Intracoastal Waterway Cruises
Marsh, live oaks and the old ports of the Lowcountry.
Get Free US Coastal Cruise QuotesIntracoastal Waterway cruises trade the open Atlantic for marsh, tidal creeks and live oaks. Behind the barrier islands of the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida runs a protected channel that small ships can follow for days, docking in the old port cities and sea-island towns of the Lowcountry.
The Southeast Route
The best-known itinerary is American Cruise Lines’ Historic South & Golden Isles, an eight-day, seven-night cruise between Charleston, South Carolina, and Amelia Island, Florida, sailed in either direction. Calls listed for it include Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah and Jekyll Island, the Gilded Age retreat once known as the millionaires’ village. Farther south, the line’s Florida itineraries from Jacksonville explore the St. Johns River, St. Augustine and Amelia Island.
Charleston
Rainbow Row, the Battery and Fort Sumter in the harbor; one of the best food towns in the South.
Savannah
Twenty-odd garden squares under Spanish moss and a riverfront of old cotton warehouses.
Beaufort & Hilton Head
Antebellum homes and Gullah heritage on one side, marsh and beaches on the other.
The Golden Isles
Jekyll and St. Simons: maritime forest, lighthouses and the Jekyll Island Club.
St. Augustine
The oldest continuously occupied European-founded city in the U.S., with its Spanish fort on the water.
When to Sail the Intracoastal
Late winter and spring are the classic season, when the Lowcountry’s azaleas bloom and walking tours are comfortable. Late fall works too, once the heat breaks. Summer is hot and humid, and the June-to-November hurricane season means storms can change a route, so many travelers avoid the peak of it.
Because the water is sheltered, the Intracoastal is a good choice for anyone nervous about seasickness. It is also a natural fit for travelers who like a slow pace: the scenery is low marsh and birdlife rather than mountains, and much of the interest is in the towns.
Before You Book
- Check the direction: northbound and southbound versions visit the same ports in reverse order.
- Add a night in Charleston or Savannah; both reward an extra day.
- Ask whether shore tours are included in the fare and how much walking each involves.
- Driving in? Charleston and Jacksonville are within a day’s drive for much of the Southeast.
Intracoastal Waterway Questions
What is the Intracoastal Waterway?
A chain of rivers, sounds, bays and man-made channels that runs behind the barrier islands of the Atlantic coast, letting boats travel north and south without going out to open sea. The Atlantic route starts at Norfolk, Virginia, and runs down to Florida.
Which lines offer Intracoastal Waterway cruises?
American Cruise Lines is the main overnight operator, with itineraries such as Historic South & Golden Isles between Charleston and Amelia Island and Florida itineraries from Jacksonville. Private yacht charters and day boats operate too.
Is the Intracoastal Waterway rough?
Rarely. It is sheltered inland water, which is the point of it, so motion is usually minimal. Short open-water stretches can occur on some routes.
Cruise the Intracoastal Waterway
Charleston to the Golden Isles, or Florida’s St. Johns River — our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare the sailings for you.
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