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An expert’s complete guide to North American cruises
This epic continent is where cruising meets the great outdoors. Our expert explains how to choose the perfect voyage
Whether admiring glaciers in Alaska, meandering the Mississippi, island-hopping in Hawaii or exploring the Canadian High Arctic on an expedition ship, the waterways and coastlines of America and Canada present an endless reel of scenic contrasts and epic landscapes.
The continent is bound by the world’s two biggest oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic, however, there is also cruising on the Great Lakes – shared by the US and Canada – and a handful of major rivers.
If you’ve not considered a cruise holiday in North America before, ponder the boreal forests that fringe the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, or combining an Alaska cruise with a rail journey on the Rocky Mountaineer, in Canada. Wine cruises are possible in California, and also in the Pacific Northwest, where the Snake and Columbia rivers wind through the wine-growing state of Washington.
Waterborne travel is an opportunity to gain a different perspective on America’s storied coastal cities and yachting harbours like Newport Rhode Island and Nantucket. Sailing down the St Lawrence towards the fortified city of Quebec is pretty special. For the ultimate arrival it has to Manhattan at dawn – little beats the grand finale to a transatlantic crossing by ocean liner.
Here’s our complete guide to the best that North America’s oceans and waterways have to offer.
Ocean cruises
River and lake cruises
FAQS
The classic itineraries
Ocean
Transatlantic
A much-loved and historic voyage, the first Transatlantic crossing was made by the Cunard liner Britannia in 1840. Today, Queen Mary 2 makes the seven-day crossing all year, including at Christmas. Other ships make seasonal crossings as part of their “repositioning” voyages from Europe to the Caribbean, but only Cunard offers the Manhattan-at-dawn moment.
Alaska
Carrying gold prospectors and sometimes livestock, the first “cruises” to Alaska began in 1881, when the Pacific Coast Steamship Company began offering monthly voyages to south-eastern Alaska on its ships, the Ancon and the Idaho.
Today, routes are concentrated on the Inside Passage, a 500-mile corridor of wildlife-filled fjords and spectacular tidewater glaciers from Vancouver to Skagway. Longer cruises sail from Glacier Bay National Park across the Gulf of Alaska to Hubbard Glacier, Prince William Sound and Whittier. Ships sail from Seattle (US) or Vancouver (Canada).
New England and Eastern Canada
The well-travelled New York to Boston leg and onwards to Quebec City and Montreal (the entire journey takes around 11 days) via the St Lawrence Seaway scoops up a top line-up of sights, historical harbours and sea ports.
The seaside hubs of Halifax, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and Newport are strung along the route.
The mansions at Newport and Maine’s Acadia National Park are excursion staples, as are the cities of Boston, Halifax, and Quebec City. Fall cruises are very popular as excursions delve into prime leaf-peeping territory.
The High Arctic
This is expedition-ship territory. The Northwest Passage, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is an extraordinary wilderness of fjords, pack ice and glaciers.
A handful of departure and arrival points include Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Boston. Longer itineraries also visit Greenland and Iceland.
Hawaii
Even though the 50th state is hard to reach, a cruise around its spectacular volcanic islands is worth the effort. Ships depart from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver, with five days’ sailing across the Pacific on either side. Alternatively, take a plane from the west coast and board a ship in Honolulu. Most itineraries visit Oahu (Honolulu) and Kuna and Hilo on Big Island (Hawaii), with excursions to Volcanoes National Park.
Pacific coast
This is the territory of relaxed cruising that takes advantage of (further south) the almost year-round good weather, visits cities like San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Astoria and Vancouver, and can include wine-tasting in California and Washington State.
The classic itineraries
Rivers and lakes
Mississippi and beyond
Itineraries on the river are classified as “Upper” or “Lower” Mississippi cruises. The classic route is from New Orleans to Memphis via Natchez, Vicksburg and Baton Rouge. More recently, boats have begun cruising north of Memphis to the river’s head in Minneapolis (Upper) and into its tributaries on the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.
Cruising the river eulogised by Mark Twain on a chimney-topped paddlewheel boat is, for some, the only way to cruise the Mississippi. Though the interiors are modern, two ships partly powered by rolling red paddlewheels recreate the traditional aesthetic. These are the American Splendor and the newly refurbished American Pride. New from American Cruise Lines is a 12-day Mississippi Explorer Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans on the American Serenade and a 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise from Pittsburgh to St Louis on American Symphony.
