The Prices of River Cruises to the USA
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Is there a more relaxing way to travel than by river? River cruises around the USA offer the perfect mix of tranquility and adventure, whisking you away to fascinating cities, picturesque villages, and natural wonders all along the water. In the USA, these cruises offer a front-row view to history, culture, and stunning landscapes, without the hassle of packing and unpacking.
In this article, we'll explore the costs and prices of river cruises through the USA, highlight the best cruise options available, and guide you to the most scenic and popular routes that make these tours such a special way to see the world. We've done the research to uncover the best value cruises, looking at prices, quality, destinations, and amenities. Whether you're a river cruise first-timer or a regular passenger, let us help you find the perfect sailing for your next trip.
Why does the USA appeal to river cruise passengers?
River cruises in the USA appeal to travelers for their relaxed pace, scenic views, and access to culturally rich, often less-touristed destinations. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and NYC offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. San Francisco is known for its striking bayfront setting, stunning urban hikes, quirky personality, and reputation within the tech industry. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and NYC are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. With easy, all-inclusive travel arrangements and immersive stops in culturally rich areas, river cruises provide a convenient and enriching way to explore multiple regions in comfort and style.
How much do River Cruises in the USA cost?
The average price per day for river cruises in the USA is $404, based on our analysis of 11 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $267 to $626 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $273 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $572 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
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The Best Cruises in the USA
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable river cruises in the USA average $273 per day, with daily prices from $267 to $288. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Western Canada with Inside Passage here.
Mid-Range Cruises
For typical river cruises in the USA that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $355 per day. Daily prices range from $290 to $480. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Western Canada with Inside Passage & Calgary Stampede.
Luxury Cruises
Luxury river cruises in the USA average around $355 per day, with daily costs ranging from $511 to $626. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer river cruises in the USA. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Cosmos
Cosmos is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. A number of their tours visit destinations in Europe and North America. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Canada, Italy, and Argentina. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as snorkelling, cooking classes, and wine tasting.
Collette
Collette is a large international travel company offering tours all over the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain, and France. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Many of the tours fall into the mid-range price category. The company's adventures often highlight activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, and camping.
Globus
Globus is a large multi-national travel company which offers tours to destinations around the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Great Britain, Italy, and Canada. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. A large number of their tours fall within in the mid-range price category. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, snorkelling, and whale watching.
Truly Egypt Tours
Truly Egypt Tours is a smaller tour company that focuses on Egypt. The company appeals to travelers of all ages, with many tours focusing on families with children. Budget travelers will appreciate the relative affordability of the company's offerings.
See All Tours from Truly Egypt Tours
Departure Destinations in the USA
Wondering where tours launch from in the USA? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Juneau
Juneau is the capital of the the state of Alaska, but it's also surrounded by one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States. The city is only accessible by sea or air and it is filled with wildlife, history, and nearby glaciers. In town you'll find amazing seafood restaurants and a unique local art scene. Many people visit as part of a cruise, and the town is often bustling with energy and activity.
The landscape is filled with glaciers, mountains, and fjords, making it a dramatic and beautiful destination.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is an Alaskan town on the Inside Passage that has grown from a local fishing village into a popular cruise ship port. It's a huge fishing destination, particularly salmon fishing, and there is also a local culture that is unique and fascinating. Native American totem poles are a common sight around the town, which is set against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. You'll find lots of wildlife and salmon spawning streams that ensure the town feels quintessentially Alaskan.
It's located at the southernmost entrance to the Inside Passage, so you can expect dramatic natural beauty and a breathtaking setting.
Chicago
Chicago is a booming metropolis that sits on the edge of Lake Michigan. It is a thriving and diverse city that has theater, shopping, and high-reaching skyscrapers. It's also home to the Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower), which at one time was the world's tallest building. Visitors appreciate the many museums, sporting events, and entertainment options around town.
The water makes this city a truly unique place to explore, and the world class architecture is not to be missed.
Boston
Boston feels like a living museums with many historical sights that are integral in the founding of the United States. You can follow the Freedom Trail, which takes you through many highlights of the city. Boston also has many beautiful parks, charming townhomes, and a proud and enthusiastic local population. There's a large student population due to the many world-class universities in the area. There are also many popular sports teams.
The history, architecture, and world renowned university campuses all give this city its unique beauty.
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Other popular destinations for river cruise tours through the USA include Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Holland, Grand Rapids, and Montpelier.
Which is cheaper?
Is traveling independently less expensive than taking guided river cruises? The answer isn't straightforward. Guided tours often include services like hotels, transportation, meals, entry tickets, guides, and activities, all of which you would need to arrange and pay for individually if traveling on your own. To determine the cost difference, you'd need to compare the total cost of the tour package with the cost of booking everything separately. You may prefer a less expensive hotel or splurge on dining, so the cost of a tour could either save you money or cost you more. Be sure to review what's included in the tour package before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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