Cruises Launch on a New River: The Tennessee

The newly launched American Serenade is one of four ships on the Tennessee--American Cruise Line

You’ve probably danced the Tennessee Waltz, but it’s not likely you’ve ever had a chance to sail the Tennessee River.

American Cruise Lines is inaugurating eight-day cruises on a river seldom explored with new eight-day Tennessee River cruises between Nashville and Chattanooga. Guests will visit towns in the winding Tennessee Valley through the Appalachian Mountains.

The new cruises stop in Decatur and Florence in Alabama and Paducah, Kentucky and sail the Cumberland River, exploring Lake Barkley and the Land Between the Lakes.

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River, about 652 miles long. The itinerary includes a range of excursions such as visits to Shiloh National Military Park in Savannah, Tenn.; the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville; and the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. Guests can also enjoy active outdoor excursions like an ATV Backcountry Excursion in Chattanooga, or a visit to The Shoals, where they can golf 18 holes at a Robert Trent Jones golf course.

The Tennessee Valley is also home to musical greats from Johnny Cash to Patsy Cline, and the new Tennessee River itinerary pays homage to the harmonious influences of the region, offering guests the opportunity to visit both singer’s museums as well as other music-focused experiences.

American’s Tennessee River cruises offer complimentary pre-cruise hotel stays in both departure cities, Nashville, or Chattanooga. The line also offers a special two-night Grand Ole Opry pre-cruise package in Nashville, which includes a 2-night stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, tickets to a show at the Grand Ole Opry, a Nashville City Exploration, breakfast each morning, and luggage concierge and transportation to the ship the morning of embarkation.

The cruises will operate this June through August aboard three of the company’s five Mississippi riverboats, including newly christened American Serenade. Tennessee River Cruises will operate again in 2024, cruising and even longer season from May to early November.

About Wallace Immen 755 Articles
Wallace Immen is Executive Editor of The Cruisington Times, the Best in Cruising, Travel, Food and Fun. He's sailed on all of the world's seas to ports in over 100 countries and travelled on every continent.