Experience Winery Hopping in Napa on a River Cruise

American Cruise Lines is set to launch a river cruise in California—the first since the 1940s.

The company’s upcoming “San Francisco Bay Cruise,” starting in late February, will take guests to popular Northern California destinations, where they can learn about the Gold Rush history, sample Napa's renowned cabernet sauvignons, and hike among the iconic giant redwoods.

This eight-day journey departs from San Francisco, sailing past landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Treasure Island before venturing inland on the San Joaquin River for a stop in Stockton. The ship will then navigate the Sacramento River, historically known as “the Nile of the West” for its impressive size, bordered by the Klamath Mountains and the northern Sierra Nevada. In Sacramento, guests can visit local farms, explore California State Park, or discover why the city is nicknamed the “City of Trees” during an urban hike. The next two days will be spent on the Napa River, rich with wineries, before returning to San Francisco for the final two days.

“American Cruise Lines has envisioned San Francisco and wine country for many years,” said Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines, in an interview with Dinogo. “The California Delta is one of the most stunning regions in the U.S. to explore by riverboat. While many have experienced wine country, few can say they’ve cruised through it. Our fleet has doubled in recent years, now boasting 17 small ships and riverboats traveling across the country, enabling us to offer more itineraries and explore new areas than ever, with California being a primary focus.”

The inaugural sailing is set for February 24, 2023, aboard the 180-passenger American Jazz, with additional departures planned for March, November, and December 2023. Launched in 2020, the ship features 99 staterooms, each equipped with a private balcony for enjoying the stunning scenery of Northern California. Guests can also enjoy common areas on the American Jazz, including a dining room serving all meals, a fitness center with a dedicated yoga room, two lounges for nightly wine presentations, and a sun deck offering panoramic views.

Due to frequent droughts that can lower water levels, cruising in California is quite rare. The steamboat George Washington is believed to be the first to operate sailings in Northern California, providing overnight service between Sacramento and San Francisco in 1849 for prospectors headed to mining areas. From the 1920s to 1940s, the iconic Delta King and Delta Queen steamboats navigated the Sacramento River to San Francisco. The Delta King now serves as a hotel in Sacramento, while the Delta Queen has moved to the Mississippi River, where it is undergoing restoration. According to American Cruise Line research, the only other sailing in Northern California occurred in the early 2000s, operated by Cruise West, but those were not river cruises.

Rooms can be booked through the American Cruise Line website, with prices starting at $6,095.