napa valley river cruise

You Can Now Winery Hop in Napa on a River Cruise

The eight-day sailing aboard “ american jazz” from american cruise lines starts and ends in san francisco, with stops in stockton, sacramento, and napa..

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The first California sailing on American Jazz departs on February 24, though there will be more sailings throughout March, November, and December 2023.

Courtesy of American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines is about to launch a river cruise in California—the first of its kind since the 1940s.

The company’s “San Francisco Bay Cruise,” which launches in late February, will cover popular destinations in Northern California, allowing guests to learn about the area’s Gold Rush past, taste the cabernet sauvignons of Napa, and hike among the famed giant redwoods.

The eight-day sailing launches from San Francisco, where it will sail past the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Treasure Island before heading inland on the San Joaquin River for a day in Stockton. From there, the ship will sail the Sacramento River (once called “the Nile of the West” due to its size), flanked by the Klamath Mountains and the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada range, all the way to Sacramento. Once in the capital city, guests can visit artisanal farms, explore California State Park, or get a better understanding of why Sacramento is dubbed the “City of Trees” on an urban hike. The following two days are spent on the Napa River, where wineries await, before returning to San Francisco for the final two days.

“American Cruise Lines has had San Francisco and wine country in mind for many years,” Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines, told AFAR. “The California Delta is one of the most beautiful areas in the U.S. to explore by riverboat. Many have visited wine country, but few can say they have cruised it. American has doubled our fleet in the past few years, now with 17 small ships and riverboats exploring around the country, so we have been able to create more itineraries and operate in more new regions than ever before, California being chiefly among them.”

The first sailing will take place on February 24, 2023, aboard the 180-passenger American Jazz . There will also be departures in March, November, and December 2023. The ship launched in 2020 and features 99 staterooms, each of which has a private balcony for watching the scenery of Northern California go by. Common areas on the American Jazz include a dining room, where all meals are served, a fitness center with a separate yoga room, two lounge areas where nightly wine presentations will take place, and a sun deck with panoramic views.

Because the state sees so many droughts, which can reduce the levels of its waterways, cruising within California is a rarity. It’s thought that the steamboat George Washington was the first to offer sailings within Northern California, with overnight service between Sacramento and San Francisco in 1849 carrying prospectors to mining country. From the 1920s to 1940s, the famous steamboats Delta King and Delta Queen cruised the Sacramento River to San Francisco. The Delta King is now a hotel in Sacramento (moored in the Sacramento River), and the Delta Queen has since been repositioned to the Mississippi River, where it being restored. According to research by American Cruise Line, the only other sailing in Northern California was in the early 2000s, operated by Cruise West, though those weren’t river cruises.

Rooms are bookable on the American Cruise Line website , with rates starting at $6,095.

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RIVER CRUISE

The rivers of the wine country of Napa and Sonoma are part of a network of hundreds of navigable miles used everyday for commuting, shipping, fishing and waterplay.

San Francisco Ferry

Page updating in progress: It will be back up soon!The ferry runs everyday from the San Francisco Bay via San Pablo Bay to Vallejo which is just south of Napa Valley and Sonoma. Commuters enjoy the beautiful ride to and from work and save the gas and frustration that the crowded highways put into our lives. Leaving the Bay is a magical doorway into the river system that will eventually lead(if you make the turn) to the wine country of Napa valley and Sonoma. The rivers

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New Bay Area cruise to make stop in Napa beginning in 2023

While wine lovers have long cruised California's prime viticulture region by rail via the Napa Valley Wine Train, an actual cruise will soon give travelers a new way to learn, taste and tour.

American Cruise Lines , which operates smaller ships within the borders of the U.S., has announced a new Northern California cruise that will take passengers around San Francisco and the surrounding regions, with a key stop in wine country.

The inaugural San Francisco Bay Cruise sets sail in February 2023. Over eight days, passengers will see some of the Bay Area's most popular tourist attractions from the water, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Treasure Island.

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Cruising Northern California rivers, the itinerary calls for a day in Stockton and two in Sacramento. Day five is sure to be a highlight when the voyage's American Jazz ship docks in Napa.

With an unusual but iconic entrance into wine country via the Napa River earlier in the day, the afternoon's excursion includes a visit to a Napa winery.

