Cruise American rivers for a unique travel experience

Many people experiencing their first cruise will find themselves in the Caribbean aboard a vessel with 1,000 to 5,000 fellow passengers. However, if the size of a large ship is overwhelming, many small-ship cruise options on the rivers, lakes, sounds and bays in the United States are gaining popularity.

“This segment of the American cruise industry is growing rapidly,” says Linda Androlia of California, who has been selling small-ship cruises exclusively for 20 years and was recognized in 2012 as one of the top travel agents in the country. “American small-ship cruising in the lower United States was hardly known about as recently as 10 years ago,” she says.

Androlia attributes the increase largely to baby boomers who make up a majority of the passengers on small ships sailing in the waters of the contiguous United States. “Many have done worldwide travel and have the necessary discretionary funds. Plus, the water is almost certain to be calm, reducing the fear of seasickness,” Androlia says.

Older Americans are also likely to be looking for educational travel, a hallmark of most small-ship trips. “We are in the ‘edutainment’ business,” says Jeffrey Krida, vice chairman and co-founder of the American Queen Steamboat Co. He is referring to the fact that most small ships include an on-board naturalist, a “riverlorian” familiar with the history of the waterway, lectures on local history and nightly entertainment and meals aligned with the history of the area being visited.

Another reason small-ship cruises appeal is the savings of not having to fly. “A majority of Americans are less than a day’s drive from at least a few inland ports, and that helps avoid the expense of a flight as well as the hassle of plane travel,” she adds.

Other reasons frequently mentioned as an advantage include always being in sight of land, scenery that changes constantly and being close to medical facilities if needed. Most inland cruises also utilize all-American crews.

What follows is a sampling of small-ship cruises throughout the contiguous United States, and two Canadian options.

MIDDLE AMERICA

The Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, American Queen Steamboat Co.

From 2008 until 2012, no passenger boats offered overnight accommodations along the great rivers of the Midwest, according to Krida. However, that changed when the 418-foot American Queen was put into service in April 2012, offering a variety of cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers.

Constructed in 1995 by the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., the American Queen spent several years cruising mid-American rivers before being dry-docked in 2008 due to financial problems. Then the American Queen Steamboat Co. rescued, restored and returned her to the river.

The American Queen carries a crew of 170, holds 436 passengers and stops at 34 different ports including the embarkation ports of St. Louis, St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis and New Orleans

“There was substantial pent-up demand for the four years the product was missing,” Krida says. “We bring the American story to our guests at every turn of the rivers, including local and regional history, cuisine, music and scenery. And we do it with five-star comforts and service delivered on a steamboat that is in effect an American time machine exploring this continent’s past and present.”

Cost • Voyages aboard the American Queen range from five to 10 nights with fares starting at $1,495 per person.

More info • 1-888-749-5280; AQSC.com

NORTHWESTERN U.S.

Puget Sound and the Columbia and Snake rivers, Un-Cruise Adventures

The coastal waters of Washington State, Puget Sound and the 400 islands of the San Juan Island archipelago are the location for a seven-night island cruise offered by Un-Cruise Adventures. The firm, which is headquartered and sails from historic Fisherman’s Wharf in downtown Seattle, embraces the slogan “Choose to Un-Cruise.”

Promoted as an “active adventure,” the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer visits isolated natural harbors where a kayak launch enables guests to quickly enter the water allowing exploration by foot and by kayak. Gray whales, orcas, seals, sea lions and eagles are frequently spotted.

Un-Cruise Adventures also offers weeklong Heritage Adventure cruises on the Columbia and Snake rivers aboard the 88-guest S.S. Legacy. A newly renovated turn-of-the-century replica coastal steamer first launched in 1962, she began service in the spring of 2013 departing roundtrip from Portland, Ore.

Voyages focus on the history of the area with an on-board “Heritage Leader” coordinating a program on board and ashore. In addition, the crew dresses in historical period costumes to entertain and transport guests back in time through character re-enactments such as when John Muir or Teddy Roosevelt visited the area.

Highlights include scenic cruising through the Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area, a visit to Multnomah Falls; transiting eight sets of locks; a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon and visits to Fort Clatsop and Fort Walla Walla and the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria

Cost • Cruises from $1,595 per person in Puget Sound and $3,195 on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

More info • 1-888-862-8881; un-cruise.com

EAST COAST

American Cruise Lines

The largest fleet of boats navigating U.S. waters belongs to American Cruise Lines, a private firm headquartered in Guilford, Conn. “Beginning in 1998 we have added a ship cruising American waters every 1 ½ years,” says company spokesman Britt Rabinovici, remarking on the increased demand for cruising on inland waterways in the lower United States.

