The Cutest Way to Visit Upstate New York This Summer Is on a Hudson River Cruise
Board this luxe vessel for stunning views of nature, historic tours, and shopping in quaint upstate towns.
NYC’s massive cruise terminal lining the Hudson River means there’s plenty of opportunities to plan a big ship getaway across international waters—today’s options are endless, from music cruises to swinger cruises. But, what if you’ve always wanted to see New York by boat?
American Cruise Lines, the largest river and small-ship cruise line in the US, is now offering an eight-day, seven-night cruise along the Hudson River. After departing from Manhattan’s Pier 81, the Hudson River Summer Classic takes guests through gentle waterways to quaint upstate towns like Catskill, Kingston, West Point, and Sleepy Hollow, before circling back to the Big Apple.
Each Hudson River Summer Classic journey is conducted aboard an American Eagle ship. The luxe vessels accommodate up to 100 passengers, offer staterooms with personal balconies and panoramic windows, and feature a variety of amenities like a fitness center and an outdoor cafe. As an added bonus, every evening after dinner, guests can also enjoy live music from local performers on the outdoor deck or in one of the lounges.
Highlights of the experience include an exploration of the Vanderbilt Mansion, a stroll through the revered West Point Military Academy campus, a tour of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s childhood home, a peek into the picturesque town of Sleepy Hollow (the backdrop for the famous The Legend of Sleepy Hollow short story by Washington Irving), and a narrated excursion around the Statue of Liberty.
Reddit threads are proof that people have been asking for “weekend overnight cruises on the Hudson” for years and TikTok is replete with plenty of Hudson Valley travel inspo from eerie edits of Sleepy Hollow to charming snippets of Catskill.
During this inaugural summer, the new cruise is offering eight voyages throughout July, August, and September with prices starting at around $6,000 per person. Tickets come with complimentary WiFi, all-inclusive dining, and free cocktails in the evening.
All in all, these new cruises have us wondering why would we even go international for an idyllic cruise experience? Looks like we’re staying stateside this summer.
Hudson River Summer Classic cruises are now available through September.