When most Americans hear the word cruise they automatically think of the sandy beaches of the Caribbean. The majority of cruises leaving the United States are in fact bound for the Caribbean but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options.
New England
There are lots of cruises that depart from various ports like New York, Baltimore, Boston and Newport. Most go north to Canada with stops in Halifax, Montreal, or Saint John. You won’t find many cruises here during the winter months as cruises typically run May to October, but fall cruises are incredibly popular. Sit back and take in the colored forests of the northeast while sailing the coast. On shore excursions like kayaking, biking, and hiking are popular offerings. Almost every major cruise line offers some type of sailing in this region. You also might find taking a smaller boat cruise either on the ocean or rivers may fit your needs better. Oceania offers lovely cruises up the coast of New England in the fall!
Alaska
This is my DREAM cruise!! There are dozens of cruises leaving from and stopping in Seattle every day. Many of them visit the San Juan Islands, Victoria Canada and go further north to cruise southern Alaska. During the summer months thousands of tourists flock to witness the awe inspiring beauty of Alaska. If wildlife and natural beauty are what you’re after consider an Alaska cruise. Sure you’ll have to adjust to nearly 24 hour daylight during summer months but there’s nothing like witnessing the midnight sun! While it may seem like an Alaska cruise is cost prohibitive there are many amazing deals to be found if you’re flexible. Some of them offer amazing land excursions as part of the cruise – everything from salmon fishing to riding a glass-domed trains through the Alaskan frontier!
West Coast US
Popular cruises from California visit Ensenada Mexico and Catalina Island California. These are typically 3 day cruises, perfect for a quick escape. Other popular stops include Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta with departures from San Diego. Often times these cruises can be scooped up for a steal and if you live on the west coast a cruise getaway is easier and much less expensive than you may think! Don’t forget there are also cruises that leave San Francisco and San Diego bound for the Hawaiian Islands. You’ll need to set aside plenty of time to get there but this is a relaxing way to get to this tropical destination!
River and Lake Cruises
River cruises are popular in Europe but less common in the United States. Don’t let that stop you! There are several companies that sail smaller scale cruise ships (think under 100 people) through the Great Lakes and down the river ways of the United States. Depending on the experiences you want and length of cruise you’ll likely find these to be more expensive than a large cruise ship. However you also will have more interaction with the staff and other cruisers as well as great dining and often times free shore excursions.
If Caribbean cruising isn’t your cup of tea or you’re just looking for a different type of experience than sun and sand, there are plenty of other options with US based departures. Happy Cruising!!
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