The company’s seven boats each carry 50 to 150 passengers and are repositioned throughout the year to follow the cruising seasons. Repositioning allows the line to offer 35 cruise itineraries visiting 28 states leaving from 15 U.S. ports.

Travelers wanting to see the Eastern American coast can choose from a plethora of itineraries. In fact, when all the ports of call are grouped together, it seems as though every small village between St. Augustine, Fla., and Bar Harbor, Maine, is visited.

Voyages include an eight-day New England Island cruise and an eight-day Maine Coast and Harbor Islands voyage. An 11-day Grand New England trip sails from Providence, R.I., to Bar Harbor with stops in Nantucket, Gloucester and Boothbay Harbor among the ports of call.

American Cruise Lines also offers “fall color cruises” on the Hudson River, sailing roundtrip from New York City to Albany, N.Y. Among the eight ports of call are Hyde Park (Poughkeepsie,) West Point and Sleepy Hollow, the home of Washington Irving.

Still another American Cruise Line itinerary is a cruise on the waters of Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States with more than 11,000 miles of shoreline and covering 4,400 square surface miles. Sailing roundtrip from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the cruise is advertised as visiting some of the earliest settlements of the “New World,” and includes stops near Colonial Williamsburg and Annapolis among others.

Cost • Cruises start at $ 3,245 per person.

More info • 1-800-841-6880; Americancruiselines.com

CHICAGO TO FLORIDA

Travel Dynamics International

Travel Dynamics International has been cruising in U.S. waters since the mid-1980s. The firm uses only one ship, the Yorktown. Commissioned in 1988 but refurbished and returned to service in 2012, the 138-passenger vessel has a wide-ranging U.S. itinerary, visiting ports from Chicago to the Florida Keys.

In the early spring the Yorktown sails the perimeter of Florida. The 10-day trip includes ports such as Tampa, Sanibel Island, Key West, Miami, Cape Canaveral, Cumberland Island and St. Augustine. Then the boat progresses up the East Coast on several themed cruises. In May the Yorktown sails out of New York on a 14-day cruise to Montreal. The ship continues westward through the Great Lakes of Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan, ending up in Chicago before closing the 2014 sailing season with several itineraries along the eastern U.S. coast.

Cost • Seven night voyages start at $2,995 per person.

More info • 1-800-267-5767; traveldynamicsinternational.com

INLAND CANADA

St. Lawrence Cruise Lines

The Canadian Empress is an unlikely name for a boat with a snub bow, steep sides, tall and thin rectangular windows spanning two decks, and a singular tall black and red smoke stack protruding straight up from the middle of the top deck. However, the 32-stateroom ship has been cruising the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence Seaway since 1981.

“Both inside and out, she was built to be a replica steamboat like those cruising the St. Lawrence at the turn of the century,” says spokesman Jason Clark.

The company offers a Kingston to Quebec City sailing of seven days along the St. Lawrence Seaway, a Kingston to Ottawa excursion of six days using the Seaway and the Ottawa River, and a four-day cruise that meanders among the Thousand Islands region north of Kingston.

Cost • Voyages begin at about $1,100 per person (U.S. dollars.)

More info • 1-800-267-7868; StLawrenceCrusieLines.com

MORE CANADA

Ontario Waterway Cruises

In 1982 Lloyd and Helen Ackert launched their first passenger boat, traveling some of the most picturesque canals in Canada after envisioning the idea aboard a rented houseboat two years earlier. Today their sons, John and Marc, and daughters-in-law, Joy and Robin, manage the business. John and Marc are also the captains of the 120-foot Kawartha Voyaguer, which accommodates 45 passengers and a crew of 11 plus the captain.

The ship offers three different cruise options in Ontario, traveling through locks on both the Rideau Canal and the Trent Severn Waterway, which are a series of natural lakes and rivers joined together by man-made channels. The Rideau Canal, a United Nations World Heritage site, is the oldest continuously operating canal in North America and continues to function today much as when first opened in 1832.

Cabins include sinks and toilets. Four shower compartments with private changing areas are in the stern. The boat is not licensed to carry passengers under 13 and caters to the 60-plus age group.

Cost • Cruises begin at about $1,740 per person (U.S. dollars.)

More info • 1-800-561-5767; ontariowaterwaycruises.com