overnight riverboat cruises tennessee

Tennessee River Cruises

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Tennessee River Cruises

Overnight cruises in Tennessee are available on a few different rivers. One of the rivers is the actual Tennessee River, which flows between Knoxville and Chattanooga. Then there’s the Cumberland River in Nashville. And on the west coast of Tennessee, the city of Memphis is located on the Mississippi River. For this article, we’re going to focus on the Tennessee River.

While you’ll find some overnight cruises that include Chattanooga, the itinerary will also include the city of Nashville on the Cumberland River or the city of Memphis on the Mississippi River.

Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee

By Imilious (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re just looking for a one-day cruise, you’ll find several options for day, evening, scenic and special event cruises on the Tennessee River in both Knoxville and Chattanooga. Cruises range in length from an hour to several hours.

Chattanooga is about 120 miles southwest of Knoxville. Surprisingly, there are not any cruises available between the two cities. And overnight cruises depart from Chattanooga but not from Knoxville.

Tennessee River Facts

The Tennessee River begins near Knoxville at the confluence of the French Broad and Holston Rivers. It flows for 652 miles through four states – Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky and is the largest tributary of the Ohio River.

In Paducah, Kentucky, a confluence is formed between the the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio Rivers. The Tennessee River is indirectly connected to the Mississippi River through the Ohio River.

Tennessee River Cruise Destinations

A river cruise between Nashville and Chattanooga will include the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. And a river cruise between Chattanooga and Memphis will include the Mississippi, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Nashville is located on the Cumberland River and Memphis is located on the Mississippi.

Some of the cities you’ll visit along the Tennessee River include Chattanooga and Savannah, Tennessee; Decatur and Florence, Alabama; and Paducah, Kentucky.

In Paducah you’ll have a chance to explore the town. You can visit the River Heritage Museum. Or you can just stroll through the city and observe its many buildings that were built in the 19th century. If you love military history, Paducah has a Civil War Museum that you can also visit along the way.

Savannah, Tennessee is a rather small town with a population of about 7,000 and it covers less than 6 square miles. The highlight of this city is probably the Shiloh National Military Park.

O’Neal Bridge Over the Tennessee River in Florence, Alabama

By Tyler Ross (English Wikipedia) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

In Alabama the city of Florence has several museums to visit and historical sites to see, such as the Pope’s Tavern Museum, the Rosenbaum House and the Indian Mound Museum.

And in the city of Decatur, Alabama, you can tour the Carnegie Visual Arts Center. You’ll also have a chance to see another Civil War museum called the Blue and Gray Museum.

The American Queen Steamboat Company has itineraries during the months of October and November that travel between Nashville and Chattanooga and between Nashville and Memphis.

If you’re visiting either Knoxville or Chattanooga and would like to take a one-day cruise, there are several companies that offer day, evening, scenic and special event cruises along the Tennessee River.

Tennessee River Gorge

By Blueway (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you'd like to take a scenic cruise on the Tennessee River, you can take a boat ride along the Tennessee River Gorge. The Tennessee Aquarium offers a cruise that departs from Chattanooga. Read what others have to say about the River Gorge Explorer .

Blue Moon Cruises also has tours through the Tennessee River Gorge. And for those who just want to see Chattanooga from the river, the Southern Belle has day and evening cruises year-round.

The Tennessee River Boat Company and Volunteer Princess offer cruises along the Tennessee River in Knoxville. The cruising season is from March through November.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it with other people you think would also enjoy reading it. Thank you! :)

Lauri Wakefield is a travel writer who specializes in river cruises in Europe and the U.S. Connect with her on Twitter and Google+ .

Tennessee River

Discover some of America’s natural beauty on a Tennessee River cruise. Winding for 886 miles in a U-shape across four states, (Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi), the river’s name is believed to be a derivation of the 18th-century Cherokee village, Tanasi, which was formed upon its banks. Like its sister rivers the Ohio and the Mississippi, the Tennessee River carries a rich and varied history.

The Tennessee was originally navigated only by flatboats, thanks to a shallow upper course filled with short rapids. During the Civil War, the north-flowing lower section of the river was vital to Union troops who used it to invade the western Confederate region. Cruises often visit important Civil War sites such as Shiloh National Military Park.

These days, the broad, blue river is a key component of one of the world’s greatest irrigation and hydropower systems. It is home to an important series of locks, dams and reservoirs, whose waters typically widen to small, calm lakes just before each of the nine locks.

Boats pass beneath eye-catching bridges like the bright blue John Ross Bridge in Chattanooga, TN, or the "Steamboat Bill" in Decatur, AL, where you’ll also find Wheeler Wildlife Refuge and the North Alabama Birding Trail. You might also cruise through the Tennessee River Gorge, a 27-mile-long river canyon downstream from Chattanooga, flanked by richly colored woods and home to ospreys and bald eagles.

Cruises on the Tennessee River are often part of longer itineraries that also sail the Mississippi or Ohio Rivers. These cruises provide terrific value for your vacation dollar, as accommodations, onboard meals and some excursions are covered in one affordable upfront price.

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Volunteer Princess

Tennessee river cruises in knoxville, featured cruises, lunch on the lake.

Whether you’re on vacation, celebrating a special occasion, or just looking for a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting, you’ll thoroughly enjoy your experience on our lunch cruises. Relax in

Sunset Sightseeing

Cruise the waters of the Tennessee River in air-conditioned or heated comfort and luxury with our sightseeing tour. Relax in the sun on the front deck or find comfort.

Most Popular!

Sunset Dinner Cruise

Searching for a unique date night? Celebrating something special? Or just want a night out on the water? Our Sunset Dinner Cruise is just for you!

Other Popular Cruises

Brunch buffet cruise.

Looking for a new Sunday brunch spot? Join us on the Volunteer Princess and enjoy brunch on the water!

Barbie Bash

You’re invited to our Barbie Bash! Come sing and dance with Barbie from Princess Events of Knoxville during this fun one-hour cruise. Enjoy light snacks and sweet treats.

Afternoon Sightseeing

Mother daughter princess tea party.

Dance the afternoon away with some of your favorite princesses from Princess Events of Knoxville!

Thanksgiving Lunch Buffet

Relax on the Volunteer Princess as you enjoy your favorite Thanksgiving foods. Take a seat at your private table.

Cookies with Santa Cruise

Don’t miss Santa’s first stop of the year! Cookies included!

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Join Us Aboard the Volunteer Princess!

Climb aboard the Volunteer Princess, and join us for a public cruise or private event along Knoxville, Tennessee’s beautiful riverfront! Our luxury yacht is designed with you and your guests in mind, so you’ll find both modern luxury and classic design as you cruise with us and celebrate events both large and small along the Tennessee River.

Our two fully enclosed and climate-controlled decks allow us to set sail year-round regardless of weather, so you can feel confident hosting a private event or joining us for one of our popular public cruises! Tailored to your food, drink, and entertainment needs, our offerings and unique setting ensure your gatherings on Knoxville’s finest riverboat are splendid. From sunset dinners and champagne brunches to birthday parties and company outings, our popular riverboat cruises are sure to impress both you and your guests. Celebrate on the Volunteer Princess, and you’ll see why the best events are on the water!

Over 150 Five-Star Reviews on Tripadvisor!

Father Daughter Ball

"The father daughter ball with Cinderella was amazing! They had a dj and we got to dance with our little ones. The boat was decorated so fun and having Cinderella on was amazing!"

Great way to spend 4th of July!

"Staff was friendly and attentive, food was very tasty, DJ played great music and loved his bubbly personality! Had a great view of the Fireworks. Would highly recommend taking the dinner cruise."

Absolutely Fantastic

"Fathers day cruise was absolutely fantastic. From start to end 5-star service. Food excellent! Captain and Staff was the best with excellent service. Thank you for making the day special. Highly recommended."

Wonderful dinner cruise

"Dinner was absolutely tasteful the staff and Captain were very courteous the cruise was awesome I would highly recommend it."

Wonderful experience for my daughter’s bridal shower!

"We had such a good time! It was the perfect amount of time to eat, open gifts, share, and take pictures. Food was great as was the service. Will definitely do again!"

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