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North America Cruise | Historic Waterways of the Chesapeake Bay

Written by  Marie Browne

This North American cruise explores the waters around the Chesapeake Bay, traveling to unique areas that offer an interesting portrait of American history, architecture, and culture from the colonial era to the present. Departing from Philadelphia, this cruise travels through the Chesapeake and  Delaware Canal to Annapolis and its famed naval heritage. You will enjoy some of the world's best seafood in St. Michaels, and also visit the isolated fishing community of Tangier Island, whose residents speak an English Restoration-era dialect. You'll see Revolutionary War and Civil War sites in Richmond; visit Colonial Williamsburg, known as America's premier living museum;  and  tour George Washington's famous home at Mount Vernon. Your trip ends in historic Alexandria, or you may add on an optional extension to see Washington D.C.

This eight day, seven night cruise is offered on two different departure dates in October.
Itinerary at a Glance:

Day 1   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | Embark
Day 2   Chesapeake & Delaware Canal | Annapolis, Maryland
Day 3   St. Michaels
Day 4   Tangier Island, Virginia
Day 5   Hopewell | Richmond | Petersburg | Hopewell
Day 6   Yorktown | Colonial Williamsburg | Yorktown
Day 7   Mount Vernon
Day 8   Alexandria | Disembark

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1

USA | PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, United States | EMBARK
Arrive in Philadelphia and transfer to the pier to embark Yorktown.

Day 2
CHESAPEAKE & DELAWARE CANAL | ANNAPOLIS, Maryland
After sailing through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, arrive in Annapolis, a city of narrow brick streets, colonial mansions, and an atmosphere of an old shipping village. Our tour will include the Maryland State House, the oldest U.S. capitol in continuous legislative use, where the Treaty of Paris was ratified; the William Paca House and Garden, the expansive estate of a former governor of Maryland; and the historic U.S. Naval Academy. In the afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to stroll through the historic neighborhoods.

Day 3
ST. MICHAELS
Arrive in St. Michaels, a quaint waterfront village set on a picturesque peninsula. Explore the town with its manicured colonial, federal and Victorian homes, art galleries, and interesting maritime history.

Day 4
TANGIER ISLAND, Virginia
Call in Tangier Island, located on the Lower Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. This island’s fascinating history begins with its original inhabitants, the Choctaw Indians, whose arrowheads are still found throughout the area. European colonists, including John Smith, settled on the island in the 17th century, and during the War of 1812 the British used it as a staging area. Today, the island is home to a number of residents, but it remains relatively isolated from the mainland, creating a pleasant sense of tranquility. Its remoteness has perhaps also contributed to the unique English Restoration era dialect spoken by island natives.

Day 5
HOPEWELL | RICHMOND | PETERSBURG | HOPEWELL
Dock in Hopewell, on the James River, and travel to Virginia’s historical capital of Richmond, which also served as the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The city is filled with many interesting Revolutionary and Civil War sites and museums. Those that we will visit include St. John’s Episcopal Church, the site from where Patrick Henry famously made his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech during the Revolutionary War. Also visit the interactive American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, which tells the story of the Civil War from the perspectives of the Confederacy, the Union, and the slaves. In the afternoon travel south for an excursion to Petersburg, an important city for the Confederacy during the Civil War whose battleground sites we will visit.

Day 6
YORKTOWN | COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG | YORKTOWN
From the port of Yorktown, our excursion leads to historic Colonial Williamsburg. The capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg is the nation’s premier living museum, offering visitors a glimpse of life as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries. A guided tour leads along the Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg’s main thoroughfare, past the Capitol, the courthouse, the Governor’s Palace and the historic Bruton Parish Church, which has held Episcopal services here since 1715. Then enjoy time at leisure to explore the museums and side streets, which are filled with taverns, bakeries and the restored houses of wheelwrights, coopers, apothecaries and other tradesmen.

Day 7
MOUNT VERNON
Today Yorktown sails up the Potomac River to reach Mount Vernon, George Washington’s massive estate and gardens. Spend the day touring the sweeping grounds including the mansion, museum, slaves’ quarters, and the gardens. Also visit the recently opened distillery, a reconstruction of Washington’s original whiskey distillery.

Day 8
ALEXANDRIA | DISEMBARK | FLY HOME
Disembark in Alexandria and transfer to the airport for return flights.

This voyage also operates in the opposite direction, from Alexandria to Philadelphia.

Depart Return
October 22, 2012 October 29, 2012
October 29, 2012 November 5, 2012*





Cabin Code Cabin Description Regular Rate
E Outside cabins on Main Deck with two portholes $3,995
D Outside cabins on Lounge Deck with windows $4,495
C Outside cabins on Promenade Deck with windows $4,995
B Outside cabins on Main Deck with windows $5,595
A Outside cabins on Lounge Deck with windows $5,995
AA Outside cabins on Promenade or Lounge Deck with windows $6,495
S Superior outside cabins on Sun Deck with balcony $6,995

SINGLE RATES: A limited number of cabins are available for solo travelers at the following rates: Category C: $5,890; Category B: $6,490; Category A: $6,890. Categories AA & Superior are available at double the per person, double occupancy rates.

Yorktown deckplan

yorktown

The Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of America’s great coastal waterways. Built in Florida in 1988 specifically for coastal cruising and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Yorktown flies the American flag and is staffed by friendly and experienced American officers and crew. 257 feet long, 43 feet wide, with a draft of 8 feet, the Yorktown is able to maneuver in secluded waterways and visit small ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. And Yorktown’s American registry makes it possible to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships. In addition to a large sun deck, the Yorktown boasts a spacious lounge for social gatherings and lectures as well as quiet space for private conversation. The ship’s cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions and specialties. Both the lounge and dining room are surrounded by large picture windows that afford unobstructed views of the passing scenery. Accommodating 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.

SMALL-SHIP AMENITIES

Returning from excursions, guests enjoy complimentary refreshments, afternoon tea and all-day coffee in The Lounge, a gracious space for relaxation, surrounded by panoramic windows. Before or after dinner, cocktails are served to live music performed by the ship’s pianist.

Other Yorktown features include:

  • Internet access
  • Window-lined lounge with panoramic views
  • Dining room surrounded by windows
  • Swimming platform
  • Kayaks for exploration
Yorktown deckplan
ChesapeakeBay
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800.808.4492
(US & Canada)
206.463.1943
(Worldwide)

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