Chesapeake Bay Cruise

Pre-Cruise

On our Chesapeake Bay itineraries, we offer a convenient Four Seasons Hotel Pre-Cruise Package in Baltimore, providing you with a seamless way to board the ship and explore the local area. After a 1-night stay at this five-star hotel, enjoy breakfast, followed by a Baltimore City Exploration which concludes at the ship. Explore the world-famous Inner Harbor, historic neighborhoods, and the area’s most noted landmarks, such as the Star-Spangled Banner waving over Fort McHenry.

Pre-Cruise Packages must be reserved at least 30 days before your cruise date.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Four Seasons Pre-Cruise Package - Baltimore
  Four Seasons Pre-Cruise Package - Baltimore

  Enjoy a 1-night stay at the Four Seasons Hotel on Baltimore Harbor, full breakfast the morning of embarkation, concierge luggage service, and an exploration of the city that inspired our national anthem, concluding at the ship where your luggage will be waiting for you in your stateroom.

  Pre-Cruise Packages must be reserved at least 30 days before your cruise date. Please call (800) 460-4518 for pricing and availability.

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Day 1 - Baltimore, MD

Start your journey in Baltimore, a great maritime city, alive with excitement, Colonial history, and a busy harbor scene. Explore the decks of legendary ships and the cobblestone streets of the charming waterfront Inner Harbor. Cruise past Fort McHenry, where the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key‘s "Star-Spangled Banner" was fought.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Welcome Aboard
  Welcome Aboard

  As you embark upon your journey, enjoy a Welcome Aboard Reception with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Meet the crew, your onboard experts, and fellow guests. Learn more about the wonderful adventure ahead of you.

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Day 2 - Yorktown / Williamsburg, VA

Step back in time in a town that transformed the history of a nation. Yorktown is known for its monumental battlefields, authentic colonial homes, and storied past. Discover museum exhibits, recreated Continental Army camps and restored homes from the 1700's. Also visit Colonial Williamsburg, once the political and economic center of the Virginia Colony, today the world's premier living history site.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Colonial Williamsburg Walking Exploration
  Colonial Williamsburg Walking Exploration

  Travel along the Colonial Parkway, which connects Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, to witness beautiful views of the York River and the Virginia countryside without the obstruction of commercial traffic or signage. Upon arrival in Colonial Williamsburg, enjoy a guided walking excursion through this 18th-century city followed by free time to explore at your leisure.

  Activity Level: Medium | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Partial 

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• Historic Yorktown Trolley Walk & Ride - Complimentary Excursion
  Historic Yorktown Trolley Walk & Ride - Complimentary Excursion

  Enjoy a walking and trolley exploration of Historic Yorktown. Led by our knowledgeable guide, visit the Yorktown Victory Monument. Walk down Main Street and learn about the history and significance of Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War. Continue to the Gallery at York Hall where local artisans display their work, before boarding the Trolley for the return to the ship.  

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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Day 3 - Cruising the Chesapeake Bay

Spend your day sailing one of the most spectacular cruising grounds in North America. The Chesapeake Bay is the nation's largest estuary, with its name originating from the Algonquian word Chesepiooc, meaning “at a big river.”

Home to over 22 miles of waterways, canals, lakes, and rivers, the unique combination of saltwater and freshwater which fills most of the Bay has created a rich habitat for fish and blue crabs, as well as other natural resources. Relish time cruising along the beautiful landscapes and historic small ports and towns that dot its shores.  

Excursions & Entertainment

• A Day of Cruising
  A Day of Cruising

  There are a variety of activities scheduled on board when the ship is underway, which vary depending on the itinerary and scheduled date. Enjoy destination-focused enrichment programs with special guest speakers who present topics related to the region and ports of call, including Art Classes, App-titude Classes (Tech Made Easy), Cooking Demonstrations, Mixology (practice of making great cocktails,) Trivia, Game Shows, and more.

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Day 4 - Cambridge, MD

Cambridge is an authentic Chesapeake town known for its rich history, beautiful buildings, and vibrant arts scene. Sail on an authentic skipjack or visit the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and witness the diverse wildlife and shorebirds that inhabit the area. 

Excursions & Entertainment

• Skipjack Nathan Sailing Adventure
  Skipjack Nathan Sailing Adventure

  Since the 1880s, skipjacks have sailed the Chesapeake Bay. While there were once as many as 800 or more of these beautiful vessels, today fewer than two dozen of the original dredge boats remain. The Nathan was built by volunteers to preserve wooden boat building technology and the nautical heritage of the region and offers guests a unique opportunity to experience the vanishing skipjack heritage. Cruise on the scenic Choptank River, help raise her sails, or take a turn at the helm, and hear stories of the working watermen.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Experience
  Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Experience

  Enjoy an adventure exploring the landscape surrounding the childhood home of Underground Railroad Conductor Harriet Tubman. Led by a certified National Park Service guide, view the setting of her escapes north. Visit Stewart’s Canal, the waterway dug by Harriet and her father, Ben Ross. View Harriet Tubman State Park and explore the Bucktown General Store, the site of her first known act of defiance.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Blackwater Kayaking Experience
  Blackwater Kayaking Experience

  Explore Dorchester County’s Little Blackwater River, a premier wildlife waterway, led by a local naturalist. As you paddle along this serene national refuge, view a bald eagle’s nest while searching for its inhabitants. Watch Great Blue Herons fishing on the banks and search for the endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel, and so much more. Be sure to bring your camera for great photo opportunities.

