Explore Some of the Most Stunning U.S. National Parks with These New Cruise Itineraries

American Cruise Lines, known for its river and coastal cruises in the U.S., has introduced a new series of cruise itineraries focused on national parks for 2024.

Spanning from 12 to 18 days, each cruise-tour combines scenic river or ocean journeys on the company’s cozy 100- to 180-passenger ships with visits to some of the nation’s most breathtaking national parks. The itineraries include all meals, transportation to the parks, and hotel stays either in or near the parks, in addition to the cruise experience.

Here are four new 2024 sailings from American Cruise Lines that highlight national parks.

12-day Great Smoky Mountains National Park cruise

This itinerary features 10 days cruising the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, followed by 2 days in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most-visited national park in the U.S., celebrated for its rich biodiversity and extensive network of forest trails). The journey begins in Knoxville, with stops in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama before concluding in Nashville. The inaugural sailing departs on May 24 aboard the 180-passenger American Symphony; later sailings will utilize the 180-passenger American Splendor or American Melody. Prices start at $7,690 per person.

18-day Grand Alaska National Parks cruise

Beginning with seven days on land, the Grand Alaska National Parks cruise-tour from American Cruise Lines launches in Fairbanks, located in Alaska’s interior, followed by a bus trip to Denali National Park, which features North America's highest peak. Next, travelers will visit the quaint village of Talkeetna and Kenai Fjords National Park, where humpback whales can often be seen breaching near tidewater glaciers. Afterward, it’s back to Anchorage for a flight to Juneau to embark on an 11-day cruise through southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation. This voyage will visit port cities like Petersburg, Skagway, and Haines, and make a stop in Glacier Bay National Park, a part of a 25 million-acre World Heritage site recognized for its temperate rainforests and vast ice fields, concluding in Wrangell. The first departure for this itinerary is set for June 10, with prices starting at $15,665 per person.

15-day Alaska National Parks cruise

This is a condensed version of the Grand Alaska National Parks cruise, featuring just eight days at sea (omitting a stop in Sitka and a day of scenic cruising in Frederick Sound and the Wrangell Narrows). In 2024, there will only be two sailings on August 20 and August 27, both aboard the American Constellation, though additional sailings are already in the works for the following summer. Prices start at $13,205 per person.

15-day National Parks & Legendary Rivers cruise

Embark on an epic adventure spanning eight days along the Columbia and Snake rivers in the stunning Pacific Northwest, followed by a week of land exploration through some of America’s iconic national parks. You can begin either in Jackson, Wyoming, for the land tour or in Portland, Oregon, for the river cruise. During the journey, guests will stop at ports like Astoria, Oregon, and Richland, Washington. The land segment includes visits to three national parks: Glacier with its breathtaking valleys and lakes, Yellowstone featuring the Old Faithful geyser and the largest buffalo herd, and Grand Teton with its magnificent peaks and meadows. The inaugural sailing is set for June 6 aboard the 180-passenger American Harmony, with additional trips on the American Jazz or the American Song. Prices begin at $12,455 per person.

Alongside these new itineraries, American Cruise Lines also operates existing U.S. cruises that explore various national parks, including the 8-Day Florida Gulf Coast and Keys voyage, which stops at Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks, as well as two Puget Sound cruises featuring Olympic National Park, and several New England cruises that visit Acadia National Park.

In 2024, the company will debut two new ships, the 100-passenger American Liberty and American Legend, along with launching the historic 60-day Great United States Cruise, the longest U.S. river cruise ever, covering an impressive 20 states, and the 35-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise for history enthusiasts.