Cruise Lines has announced new 15-day Northwest National Park cruises departing from Tacoma, Washington, in September 2026. Aboard its new small ships, the itinerary will explore some of the most iconic national parks and coastal ports of the region.
Described by the cruise line as a ‘bucket-list journey’, the trip will combine seven days of guided exploration of Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks with eight days of cruising Puget Sound, Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands.
“Guests on this new journey will seamlessly experience the best of the Pacific Northwest – by land and by sea”, the cruise line promised in its news release. “Parks explorations will be led by dedicated Adventure Guides, while the cruise portion will take place aboard American’s modern, private-balcony ships, the American Constitution and the American Constellation, each of which can accommodate 170 guests”. The result is a level of intimacy rarely found on mainstream cruises.
The journey starts and finishes in Tacoma and features four landmark parks: Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park. Park and Deception Pass State Park.
At Mount Rainier, travellers will visit Paradise and Reflection Lake, which are known for their panoramic views of the snow-capped peak. Established in 1899, the park was named after Admiral Peter Rainier by British explorer George Vancouver, who never saw the mountain himself. The Puyallup and Nisqually peoples called it Tahoma or Tacoma and considered it sacred. Mount Rainier was one of the first U.S. parks to protect both the landscape and its heritage. Other highlights include Inspiration Point, Narada Falls and birdwatching at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Olympic National Park encompasses three distinct ecosystems and boasts attractions such as Lake Crescent, the Hoh Rainforest and Ruby Beach. Guests can enjoy these before staying at the Olympic Lodge. Established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to protect the temperate rainforest, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Offshore, travellers may catch sight of whales, dolphins, sea lions or seals, while on land they could encounter deer, elk, cougars or even bears.
The North Cascades, often called the ‘American Alps’, offer dramatic peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, thundering waterfalls and over 300 glaciers, including those at Diablo Lake and Gorge Creek Falls. After years of activism, the park was established in 1968 and became a symbol of the modern environmental movement.
A stop at Deception Pass brings travellers to one of Washington’s most photographed landmarks: the iconic bridges linking Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands, which offer jaw-dropping sunsets. In his 1792 journal, Captain George Vancouver recorded a “very narrow and intricate channel… abounding with rocks above and beneath the surface of the water”, which he named Deception Passage after realising that the treacherous strait had misled his crew.
The eight-day cruise will showcase the natural coastal beauty and abundant wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, from whale watching in the San Juan Islands to kayaking and wine tasting in charming ports such as Anacortes, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Poulsbo in Washington State. Shoreside excursions will also feature seaplane rides and a visit to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.
The cruises are not cheap, starting at $12,875 per person based on double occupancy, but the price includes onboard meals and drinks, hotel stays, park transportation, and all guided tours. But they promise to take you on a journey through layers of nature, history, and discovery that will truly live up to its name as a ‘bucket list journey’.