It's not clear just yet which winery will be involved. However, there are plenty of great options in the region for American Cruise Lines to choose from ... and that's probably an understatement.

While travelers will only spend one of the trip's eight days in Napa, it seems wine will have a distinct influence throughout the trip.

Onboard experiences include special wine presentations to help budding or accomplished aficionados gain a better understanding of the intricacies of California cabernet and other varietals.

Related: Booking your 1st river cruise? Here's what you need to know

Of course, Northern California is renowned not just for its wine but its food, too — a reason why passengers might find the cooking demonstrations on the voyage noteworthy.

Other day excursions on the San Francisco Bay Cruise include a visit to Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square and Alcatraz, along with a NASCAR-style driving experience at the Stockton 99 Speedway and a visit to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.

Packages start at $6,095 per person for accommodations that include a private balcony. Voyages set sail on Feb.17 and 24, 2023, as well as March 3 and 10, 2023.

The aforementioned American Jazz is fairly new. It was inaugurated in 2020. The ship can carry a maximum of 190 guests with its 99 rooms and six common areas.

Related: 8 mistakes to avoid when visiting Napa Valley

American Cruise Lines sees this expansion of its portfolio as an answer to surging interest in domestic river cruises aboard smaller ships. The company's current cruise options include a half-dozen ships that sail the Pacific Northwest.

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5 New Napa Valley Wine Destinations to Visit This Summer

How to make the most of your trip to america's favorite wine region., mike desimone and jeff jenssen, mike desimone and jeff jenssen's most recent stories, the inconvenient truth about tuscany’s stellar cabernet franc, this father-son winemaking duo just released their best napa cab yet, how a young winemaker took over a legendary napa winery—and succeeded.

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While harvest is the busiest season for the people who make wine in Napa Valley, or any wine region for that matter, summer is the region’s tourism fully comes to life. Route 29 and Silverado Trail, the parallel roads that run up and down the valley, will be backed up in both directions with wine lovers, while tasting rooms, restaurants, and hotels will be bursting at the seams as oenophiles flock to America’s favorite wine region. We have our go-to spots and activities, like sharing a private cabana with friends at Louis M. Martini for a food and wine tasting, enjoying a glass of Quintessa while taking in the winery’s panoramic views, or savoring a mezze plate alongside a flight of wine at Darioush , but we’re always on the lookout for something new. With more than 400 wineries and tasting rooms to choose from, planning a visit to Napa Valley can seem overwhelming, but if you have to be the first one to experience the latest thing, you don’t want to miss out on these new additions to the Napa scene.

Maison Fayard

French born winemaker Julien Fayard has just made it easier than ever for wine lovers who like his style to find bottles that have felt his touch. Maison Fayard in downtown Napa is the first of its kind wine shop, featuring Fayard’s own labels Les Vins Julien, Julian Fayard Wines, and Covert Estate, plus juice from two dozen boutique wineries that he works with in Napa and Sonoma and beyond. No other renowned winery consultant has yet to launch a dedicated bottle shop and tasting room. Fayard is also making grape-based brandy in response to climate change and is focusing on small lot, artisanal Napa Valley spirits. Maison Fayard hosts private tastings by appointment and features several lines of fine glassware.

Napa Valley Wine Yacht

If you’ve already been there and done that with the wine train and hot air ballooning, the next step is gathering your gang for a custom three-hour cruise up and down the Napa River. The 55-foot power catamaran Kiwi Kat is one of a kind, designed to navigate the river’s shallows while you and a party of up to twelve enjoy pours from small, family-owned wineries alongside appetizers and small bites made with local ingredients. With fully customizable options, you can bring in a chef for a food and wine extravaganza or go all out and hire a justice of the peace for a wedding on the water. You will truly be in the lap of luxury as you cruise past rolling vineyards and majestic mountains. No matter how many times you have been to Napa, you’ve never seen it like this. 

JCB St. Helena

At the pre-opening party of this latest addition to Jean-Charles Boisset’s collection of tasting rooms and wineries, one of us said that it looks like a cross between a high-class bordello and the Sistine Chapel. We mean this in the best possible way. On Main Street in St. Helena, this is the perfect spot to savor wine from the Boisset family’s properties in Napa, Sonoma, Burgundy, Champagne, and Chablis among Baccarat chandeliers, red velvet and tiger-striped upholstery, and a combination of original art and repurposed works from museums around the world. The extensive menu of wines by the glass, flight, or bottle is only available at this location and one unique option is a comparative tasting of wines from California and Burgundy. Decadent food pairings, including cheese, charcuterie, and exclusive JCB caviar perfectly complement the diverse portfolio of wines.

