United States River Cruises: 5 Reasons to Book

United States River Cruises are amazing options closer to home for Americans yet don't get the attention they deserve when compared to Europe's offerings. After all, the United States has many rivers which have been the heartbeat of trade and industry across the continent much like across the Atlantic Ocean. And they're incredibly beautiful!

We hope your eyes grow wide with possibilities as we share the multitude of reasons to book a United States river cruise.

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5 Reasons to Book a U.S. River Cruise

1. You won't have to cross an ocean to reach the port of embarkation for United States river cruises

When you go on a river cruise in Europe, you have to first fly to Europe. You likely don't even have to cross an ocean to arrive at a port of embarkation for a river cruise in America.

In fact, if you're someone who would rather not fly (for whatever reason, whether health, cost, or fear of flying) you can probably drive to the port city you need to be in to board the ship.

Another perk to take advantage of is shorter flight times. This is great if you don't have a lot of time to take a vacation. If you're flying to Europe you spend two days traveling in airports and on flights, alone. Then you need to deal with getting over the hump of jet lag upon return to the US.

With a river cruise in the United States in 2022 and beyond, you can simply focus on the cruise, alone, instead of factoring in lengthy flights or jet lag.

There are tons of ports in the United States that you probably don't know about. Sure, there are obvious ones with huge ocean liners, like the ports of San Diego, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. But then there are ports in places like the Great Lakes in New York and Toronto, or even Chicago and Portland.

2. You're Close to Home If You Have Health Concerns

A river cruise in the United States has a significant advantage of location if you need to stay close to home for any reason. Let's say you care for an elderly parent and don't want to leave his or her side for too long, at too far of a distance. You may not be able to consider a cruise in Europe during this time, but a river cruise in the United States could be the perfect solution for you to travel while still being a quick flight or drive from your parent.

Additionally, if you or your travel companions need their own doctors or insurance plan in the United States, then going on a river cruise in the U.S. can be comforting. It provides some security and peace of mind. There are fewer variables when you are “Close to Home™” (which happens to be a campaign coined and trademarked by American Cruise Lines).

Though the location of a cruise itinerary or ship doesn't deter us from worldwide travel it may be different for your needs or situation. Regardless, having travel insurance coverage for every trip is a must! And while we whole-heartedly believe cruises are the safest way to travel anywhere…it's still something nice to consider if you're looking for reasons to book a U.S. river cruise.

3. U.S. River Cruises Enables Us to Explore Our Great Nation (And haven't explored the United States enough!)

We get starry-eyed when we have the opportunity to fly to another country, like going on a Danube River cruise from Germany to Hungary. Or seeing more of France through a river cruise on the Garonne in Bordeaux. But a pandemic made us value what is right in front of us even more than before. And the United States of America is pretty spectacular, from sea to shining sea.

We were completely in awe of the beauty along the Tennessee River when we cruised with American Cruise Lines including stops along the way from Chatanooga to Nashville we wouldn't have otherwise visited, like Pedukah, Kentucky.

Every time we consider United States river cruises, we're impressed with our options.

A river cruise itinerary in the USA on the Mississippi River, for example, would allow you to explore various regions that would take you much longer to visit if you were to drive to all of them. (Besides, who doesn't love a river cruise?) Signing up for a river cruise could also be more realistic and attainable than going through the motions of planning a trip to all the destinations separately.

River cruises are always high on our travel wish list. Visiting Louisiana may be lower on our wish list but a river cruise that stops in Louisiana? Divine! We'd love to visit places the American Cruise Lines 8-day Mississippi River Cruise itinerary goes to, including Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.

Or even an upper Mississippi River cruise itinerary, for example, would allow us to explore several cities in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, including St. Louis and St. Paul, cities we've never been to. Or ports accessible from the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington, like Portland and Mount St. Helens.

4. You'll Be Supporting the U.S. Economy

It's great to shop local and support local. We whole-heartedly believe in it as travel writers, small business owners, and as the children of parents who both owned and worked for small businesses.

Many of the cruise line options in the United States are indeed big businesses. However, some of them aren't.

Consider that for a ship to sail U.S. rivers like these ships are doing, they have to have been built here and employ U.S. Citizens as a large percentage of their staff. For example, American Cruise Lines is constructing a fifth riverboat at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD. This supports our local economy and is part of being an eco-conscious cruiser. This is true of ocean cruises that only go to United States ports too, like Alaskan Dream Cruises does.

When you book a United States river cruise, you are supporting the businesses that helped build the ships (including outfitting their interiors and such) and also Americans who work onboard.

Additionally, these cruises sail to United States ports, from Chicago to Charleston, Baltimore, New York, Portland, and beyond.

That means money is also staying in the United States economy when the cruise companies who sail in the USA are paying port fees and for tours and experiences for their guests. They are even supporting the local economy when they are paying the company that is providing provisions needed onboard the ships.

When you spend money in ports – like at restaurants, on souvenirs, private tours and the like – you're also supporting our local economy.

5. There are Wonderful United States Premium River Cruise Options

There are great options for cruise lines that sail American waters and treat their passengers to a luxurious trip each sailing.

American Cruise Lines

We love that American Cruise Lines focuses on American themes in their ship designs (including redesigns). For example, they honor classic American steamboats in their paddleboat vessels, and they keep Native American motifs in mind to pay homage to our indigenous people.

Come 2026 with their fleet expansion, they will be one of the biggest river cruise lines by fleet worldwide. They also remain the only cruise line with 100% of its itineraries operating either as United States River Cruises or coastal United States itineraries.

Some of their offerings include a roundtrip sail on the Hudson River out of NY to see the fall colors, cruising Puget Sound in Seattle, a Historic South cruise from Charleston, South Carolina to Florida's Amelia Island, Following Lewis and Clark's journey in the Pacific Northwest, or cruising New England's islands.

Viking Cruises

We've sailed with Viking before, and part of what gave us the idea of looking into a United States river cruise for the future was that Viking is building the Viking Mississippi (rendering below) to specifically sail the waters of the Mississippi River.

Viking repeatedly wins awards for their ocean and river ships, and we know the Viking Mississippi will be in line with their superior service and high standards. The ship has a guest capacity of 386, and all the staterooms will be outward-facing for great views.

Check out our app recommendations for cruises, for prep, while onboard, and in ports.

Planning a cruise? Also check out:

• Guide to Mississippi River Cruises: Discover The Heart of America
• 12 Reasons Why Cruises are the Safest Way to Travel
• Great Lakes Cruises that will Inspire you to Explore North America