Sternwheeler Cruises
The classic American riverboat, and where you can sail on one today.
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Sternwheeler cruises put you aboard the most American of boats: a flat-bottomed riverboat pushed by one wide paddlewheel at the stern, its red buckets slapping the water as the shoreline slides by. Sternwheelers once worked every navigable river in the country, from the Mississippi to the Yukon, and a handful still carry passengers today.
This site is a guide to that boat type and where to ride it now: overnight paddlewheelers on the Mississippi and the Columbia, sternwheel country on the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and the famous Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks, Alaska. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise book the overnight voyages; our sister site mississippiriverboatcruises.us covers the Mississippi lines in full.
Where to Ride a Sternwheeler
On the Mississippi
Classic paddlewheelers on the Lower and Upper river and full-length voyages.
Mississippi sternwheeler cruises →
Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee
Nashville, Chattanooga, Louisville and Pittsburgh by riverboat.
The heartland rivers →
Why the Stern Wheel?
American rivers were shallow, crooked and full of snags. A stern wheel kept the boat narrow, let it work in very little water, and kept the paddles protected behind the hull from floating logs. Boats could nose into a bank to load cargo and back off again with the wheel reversed. That practicality is why sternwheelers came to dominate the western rivers and the far north.
Today the stern wheel is mostly about atmosphere, but it still shapes the boats: long, low hulls, tiered decks with railings, and a big open stern where passengers gather to watch the wheel turn. Our sternwheeler explainer covers the differences between sternwheelers, sidewheelers and modern riverboats.
Overnight Sternwheeler Cruises at a Glance
| Boat | River | Guests | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Heritage | Mississippi system | about 150 | 2015 |
| American Splendor | Mississippi system | about 180 | 2016 |
| American Pride | Columbia & Snake | about 150 | 2012 |
| American West | Columbia & Snake | about 110 | 1995 |
All four are operated by American Cruise Lines and sail from spring through autumn. Ship assignments change, so ask our cruise advisors which boat is scheduled on your dates.
Planning Tips
- Sternwheelers are small ships; popular dates sell out early, especially in autumn.
- Ask whether a cabin is near the wheel if you want to hear it, or far from it if you are a light sleeper.
- Elevators are standard on the overnight paddlewheelers, but riverbank landings vary; Accessible River Cruises explains what to check.
- Compare all of America’s cruising rivers at US River Cruising.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are sternwheeler cruises?
Cruises on riverboats with a single large paddlewheel across the stern. In the United States they range from multi-night voyages on the Mississippi and Columbia to two- and three-hour excursions in river cities and Alaska.
Which lines offer overnight sternwheeler cruises?
American Cruise Lines operates four classic-style paddlewheelers with stern wheels: American Heritage and American Splendor on the Mississippi system, and American Pride and American West on the Columbia and Snake.
Is the Viking Mississippi a sternwheeler?
No. Viking deliberately built it without a paddlewheel. It is a modern river ship.
Are sternwheelers steam-powered?
Historically, yes. Today’s overnight paddlewheelers use modern engines; real steam survives on a few day boats, which our sister site Steamboating Cruises describes.
This site is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
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