Outdoor Estate Tasting at Baldacci Family Vineyards

As we roll into summer, Baldacci Family Vineyards has opened up the terrace for its brand-new Outdoor Estate Tasting . Hosted on the open-air Estate House Terrace, this experience begins with a welcome splash of Pops sparkling, a delicious blanc de noirs from Carneros, followed by a taste of three limited-production, single-vineyard, estate-grown wines, including two new Cabernet Sauvignons, paired with seasonal small bites. Guests may choose either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir and then enjoy Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon and Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon. Set among Baldacci’s organically farmed vineyards, this tasting allows you to relax and take in the natural surroundings in the heart of Stags Leap District on Silverado Trail.

White Wine and Caviar Experience at Silverado Vineyards

Tasting in Napa Valley can seem like an all red wine, all the time marathon for those who prefer a lighter shade in their glass. White wine connoisseurs are in luck with Silverado Vineyards’s newly launched White Wine and Caviar Experience. Available in the morning or afternoon, it features a hosted white wine and caviar tasting offering Silverado’s portfolio of white wines paired with caviar, house-made potato chips, and crème fraîche. Guests will learn about Silverado’s history and winemaking styles while tasting four white wines and a special pour of the newest vintage of the Stags Leap SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon. This is just one of the new tasting options at Silverado, which has been completely updated since its acquisition by Foley Family Wines two years ago.

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, also known as the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They have been featured guests on the Today Show, The Martha…

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Defunct 1950s-era cruise ship takes on water and leaks pollutants in California river delta

This photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard District 11 shows The Aurora, a non-operational 294-foot cruise ship moored northwest of Stockton, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, that began to sink and discharge product. A containment boom has been placed around the defunct 1950s-era cruise ship that began sinking and leaking pollution in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, authorities said. (California Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP)

This photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows official representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the City of Stockton respond to the sinking vessel Aurora, a non-operational 294-foot cruise ship permanently moored northwest of Stockton on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A containment boom has been placed around a defunct 1950s-era cruise ship that began sinking and leaking pollution in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, authorities said. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Wargo/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

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STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) — A containment boom has been placed around a defunct 1950s-era cruise ship that began sinking and leaking pollution in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, authorities said.

The 294-foot (90-meter) ship permanently moored in Little Potato Slough northwest of the city of Stockton began to sink in 13 feet (4 meters) of water on Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

A sheen was observed on the water, and containment booms were deployed around the vessel and the city’s water intake pump station, the Coast Guard said. Photographs show the stern low in the water next to the slough’s grassy embankment.

It was not immediately clear what was leaking. The Coast Guard said the vessel recently changed ownership, so details about what pollutants were on board were unknown. The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said the ship was leaking diesel fuel and oil.

A wildlife care organization was notified, but no oiled wildlife had been observed, the Coast Guard said.

The ship, currently known as the MV Aurora, was built in Germany in 1955 and formerly named Wappen von Hamburg. The ship moved around the world and ended up in the delta when a California man bought it in 2008 with dreams of restoring it as a shoreline attraction.

What’s New in Napa Valley 2024: Where to Drink & Dine

• by DAISY BARRINGER
• on JANUARY 4, 2024

Drinks at The Lincoln , Photo courtesy of Kirsten Loken

Northern California is home to many magical places, but when it comes to food, wine, and scenery, there’s perhaps nowhere more magical than Napa Valley .

Happiness is not a state of mind, but a trip to Napa Valley.

And though no one really needs an excuse to visit Wine Country , we’re always happy to have one, especially when it’s in the form of new places to discover and enjoy. And by “new places,” we obviously mean all the amazing new restaurants , wineries , tasting rooms , and, lately, even some truly fantastic cocktail bars. If you’re looking for an excuse to venture to Napa Valley this year, here are just a few of our new favorite spots to drink and dine.

New Places to Drink Wine

If there’s one thing Napa Valley can never have too much of, it’s wineries , and here are a handful of new places to enjoy a glass or two.

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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1. Manor Valuevo

2. Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin