With rivers on the rise as a popular multi-day cruise offering, it seems Americans love to hit the water for tours and sightseeing. Even if you don’t have time for a lengthy journey down one of the country’s storied rivers, on-the-water cruises come in all shapes and sizes, from fast jetboats that spin the harbor to luxury dinner yachts and old steamboat replicas plodding the rivers. Some tours teach about architecture and the city, some allow pets, some let passengers play pirates for the day. All guarantee a good time in just a few hours, and so we asked our local editors to pick some of their favorites. That is what you’ll find below: 10 cities with some outstanding river and harbor cruises that you can take in a single afternoon.
Ten Cities to Visit for Waterfront Adventures
New York City
When in the Big Apple, you have to see the city’s amazing skyline from across the water. It gives a perspective you lose when you’re amid the Manhattan skyscrapers. And if you’re going for a cruise, go in style aboard a cruise with access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Hornblower offers a variety of sightseeing cruises, many aboard a small fleet of luxury yachts. Launching from Pier 40 in the West Village, dinner and Sunday jazz brunch cruises come with iconic sights along the Hudson River, plus cocktails and dancing. Launching from Pier 15 in South Street Seaport, happy-hour, lunch- and late-night-party cruises feature views of the New York Harbor, a live DJ and a wide range of libations and food.
New Orleans
The Crescent City, on the banks of the Mississippi River, is known for its jazz. Take in the music, culture and the city all at once aboard the Steamboat Natchez, which offers two-hour daily harbor jazz cruises and a nightly dinner jazz cruise. There also are Sunday jazz brunch cruises aboard this riverboat. Notice a theme there? Between songs by the lively jazz band, further immerse yourself in the culture with Creole food and New Orleans-inspired drinks. 
Chicago
In a city with many, many river cruises, the 90-minute Chicago Architecture Cruise on Shoreline Sightseeing is a sure bet. The boat cruises down the Chicago River (yes, there’s more water to see than just Lake Michigan), and an entertaining and informative docent tells passengers about more than 50 buildings along the way and shares some wonderful tales about the good, bad and ugly sides of Windy City history.
Miami
A hotbed for boat cruises, Miami offers everything from amphibious cruises—they go seamlessly from land to water—to airboats, harbor cruises and more. With so many adventurous offerings and predictably warm weather, try amping up your harbor-tour experience aboard a Millionaire Row Cruise.This Miami sightseeing cruise takes you on a 90-minute journey through Biscayne Bay. Aboard a modern yacht, you’ll be able to see famous landmarks like Millionaire’s Row, the Port of Miami, and the Miami Beach skyline. A bilingual guide on board provides commentary in both English and Spanish, and refreshments are available for purchase.
St. Louis
The most iconic landmark in St. Louis, the Gateway Arch, is a sight to behold from any vantage point. And it just makes sense to see the Mississippi River city from the water. Gateway Arch Riverboats offers daily one-hour sightseeing tours that teach passengers about the Mississippi River, the arch and the historic city—all aboard replicas of 19th-century steamboats. Touring the historic city where Lewis and Clark ended their journey aboard a ship that looks like it sailed right out of history—what’s not to like?
Philadelphia
For an elegant cruise, head to Ben Franklin’s adopted home and step aboard the a dinner cruise from City Cruises East. On this dinner cruise, you can enjoy a 2.5 to 3-hour journey on the Delaware River, complete with a buffet dinner and a live DJ for entertainment. From the water, you’ll see key Philadelphia landmarks like the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Naval Shipyard, and the historic Battleship New Jersey. The experience includes a meal with a variety of options, plus coffee, tea, and water.
Charleston
Tour the harbor of one of America’s oldest cities with a dose of Southern hospitality aboard Charleston Harbor Tours’ Carolina Belle. Whether you choose the climate-controlled Main Salon or the outdoors Observation Deck, you’ll get an entertaining 90-minute guide to the Holy City, the forts that helped shape the area—and the nation—the beautiful and unique Battery homes and other popular sights. Keep on the lookout for dolphins, a common sight on the tour.
San Francisco
With its iconic bay, San Francisco is another city that’s best seen from the water. If you want something other than a skyline or dinner cruise, join Adventure Cat Sailing Charters for a trip to the open ocean to spot whale spouts while taking in the salty air. This cruise offers a 1.5-hour sailing experience on San Francisco Bay aboard a luxurious catamaran. It’s a great option for a romantic evening or for capturing beautiful photos of the city as the sun goes down. As you sail, you’ll pass by the famous sea lions at Pier 39 and get breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean.
Boston
Exploring Boston Harbor on a cruise offers a unique and memorable way to experience the city’s rich history and stunning waterfront. Passengers can glide past historic sites like the USS Constitution, the Old North Church, and the Bunker Hill Monument while enjoying views of the city’s modern skyline. The cruises provide a different perspective on Boston’s landmarks, with a variety of options available, from narrated historical tours and sunset sails to whale watching excursions and dinner cruises. If you want to immerse yourself further into history, take a cruise on Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships and enjoy a sunset sail on a fully restored stunning tall ship.
Washington, D.C.
Potomac Riverboat Company, based in Alexandria, Virginia, stays busy with its many offerings. Need a water taxi? Want to take a sightseeing tour? Brought your dog? No problem, the tour company can accomodate—and Fido rides free on the canine cruises. See Mount Vernon, the National Mall and several Washington monuments from the waters of the historic Potomac. And if you’re in town to see the Washington Nationals play baseball, take one of the company’s Baseball Boats to avoid the crowds and traffic and get there while seeing some amazing sights in the nation’s capital.
