Cruising Closer To Home

As much as I love to travel internationally, sometimes staying closer to home and getting to the destination (and back home again) in a few short hours is just "what the doctor ordered".  Less airport time, less jetlag....a perfect prescription.

Alaska and the Caribbean are top destinations for many who want a "quick" getaway - the standard 7-10 day escape.  These regions are tops for cruises, and for good reason.  Definitely fun, exciting, adventurous and relaxing destinations.  But sometimes you may just want something different. 

There a number of other cruise destinations  closer to home - from the East coast to the West coast and in between - that you may not have thought or even known about.  Different from the bi ship cruises, are you ready to try something unique, something that will get you away from the crowds?  Could one of these small ship trips be in your future?  ​


​New England, Maine and the Canadian Maritimes

Cape Cod, Maine and Canada - much, much more than just the delicious and authentic lobster bakes!  Whether sailing the islands off New England or along the coastline of Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the experience is all about discovering the picturesque towns, historic ports and beautiful scenery.  The small ships take you into bays and ports where the big ships just can't get into.  Stroll through the charming towns of Martha's Vineyard, Boothbay Harbor and Bar Harbor, visit the stunningly beautiful Acadia National Park and enjoy the scenery of the Bay of Fundy.   Other itineraries take you up to Prince Edward Island, home of the Green Gables farmhouse  of "Ann of Green Gables" fame, and to the Gulf of St. Lawrence where you can explore the beautiful remote islands of Iles de la Madeleine.  The wonderful scenery, the lack of crowds, the charming towns - you just can't go wrong in this most idyllic area!

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Line and Blount Small Ship Adventures

Coastal Waterways

Did you know there are cruises that explore the entire Eastern coastline?  There are!  From Maine down to Florida, discover the inter-coastal waterways, islands, bays, rivers and canals.  Explore historic towns and cities including Charleston, Savannah and Kitty Hawk (of Wright Brothers fame) or explore the Chesapeake Bay and take in a history lesson or two strolling through Colonial Williamsburg and Annapolis.        

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Line

The Great Lakes

Day cruises are a perfect way to see small portions of the Great Lakes, but now you can set your sights on something longer.  One to two week long cruises explore a far greater area, including four Great Lakes, beautiful Georgian Bay, the Erie Canal, the Hudson River and  the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Some routes have you exploring Cooperstown and taking a tour of West Point between Boston and Montreal.  Other routes include the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay with travel between Chicago and Toronto and even up to Quebec.    

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Line and Blount Small Ship Adventures

US Rivers

Europe and Asia are usually top of mind when talking about river cruising, but US rivers offer spectacular experiences as well.  Consider a trip on the Columbia and Snake Rivers out of Portland, Oregon or on the Upper Mississippi, Lower Mississippi, the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. 

The Mississippi itineraries (and her tributaries) draw the largest passenger count of all the US rivers.  Cruises are on modern, luxurious and spacious paddle-wheelers, and offer a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Itineraries range between 8 and 21 days.

Itineraries include small charming and historic towns like Paducah, Vicksburg and Natchez, and big cities like New Orleans, St. Louis, Louisville, Nashville or Memphis.  Southern charm, historical sites, the world of Mark Twain and the region's music scene are just a few reasons these itineraries are so popular. 

Photos courtesy of American Queen Steamboat

Unless you live in the area, most people are not aware that one can cruise between New York City and Quebec, with a good portion of this itinerary on the Hudson River.  Fall foliage itineraries offer spectacular scenery.  One can visit the capital of New York, Albany, explore a number of museums including the Maritime Museum in Kingston, the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton or the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and visit Hyde Park, the estate home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Photo courtesy of American Cruise Line

Out west, follow the path of Lewis and Clark by exploring the Columbia and Snake Rivers.  Itineraries take you between Portland (Oregon), on the Columbia River and Clarkston (Washington), on the Snake River, or Portland roundtrip.  The rivers wind through stunning scenery, including the gorgeous Columbia Gorge and Hell's Canyon in Idaho, a canyon that is deeper than the Grand Canyon.  And one can't forget that the region is a world class producer of wines. Winery tours and tastings are included on a number of itineraries.  Read more about detailed itineraries here.

Photos courtesy of Lindblad and Un-Cruise

Pacific Northwest

The beautiful coastal areas of the San Juan Islands and British Columbia are best explored on a small ship cruise or yacht.  Kayak in sheltered bays, look for orcas and other wildlife,  visit charming small towns like Friday Harbor,  get introduced to local craft beers and other regional culinary delights, hike in pristine rainforests and area national parks.  What an experience!    

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Lines and Un-Cruise

Themes

Do you have special interests?  Think themes!  Many sailings throughout the year have special themes, where the cruise lines add extra or special excursions, onboard entertainment and regional foods.  There are themes for all types of interests: Culinary, including food, wine, beer, crab fest and lobster bakes, Fall Foliage, Christmas Market and Special interests including Mark Twain, music (country, blues and jazz), civil war and tulip festivals. 

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Line

Choose from 50 unique itineraries on six cruise lines (American Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company, Blount, Lindblad, Pearl Seas and UnCruise) that specialize in small ship experiences.  Plenty of options are available for those seeking something different,  something adventurous, something unique!

Need help determining which cruise line and itinerary is for you? We  can help!  Call us at 602.540.7338 or email.  Let's get started!