A few weeks ago, we wrote about the 2020 Christmas market cruises in Europe. The Christmas markets along the Rhine and Danube are some of the most famous in the world – and these themed cruises provide travelers a fun and exciting way to celebrate the spirit of the season.

Believe it or not, New World rivers also gift travelers with some unique holiday attractions. Whether you’re looking for a break from daily life with a holiday vacation or looking to start new family traditions on the river, the rivers of the United States are a great option for holiday sailings.

The reason that we are calling these holiday sailings and not Christmas cruises is because this article is going to incorporate an additional winter holiday – Thanksgiving. Naturally, river cruises in Europe don’t offer Thanksgiving sailings, as Thanksgiving isn’t a European holiday. So, we will include those sailings in this list as well.

We are going to look at two different cruise companies today, American Queen Steamboat Company and American Cruise Lines. Let’s see what each company has to offer for the 2020 holiday season.

American Queen Steamboat Company

Thanksgiving

Memphis To New Orleans Thanksgiving Cruise – 9-days from Memphis to New Orleans

This nine-day sailing takes guests from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana and departs November 24, 2019.

This voyage takes guests through the Mississippi Delta as they head toward New Orleans. Highlights of the sailing include visits to Vicksburg, Mississippi, known as the key of the South; St. Francisville, Louisiana, the oldest town in the Florida Parishes established in 1809; and a visit to Natchez, Mississippi, the oldest city on the Mississippi River, founded in 1716.

Rates start at $2,599 per person based on double occupancy.

Christmas

Plantation Holidays – 9-days from Memphis to New Orleans or reverse

This nine-day sailing takes guests from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana and has departures on:

• November 29, 2019 (Memphis to New Orleans)
• December 6, 2019 (New Orleans to Memphis)
• December 8, 2019 (Memphis to New Orleans)
• December 13, 2019 (Memphis to New Orleans)
• December 15, 2019 (New Orleans to Memphis)

With similar ports and highlights to the Thanksgiving cruise mentioned above, the Plantation Holidays itinerary gives guests a chance to visit the Antebellum South during the holiday season where they can learn about the holiday traditions of the Cajun and Creole cultures.

Rates start at $2,099 per person based on double occupancy.

American Music Holiday – 9-days from Memphis to Clarksville or reverse; OR Memphis to New Orleans

These nine-day sailing takes guests from Memphis to Clarksville (Nashville), or reverse; OR Memphis to New Orleans. Departure dates are:

• December 1, 2019 (Memphis to Clarksville)
• December 8, 2019 (Clarksville to Memphis)
• December 15, 2019 (Memphis to New Orleans)

This music-themed holiday cruise is a great way for music lovers and creatives alike to enjoy their holiday season. The Memphis to New Orleans itinerary is similar to the other itineraries bookended by these two cities, but adds a stop in Helena, Arkansas. The Clarksville to Memphis itinerary gives guests a chance to visit Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. An obvious highlight of the trip is a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, known as Music City.

Rates start at $2,399 per person based on double occupancy.

An American Christmas – 9-days roundtrip from New Orleans; OR Memphis to New Orleans

These nine-day sailings takes guests either roundtrip from New Orleans; OR from Memphis to New Orleans. Departure dates include:

• December 22, 2019 (Memphis to New Orleans)
• December 22, 2019 (New Orleans roundtrip)

These two Christmas sailings are the only two sailings that American Queen Steamboat Company offers that sail through Christmas. Both sailings start on December 22nd and conclude on December 30th.

Rates start at $2,099 per person based on double occupancy.

American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines hosts a multitude of Thanksgiving and Christmas cruises. The itineraries outlined below will be complemented by holiday decor and activities.

Holiday Cruises Include

Great Rivers Of Florida – 8-days roundtrip from Jacksonville, Florida

This eight-day sailing takes guests roundtrip from Amelia Island (Jacksonville, Florida area).

Guests on this sailing will visit Palatka, St. Johns, Lake George, Green Cove Springs, St. Augustine, and Amelia Island. Highlights of the voyage include cruising the Tolomato River; a visit to the Ocala National Forest where guests will view wildlife and scenery; and a horse-drawn carriage ride through Green Cove Springs.

2019 departure dates include:

• November 23, 2019
• November 30, 2019
• December 7, 2019
• December 14, 2019 (waitlist)

Rates start at $3,125 per person based on double occupancy.

Historic South And Golden Isles – 8-days from Charleston, South Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida

This eight-day sailing takes guests from Charleston, South Carolina, to Amelia Island (Jacksonville, Florida area).

This sailing will takes guests through South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida making stops in Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, and Amelia Island.

Highlights of the journey include viewing wildlife in Hilton Head; a visit to “Millionaire’s Village” in Jekyll Island; and a visit to a plantation in Beaufort.

2019 departure dates include:

• November 9, 2019
• November 16, 2019
• November 23, 2019
• November 30, 2019
• December 7, 2019
• December 20, 2019 (waitlist)
• December 28, 2019

Rates start at $2,995 per person based on double occupancy.

New Orleans Round-Trip Cruise – 8-days roundtrip from New Orleans, Louisiana

This eight-day sailing takes guests roundtrip from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Guests on this 8-day sailing will sail through Louisiana and Mississippi, making stops in Oak Alley, Natchez, Vicksburg, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, Houmas House, and New Orleans.

Highlights of the trip include a visit to battlefields in Vicksburg; plantation visits to Oak Alley, Frogmore, and Rosedown; and a classical piano concert J.N. Stone House.

2019 departure dates include: 

• December 5, 2019
• December 12, 2019 (waitlist)
• December 20, 2019
• December 28, 2019

Rates start at $4,205 per person based on double occupancy.

East Coast Inland Passage – 15-days from Baltimore, Maryland to Jacksonville, Florida

This 15-day sailing is the longest on our list, and takes guests from Baltimore, Maryland to Jacksonville Florida.

Guests will visit six states on this two-week sailing including Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Highlights of the journey include a tour through Wilmington’s historic district; a visit to Charleston; and Savannah’s historic districts.

2019 departure dates include: 

• November 2, 2019
• November 9, 2019

Rates start at $6,000 per person based on double occupancy.

Lower Mississippi River – 8-days from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana

This 8-day sailing takes guests from Memphis to New Orleans, by way of Mississippi.

Guests on this sailing will visit Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez, St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, Oak Alley, and New Orleans. Highlights include the antebellum homes and plantations of Oak Alley and Natchez, as well as insight to the Civil War history in Vicksburg.

2019 departure dates include: 

• November 2, 2019
• November 9, 2019
• November 16, 2019
• November 23, 2019
• November 30, 2019 (waitlist)

Rates start at $3,670 per person based on double occupancy.

American Revolution Cruise – 11-days roundtrip from Baltimore, Maryland

The second longest sailing on our list, this 11-day sailing takes guests roundtrip from Baltimore, Maryland making stops in Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Guests aboard this voyage will visit Baltimore, Norfolk, Williamsburg, Yorktown, D.C., Mount Vernon, Cambridge, St. Michaels, and Annapolis.

Highlights of the journey include a visit to the last battlefield of the Revolutionary War in Yorktown; a trip to Jamestown, the first English settlement in the New World; and a visit to George Washington’s home in Mount Vernon.

2019 departure dates include: 

• November 4, 2019
• December 23, 2019

Rates start at $5,305 based on double occupancy.