The United States turns 250 on July 4, 2026 and Princess Cruises has announced a new cruisetour to commemorate the occasion.
The new “Historic America Cruisetour” is a 14-night journey that begins with a 7-day hosted land tour of the nation’s capital as well as numerous historical sites. The cruisetour consists of overnight stays in Washington D.C., Williamsburg, Staunton, Gettysburg and Philadelphia before sailing a 7-day roundtrip Canada & New England cruise aboard Enchanted Princess out of New York City.
“Visiting our nation’s capital, nearby historic cities and landmarks always ranks high on travelers’ lists of places to visit in their lifetime,” said Terry Thornton, chief commercial officer, Princess Cruises. “We make traveling to historic America easy, educational and memorable with our knowledgeable and inspiring tour guides sharing the incredible stories of our country’s settlers, leaders, landmarks and historic sites. With the upcoming 250th anniversary of America in 2026, now is the time to visit our nation’s historic landmarks and celebrate our independence.”
The Historic America Cruisetour begins with an two full nights in Washington, D.C. where guests will explore the city’s national monuments and museums including Arlington Cemetery, Embassy Row, the National Cathedral, as well as an evening illumination tour of landmarks such as the Lincoln, Vietnam, World War II, and Korean War Memorials.
The tour will continue to Virginia where guests will visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and the Jamestown Settlement, the first permanent English settlement in North America, before arriving in Williamsburg. Guests will enjoy dinner at a Colonial Williamsburg Tavern, and spend the night before enjoying a full day in the Colonial Williamsburg historic area. Here they can experience the living history museum which showcases life in 18th century Williamsburg.
The tour includes a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Richmond National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historic Park as well as a guided tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield.
The tour ends in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, where guests will spend the day and night visiting the Liberty Bell, Carpenter’s Hall, First Bank, Elfreth’s Alley, Christ Church and the Besty Ross House. Here guests can also visit the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776–Independence Hall.
Guests will depart Philadelphia and arrive in New York City to board Enchanted Princess for their 7-day roundtrip cruise. Port stops include Newport, Rhode Island, Boston Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine. After a day at sea, Enchanted Princess will call on Halifax, Canada before returning to New York City.
The Historic America Cruisetour is on sale now with departure dates from August to October 2025.