Viking’s new Mississippi river itineraries take cruisers to Mark Twain’s boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri, and delve into America’s literary Cajun heritage and Civil War history.
The Great Lakes
The St Lawrence Seaway on North America’s east coast funnels into the five Great Lakes – Ontario, Eerie, Huron, Michigan and Superior. This 3,700km “marine highway”, officially known as The Great Lakes-St Lawrence Seaway System, extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the head of Lake Superior.
A meandering passage through the Thousand Islands of the St Lawrence River, and visits to Niagara Falls, several national parks and historic sites, plus navigation of impressive lock systems are all part of the Great Lakes experience.
Columbia and Snake rivers (Pacific Northwest)
The locks, dams, gorges and mountain ranges of this region make for some exceptional cruising and bring opportunities for canoeing, fishing, river rafting and wine tasting. On the Columbia river, boat and helicopter excursions take you to Hells Canyon, which is North America’s deepest gorge.
The Columbia bisects the Cascade Range. This is “pioneer country”, featuring historical routes forged by explorers Lewis and Clarke, giving these cruises an interesting historical dimension. The typical start and end points are Clarkston in Washington and Astoria in Oregon. There’s also wine-tasting in Washington State, which is the second-biggest wine-producing state in the US.
Off the beaten track
Search for polar bears, walrus and muskoxen and take “flightseeing” tours on Quark Expeditions’ Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands voyage. The 12-day trip in September is on the expedition vessel Ultramarine, which hosts Inuit guides and is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and 20 zodiacs.
The little-known Floridian rivers provide a natural habitat for wildlife including alligators, manatees and majestic bald eagles. The 56-cabin American Eagle sails round-trip from Jacksonville and cruises on the St John’s and Tolomato rivers and visits Ocala National Park and Amelia Island.
The San Juan Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Vancouver Island, are visited by Lindblad on its British Columbia and San Juan Islands cruise, from Seattle to Vancouver. The itinerary dips into First Nations History, explores isolated coves and archipelagos by kayak and offers possible encounters with sea lions, river otters, bald eagles, white-sided dolphins and whales. Departures in September and October.
You’re unlikely to see any other ship in glacier-choked Prince William Sound (Gulf of Alaska). From wildlife spotting and ice kayaking, to hiking a mountain in the Mt Eyak Ski Area above the town of Cordova, a Prince William Sound cruise with UnCruise promises action-packed excitement. Book now for 2026.
Want to captain a small boat without needing a licence? Le Boat has summer itineraries on southern Ontario’s historic Rideau Canal and the Trent-Severn Waterway and Kawartha Lakes, in Central Ontario.
When to go
The Alaska cruise season is May to September (in September there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights). Summer is also the season for cruises on the Great Lakes.
New England and Canada are at their peak in the autumn when the fall colours lure leaf peepers.
Summer’s high humidity is best avoided on the Lower Mississippi; the upper section and tributaries of the river are ideal from July through September.
With only short sharp showers in its wet season (November to March) Hawaii is a year-round cruise destination.
The Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June through November. The Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30.
Health and safety
- Check the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Foreign Travel Advice website before travelling and especially if you’re planning a visit to Latin America first.
- In US cities, where crime is common, common sense applies; leave valuables on board.
- Make sure your travel insurance policy covers cruising and any related excursions.
Expert tips
- North America is a continent of dramatic vistas and epic views. It’s well worth splashing out on a balcony cabin, especially if you’re planning a visit to Alaska or Hawaii (most small river ships have all-balcony cabins but check before booking).
- Visiting Alaska or the Pacific Northwest? See the Rocky Mountains from the rails in a luxurious domed car on board the Rocky Mountaineer or McKinley Explorer. Princess Cruises, APT and Holland America Line are the go-tos for rail and lodge extensions to Denali National Park and Wrangell–St Elias National Park.
- Consider combining a cruise with a city stay: Los Angeles or San Francisco before a Hawaii cruise, Vancouver or Seattle if visiting Alaska, New Orleans or Memphis on a Mississippi cruise, and Boston or New York on a New England cruise. Several lines offer extension packages.
- Mindful of your footprint? Look for an LNG-fuelled or hybrid vessel. Explora’s new ships operate within RINA Dolphin noise limits and use shore-power plug-ins. Holland America Line has Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification and serves only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood on board.
- Book well ahead for Alaska – especially if you want a particular cabin or require a family room.
- You’ll probably spend more time outdoors than in museums and galleries so pack for walking, cycling, sun and wind.
This article was first published in April 2023, and has been revised and updated.