Tennessee River Cruises
From the mountains around Chattanooga to the lakes of western Kentucky.
Get Free Heartland River Cruise QuotesA Newer Route
Tennessee River cruises are one of the newest overnight itineraries in the U.S., introduced by American Cruise Lines in 2023. The 9-day voyage links Chattanooga and Nashville by water, looping through northern Alabama and western Kentucky before reaching the Cumberland. It is a route of reservoirs and dams built by the Tennessee Valley Authority, of Civil War battlefields and of music history.
| Stop | What to see |
|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | Lookout Mountain, the Tennessee Aquarium, the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge |
| Decatur and Florence, AL | Muscle Shoals recording history; the W.C. Handy birthplace in Florence |
| Savannah, TN | Gateway to Shiloh National Military Park |
| Paducah, KY | River murals and the National Quilt Museum |
| Lake Barkley and the Cumberland | Lakes, wooded shores and the route on to Nashville |
Ports vary by departure.
When to Go
Departures run from spring through autumn. Late April and May bring dogwoods and mild weather; September and October bring cooler days and color in the hills around Chattanooga. Summer is hot. Recent schedules have listed departures in late summer and autumn, and again in spring.
Chattanooga Before You Sail
Spend a day before embarkation: ride the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, cross the Walnut Street Bridge, and visit the Tennessee Aquarium on the riverfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Tennessee River cruises start?
American Cruise Lines’ Tennessee Rivers Cruise runs between Chattanooga and Nashville in either direction, 9 days and 8 nights. It launched in 2023.
How does a Tennessee River cruise reach Nashville?
The boat follows the Tennessee River west and north through Alabama and back into Tennessee and Kentucky, then reaches the Cumberland near Paducah and Lake Barkley and climbs it to Nashville. The exact routing between the two rivers is set by the line for each sailing.
What is Muscle Shoals?
An area of northern Alabama on the Tennessee River, near Florence, famous for the recording studios where many soul and rock classics were made.
Combining With Nashville
Because the cruise ends or begins in Nashville, many travelers add a night or two for the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman. If you want more music, the Music Cities river cruise connects Nashville with Memphis. For other small-ship options in America, see Small Ship River Cruising.
The TVA Lakes
Much of the Tennessee River today is a chain of reservoirs created by Tennessee Valley Authority dams in the 20th century. The result is a river that often looks more like a series of broad lakes, with wooded shores, coves and marinas, than a narrow channel. Locks at the dams carry boats from one lake to the next. It is a calm, scenic way to travel, and spring and autumn bring out the best of the hardwood forests along the shore.
Get Tennessee River Cruise Fares
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will check Chattanooga and Nashville departures for you, free.
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