The Best Traincations and Coastal / River Cruises in the US - No Passport Required!

Photo Credit: Princess Cruises

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When winter, spring, and summer breaks approach, we often think:

• Mexican all-inclusive resort!
• European vacation! 
• Caribbean cruise!

But there are SO many other types of amazing memory-making insta-worthy bucket list vacations out there... RIGHT HERE in the United States!! In this post, I'm hoping to open your eyes to two types that you may or may not have pondered on before: The Traincation and Coastal & River Cruises!

I'm going to highlight some absolutely epic options, some kid-friendly and some adult-only, but ALL of them right here in our own backyard!

• No passport required.
• No scary open sea cruising.
• And sometimes, no flight required!!

Let's go!!

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TRAINCATION

For train enthusiasts, a traincation is a sit back and relax bucket list kind of vacation, and can be done in a couple of ways. You can book each leg yourself, utilizing sleeper cars as well as hotel stays between segments. OR you can book a room and board type package with a travel agent or the train company itself!! Here are a couple of really amazing ones to consider (click through to their websites to discover their other destinations, there are tons!!)

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer is the epitome of North American luxury train travel, offering a number of routes through the US and Canada. Their Rockies to the Red Rocks tour, for example, is 6 days 7 nights (2 of those days aboard their train with food included and a beautiful glass dome car for viewing scenery, other days' transport via coach) from Las Vegas to Bryce Canyon, Moab, Glenwood Springs, ending in Denver. While most guests are adults, children are welcome but it's important to note train days are 8+ hours of sitting around in your assigned seat on the train, with no wi-fi... I don't know about you but that might be tough with my 3 kids. I see this as more of a luxury sightseeing getaway with your romantic partner or bestie(s), when you just want to sit back and not be stressed about traffic and driving!

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Photo Credit: Amtrak / Sleeper Car

Amtrak 
Amtrak has two very affordable rail pass options. Their USA Rail Pass is $499 per adult for up to 10 days of travel in 30 days. The California Rail Pass is $150 per adult and $79.50 per child for 7 days of travel within 21 days, and you can upgrade segments for sleeper car as needed. Using the rail passes, you have incredible flexibility in your itinerary and can see all the major sights in California whether you do it in a rush or take all 3 weeks! Pro Tip: The Coast Starlight Train is said to be one of the most spectacular train routes, passing by mountains, forests, and the Pacific coast beach, from Seattle to Los Angeles.

Amtrak Superliner Lounge / Photo Credit Amtrak

For those wanting a more curated traincation, book an epic rail vacation through Amtrak Vacations. There's a 9 day trip from Chicago to Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, that includes 2 overnights on the train and 6 in hotels. There's another one out of Chicago, this one is 15 days with stops at Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, San Francisco, Seattle, and Glacier National Park! I mean, come on, is there a better way to see all of that in one trip!?? Certainly not renting an RV and trying to drive that monstrosity around! On a tighter budget or time limit? How about their NYC - Niagara Falls train package, just $399 per person including round trip train ticket, 2 nights hotel accommodation, and admission to the Skylon Tower Observatory Deck!

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RIVER CRUISES
You won't find kids clubs or all of the bells and whistles of the GINORMOUS transatlantic cruise lines here, but you will find gourmet dining, nightly entertainment, much larger staterooms (all with river views, most with balconies), and a much more intimate laid back relaxing experience.

Photo Credit: Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises
​If looking for a unique getaway with your partner or your bestie, look into a sailing on one of the kid-free Viking Cruises such as their 8 day New Orleans & Southern Charms cruise or 12 day America's Heartland cruise, both going up and down the Mississippi River. Included in your booking you'll get one free shore excursion per port, free wifi, coffee / tea / beer / wine / soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, enrichment lectures, destination performances and more! The stateroom includes binoculars, plush robes, slippers, and underbed storage. And just check out that infinity plunge pool on the back of the boat (above photo)!!! 

Photo Credit: American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines
Another great one to look into is American Cruise Lines, the largest river/small ship cruise line in the USA - operating 19 river boats and small ship around the United States in 2024 (5 riverboats on the Mississippi, 5 on the Columbia & Snake, and 9 small coastal cruise ships that operate river cruise itineraries along both US coasts). While kids are technically allowed on this one, there are no pools, babysitting, or even kids meals so one might assume guests are not expecting a wild bunch of kiddos running amok on board, and I would certainly take that into consideration if booking your family. That said, they have some incredible routes and accommodations!! Check out their  8 day Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise or Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. ACL boasts the largest staterooms in the industry - all facing outward with furnished private balconies. They use fully stabilized and intimate sized ships holding 90-180 guests, have onboard historians and entertainment, all-inclusive dining with wine / beer / soft drinks / wifi included.

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COASTAL CRUISES
If you want the massive exciting kid-friendly cruise ship experience, but you are terrified of the open sea, consider one of the coastal routes by a major cruise line! Some of them are 100% domestic and don't even require you to have a passport!

Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line / Pride of America Inter-Island Hawaiian Cruise

​Norwegian Cruise Line
​NCL's Pride of America, for example, cruises around 4 of the Hawaiian Islands, you'd have to fly to Honolulu but from there you'd be hugging the islands for 7 days. Head ashore or stay on the boat which features 3 main dining rooms, a buffet, a few casual cafes, deck games, an arcade, 4 hot tubs, 3 pools, a (parent attended) playroom for babies and toddlers, drop off kids club (ages 3-12), ​a teen hangout room (ages 13-17), a theater with live entertainment, a jogging track, a spa, and more!!

Photo Credit: Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises
Or maybe you want to explore glaciers up north? Princess Cruises has two routes to Alaska that don't require passports! They have two 7 day roundtrip routes from Seattle and an 11 day roundtrip cruise from San Francisco that hug the Pacific coast never veering too far from land. The boat is massive with 900 balconies, 3,000 passengers, freshwater pools and hot tubs, Discovery at SEA enrichment programs, sports court, live shows, a casino, a spa, and drop off kids clubs (ages 3-7, 8-12, and 13-17).

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So, are you intrigued!??
Jumping to book one of these vacations??
Have you taken one before?
​Leave a comment below to let us know!!

Photo Credit: Princess Cruises (upper) / Rocky Mountaineer (lower)