Celebrating American History & Culture Along the Atlantic Coast – with Smithsonian Journeys

In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. This 14-night voyage along the Eastern Seaboard from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Miami, Florida, is designed to celebrate the occasion with carefully curated activities both aboard ship and ashore that recall the history of the country from the colonial and revolutionary periods, through the era of the Civil War, and into the present day, seeking always to include the contributions to that history of the diversity of peoples who have shaped it.

Leaving Halifax, your first day is spent sailing along the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia and across the Gulf of Maine to dock in historic Boston Harbor early the following morning. While in Boston, you will have a choice of several walking tours: one that celebrates Boston's central role in colonial and revolutionary times by visiting the historic sites along its famous Freedom Trail; another that explores Brahmin Beacon Hill and upscale Quincy Market; and one that takes you across the Charles River to Cambridge and Harvard Yard before returning to Boston for a tour of historic Copley Square, including the Boston Public Library, the first free municipal library in the United States.

Call next in Newport, Rhode Island, once a favorite summer resort for the railroad and industrial tycoons of the Gilded Age. Tour the opulent 'cottages' of Vanderbilts and Carnegies and enjoy a stroll along the stunningly beautiful Cliff Walk. Or, celebrate Newport's storied history as the 'world capital of sailing' and home of the America's Cup on a cruise around Narragansett Bay aboard an 80-foot sailing schooner.

Sail into New York Harbor and past the emblematic Statue of Liberty. During your full day in the city, you may choose to discover one of its most celebrated landmarks on a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge followed by a visit to the newly fashionable neighborhood of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a waterfront community of trendy boutiques, bookstores, and art galleries. Or you may want to pay tribute to the memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, on a tour of the area where the World Trade Center stood, including St. Paul's Chapel, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the solemn September 11 Memorial & Museum.

After a day at sea, from Philadelphia, travel west to the Amish Country of Lancaster County, where you will see farms being worked with horsepower, visit the Amish Village Museum, and perhaps shop for some Amish crafts. Alternatively, stay in the city of brotherly love and enjoy one of three tours—a walk focused on the Revolutionary Period, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall; an exploration of Philly's food scene; or a visit to the Philadelphia Black Metropolis to learn about this section of the city and its role in the struggle for civil rights.

Maryland's capital of Annapolis serves as your gateway to Washington, DC, and to a morning guided tour of your choice of one of Smithsonian's many museums—perhaps the Museum of American History, or the National Air & Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, or the Museum of African American History and Culture. In the afternoon, you will have time to explore the National Mall on your own, or perhaps to honor the fallen on a visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

Just a few miles north of Annapolis, Baltimore welcomes you to explore sites associated with the Battle of Baltimore, the decisive battle of the War of 1812, during which Francis Scott Key wrote his poem about the bombardment of Fort McHenry that would become our national anthem. Alternatively, choose a tour focused on indigenous history, or a walking tour for foodies, or visit the Maryland Women's History Center, the first statewide museum of its kind in the nation.

The tenth day of the voyage finds you in Norfolk, Virginia, where you may choose to visit Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet, and home to more than 70,000 military personnel. Or, travel to the Military Aviation Museum, housing the largest private collection of WWII aircraft in the world, with a return drive along the Atlantic coast, past the elegant homes and resorts of Virginia Beach. Or, return to the early years of American history in an excursion that visits Jamestown, the first successful English colony in the New World, and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, site of the decisive American-French victory over the British in 1781.

After a day at sea, arrive in Charleston, South Carolina, which is justly famous for its historical architecture that you may discover on a walking tour of well-preserved 18^th-century structures that house some of the finest furniture ever made in America. Or you may prefer to sample some of the local cuisine for which the city is equally famous on a culinary tour. Another possibility is to travel into the surrounding countryside to visit Boone Hall Plantation and McLeod Plantation, where you will see a farm being worked as it would have been in the early 19th century and learn about Gullah Geechee Culture as well.

Jacksonville, Florida, offers a choice of tours—one focused on Jacksonville's art and architecture, the other on the city's African American heritage. Alternatively, you can travel south to St. Augustine, the United States' oldest city, for a glimpse into its colonial past; or north to Fernandina Beach, the Kingsley Plantation, and Fort Clinch, a well-preserved military outpost from the Civil War era.

 The final day of your voyage before disembarking in Miami is spent in Cape Canaveral, where you may take a guided tour of the Kennedy Space Center and learn about the history of America's early space program; explore the natural beauty and wildlife of the region on a kayaking adventure; or check out the exhibits at the Florida Surf Museum and visit the shop of a board builder and shaper.