From a transatlantic cruise to whale watching in the Sea of Cortez, New England in the Fall and cruises to Hawaii, here are some American ocean and river cruises worth reading about.
Cunard marks its 175th anniversary
Cunard is operating a celebratory transatlantic cruise to mark the 175th anniversary of Cunard’s first crossing on the Britannia. This ship embarked from Liverpool on 4th July 1840 and sailed to New York with 115 first-class passengers, 89 crew, a chicken, a cow (for fresh milk) and three cats to manage the rats!
The Queen Mary II will sail in far greater style from Southampton on 2nd July 2015 and then on from Liverpool on 4th July 2015 tracking Britannia’s course to Halifax (Canada) and Boston before arriving in New York on July 14th. Gala dinners, talks and onshore events linked to the 175th anniversary are included. You can then travel on from New York independently and explore at your own pace or stay with the Queen Mary II and cruise back to Southampton, arriving on July 20th.
New England in the Fall
Several cruise operators time sailings and itineraries to take in the wonderful autumnal colours of the north-east United Sates. Princess Cruises, for example, operates a 10-day Classic Canada and New England cruise from New York to Québec City which should tie in with this seasonal display and calls at Newport, Boston, Portland, Saint John and Halifax.
America’s East Coast
The East Coast of America is rich in culture, history, scenery and large and small ports, making it ideal cruising territory. Only a handful of operators run cruises in this area which is well worth visiting. Check out Noble Caledonia’s Alexandria to Boston cruise which departs on May 8th and takes in Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston as well as Martha’s Vineyard, Newport and Bar Harbour.
Family friendly cruises from Florida
If you are looking for a family friendly cruise, Florida makes an ideal starting point. A cruising holiday along the Florida coast promises good weather and the option to include visits to theme parks and other attractions. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) launches its biggest-ever ship in 2015 – the Norwegian Escape – which incorporates many features aimed at children such as Sky Rail (zip wire over the ocean), various children’s clubs and a pair of racing water slides. Round trip departures from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean begin on November 15th.
Paddle the Mississippi
Cruise the Mississippi in style on an iconic paddle steamer. River cruising is slowly gathering pace in the US and paddle steamers travel two routes along the Mississippi; the upper and the lower parts of this vast river which offer different scenic and cultural experiences. APT offer a range of cruises which includes trips along the Mississippi.
Rail and cruise
Link a cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington with a scenic train ride through the Canadian Rockies on the wonderful, luxury Rocky Mountaineer.
Baja and the Sea of Cortez
Only recently on the map of land and cruise holiday operators, The Baja peninsula (both of San Diego) and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) both offer awesome scenery. The region’s seas are home to some impressive marine life and the Sea of Cortez is one of the world’s top whale-watching areas. Those interested in nature and ecology may enjoy a small-ship cruise amongst the islands peppered along the Pacific and Gulf coasts.
Alaska and The Rockies
Small-ship cruising to Alaska will take you to scenery and destinations well beyond the reach of big cruise ships. Silversea offers two cruises in 2015 and again in 2016 aboard the Discoverer. One starts in Seward and ends in Vancouver and the other in Seward, ending in Nome. Both visit places almost untouched by other operators.
Hawaii
Hawaii is just too far away to consider for a holiday from the UK. But if you are already based in California, it becomes so much more accessible. Add in a cruise from on of the US’s West Coast ports to Hawaii and take the opportunity to visit the 50th state. This is a keenly priced, competitive route with plenty of choice of itineraries to other Pacific islands as well as Hawaii.
Themed Cruises
Themed cruises are very popular, from ballroom dancing, golf, jazz, cooking and wine. The microbrewery industry is booming in the US and as an off-shoot, themed microbrewery cruises are proving to be a big hit. Mundy Cruising is offering the chance to visit breweries and taste craft beers in the Pacific Northwest, one of the heartlands of North America’s microbrewery boom. This cruise, on board a small ship, sails between the beautiful San Juan Islands, a stunning archipelago scattered over the waters off Seattle, Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
If any of these ideas for American ocean and river cruises have whetted your appetite for a cruise with a difference, contact Ultimate Destinations on 01923 284148 or send an email to info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk. We will be delighted to help you to plan a memorable holiday.