  This is a Signature shore excursion and should be reserved in advance. Please call (800) 460-4518 for information.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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• Blackwater Biking Experience
  Blackwater Biking Experience

  Enjoy a leisurely bike ride along flat surfaced roadways into Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Led by a local guide, learn about local history and culture as you search for Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, many species of waterfowl, as well as deer and turkey.

  This is a Signature shore excursion and should be reserved in advance. Please call (800) 460-4518 for information.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

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Day 5 - St. Michaels, MD

Stroll along the waterfront of St. Michaels, or peruse the charming gift shops and boutiques on tree-lined Talbot Street. As you dock at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, once a famed shipbuilding village, get a glimpse into life in the 1800's.

Excursions & Entertainment

• St. Michaels Walking Exploration
  St. Michaels Walking Exploration

  Enjoy a guided walking exploration of historic St. Michaels, a charming waterfront town, named as one of the Top 10 Best Small Coastal Towns in America by USA Today. Explore the picturesque harbor front on Maryland's Eastern Shore, lined with bustling marinas and ornamented with boats of all shapes and sizes.

  Stroll through St. Michaels' famed Historic District, as we rediscover 350 years of shipbuilding, classic historic homes, and the famous battle of St. Michaels from the War of 1812. Our exploration concludes along the community's quaint Talbot Street shopping district, lined with one-of-a-kind boutique shops, fabulous eateries, and towering church steeples.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
  Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

  This 18-acre waterfront museum, which is dedicated to furthering the understanding of the maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay area, features 10 exhibit buildings, a historic lighthouse, and a working boatyard. Docking right in the heart of the museum, American Cruise Lines’ guests can enjoy a private exploration of this fascinating museum.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• St. Michael’s Classic Motor Museum
  St. Michael’s Classic Motor Museum

  The Classic Motor Museum is dedicated to appreciating and preserving America’s heritage of automotive innovation. Explore the museum to learn the history of motoring, from its earliest days to the current state of transportation. View everything from a Ford model T to today's Porsche 911 Turbo.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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Day 6 - Annapolis, MD

This 18th-century port pleasingly preserves its Colonial American charm. With city streets boasting thousands of historic buildings in several different architectural styles, Annapolis is often called a "museum without walls."
This vibrant city is also home to the United States Naval Academy, a National Historic Landmark.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Walk Annapolis
  Walk Annapolis

  A Colonial-attired guide will lead you through Annapolis' historic district and into the Maryland State House. Walk in the footsteps of George Washington, where in 1783, inside the State House, he resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Continuing through the downtown area, pass many 18th-century mansions and learn about the significance of their beautiful architecture. Throughout your exploration, your guide will share Annapolis history with you, including stories of the famous statesmen that built these magnificent structures.

  Activity Level: Moderate | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Annapolis Harbor & U.S. Naval Academy Cruise
  Annapolis Harbor & U.S. Naval Academy Cruise

  Step aboard the classic Harbor Queen for a narrated cruise along the Annapolis Harbor and the banks of the U.S. Naval Academy. Hear the history of the Academy, discover Annapolis' role as a historic seaport, and learn about the region's waterways. Along the way, catch of a glimpse of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• U.S. Naval Academy Experience
  U.S. Naval Academy Experience

  Founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, the Academy was started as the Naval School at Old Fort Severn. Experience “Life on the Yard” as you explore the Academy campus with a professional, certified guide. The excursion highlights life at the U.S. Naval Academy past and present and includes Lejeune Hall, Bancroft Hall, Tecumseh, Herndon Monument, Main Academy Chapel (when open) and the crypt of John Paul Jones, Revolutionary War hero.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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• Annapolis City Exploration
  Annapolis City Exploration

  Ride through the streets of the Annapolis Historic District as an experienced and knowledgeable colonial-attired guide provides historical anecdotes and narration throughout your journey. Pass Maryland's Governor's Mansion and the Historic State House, the country's oldest state capitol in continuous use. Other sights include Hammond-Harwood House, St. Mary's Church, and Charles Carroll House, as well as St. John's College, originally a young men's school that educated George Washington's grandsons. Enjoy a stop at the Maryland WWII Memorial which overlooks the scenic Severn River and the U.S. Naval Academy for an opportunity to stretch your legs and take photos.

  Activity Level: Low | ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

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Day 7 - Baltimore, MD

Your historic journey ends where it began, in the vibrant city of Baltimore. Enjoy breakfast on board before starting your travels home, or stay an extra day or two to explore this fascinating city at your leisure.

Excursions & Entertainment

• Explore More in Baltimore
  Explore More in Baltimore

  If you choose to extend your stay, a number of great excursions are available, including the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Civil War Museum, and the city's many art museums. 

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