their family-friendly amenities, including waterparks and a dazzling selection of bars and restaurants.
12. Uncruise Adventures
This line offers small-ship adventure cruises designed to appeal to energetic people who would not ordinarily cruise, hence the name.
The emphasis is on land- and water-based activities rather than traditional port stops and extended periods of cruising and there is a multigenerational Family Discoveries program as well as solo sailings.
Choose a round-trip Columbia and Snake River vacation from Portland, Oregon and you may kayak through canyons and test your nerves with white-water rafting.
UnCruise also sails to Hawaii, where you may watch whales and dolphins from the bow or snorkel in waters teeming with life.
13. Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity travels along both US coasts, offering a variety of events at each stop. On the Atlantic side of Bel Harbor, test your swing with a round of golf, enjoy whale watching, or take a Victoria walking tour back in time.
Along the Pacific, activities from San Francisco include riding the Napa Valley Wine Train to experience California’s famous wine region and visiting the historic Alcatraz Island jail.
Celebrity prices include beverages, WiFi and gratuities.
14. P&O Cruises
The line, developed with Brits in mind, provides round-trip Southampton cruises on its adult-only ship, Arcadia.
There is an overnight stop in historic Boston, which is a popular destination for passengers looking to enjoy the brilliant colors of the autumn foliage.
You may also walk the Freedom Trail in this walkable city, known as the cradle of liberty due to its involvement in the American War of Independence.
Other ports of call include Newport, Rhode Island, where you may see the beautiful homes and beauty along the ten-mile Ocean Drive.
15. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Big vistas came thick and quick on Fred Olsen’s sail to admire the seasonal splendors of autumn.
After floating past the Statue of Liberty, spend two days in New York admiring the skyscrapers, seeing a Broadway musical, and shopping.
The 1,350-passenger Balmoral, on the other hand, is tiny enough to travel through waterways like the Hudson River and the Cape Cod Canal. These navigations are only possible for tiny ships and offer up-close views of riverbanks covered in golden brown and crimson leaves.
16. Silversea
Silversea’s all-inclusive luxury brand allows you to live the ultimate American dream. The Silver Wind, one of Silversea’s smaller ships, can transport less than 275 passengers along the west coast.
Every port of call includes up to six shore excursions in the fee. In San Francisco, for example, you can walk through colorful Chinatown, learn about chocolate manufacturing (with an important sampling), visit a marine animal rescue center, or enjoy a private lunch on a wine estate.
