A Guide To Savannah River Cruise Packages

Savannah, Georgia, with its moss-draped squares, cobblestone River Street, and busy working harbor, is a wonderful base for a river cruise vacation. Overnight riverboats don't start their voyages in Savannah, but travelers have great all-inclusive options nearby, from a 3-day riverboat getaway on the Savannah River to a 5-day Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville and a week-long coastal river cruise that stops in Savannah.

Here's what each option includes, typical costs, and how to choose the right one.

What's Included in Savannah River Cruise Packages?

What "all-inclusive" means depends on the type of cruise:

Small-ship coastal river cruises: American Cruise Lines includes all shipboard meals, entertainment, tips and gratuities, alcohol, and port charges and fees in the fare, and many shore excursions are included too.
Ocean cruises to the Bahamas: your cabin, main dining and buffet meals, entertainment, pools, and kids' clubs are included. Drinks beyond basics, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and excursions are usually extra.
Savannah riverboat cruises: a narrated sightseeing cruise or a dining cruise with a buffet meal. Iced tea, lemonade, soft drinks, or coffee come with dining cruises, and a cash bar is available, according to Savannah Riverboat Cruises.

Savannah River Cruise Options

Here's a breakdown of 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day packages for Savannah travelers:

3-Day Savannah Cruise Packages

Option 1, a Savannah riverboat getaway: two nights in the Historic District plus one or two cruises aboard the Georgia Queen or Savannah River Queen, which sail from River Street. Choose from narrated harbor sightseeing, lunch, Sunday brunch, dinner entertainment, gospel dinner, sunset, and moonlight cruises.
Option 2, a 3-night Bahamas cruise: drive about 4.5 hours to Port Canaveral for a Friday-to-Monday Bahamas sailing that visits a private island such as Carnival's Celebration Key.
Sample itinerary: Day 1, settle in and take an evening dinner cruise on the Savannah River; Day 2, tour the squares and Forsyth Park, then a sunset cruise; Day 3, breakfast on River Street before heading home.
Price range: riverboat cruises are priced per person, with recent listings around $55 for a two-hour sunset cruise and about $93 for a two-hour dinner cruise. Three-night Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral have recently started around $300 per person for an interior cabin.

A 3-day trip is perfect for a long weekend or for first-time cruisers. See current sailings in the Port Canaveral cruise schedule and riverboat options at Savannah Riverboat Cruises.

5-Day Savannah Cruise Packages

Departing from: Jacksonville, Florida, about 2.5 hours south of Savannah by car.
Destinations: the Bahamas, typically with stops at Celebration Key and Half Moon Cay.
Sample itinerary: depart Jacksonville in the afternoon, a day at sea, a day at Celebration Key, a day at Half Moon Cay, another sea day, and return.
Price range: recent 5-night Carnival Elation sailings have been listed from about $314 to $406 per person for an interior cabin and about $844 to $886 for a balcony, including taxes and fees. See a sample 5-night Jacksonville itinerary.

A 5-day cruise balances relaxing sea days with two beach days, and the short drive from Savannah makes it easy to add a night in Savannah before or after.

7-Day All-Inclusive Coastal River Cruise

Route: American Cruise Lines' 8-night Southeast Sea Islands cruise sails between Charleston, South Carolina, and Amelia Island, Florida, along the Intracoastal Waterway, with a stop in Savannah.
Ports: Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island, and Amelia Island.
Sample itinerary: Charleston's historic district, Beaufort's antebellum homes, Hilton Head's salt marshes, a day in Savannah's squares and historic district, and Georgia's Golden Isles before finishing on Amelia Island.
Price range: recent listings start around $4,357 to $4,754 per person, with balconies around $5,552 and suites around $7,393 per person. See a sample Southeast Sea Islands itinerary and pricing.

This is the most complete all-inclusive river cruise experience that includes Savannah, with small ships, calm waters, and most extras covered in the fare. Sailings run in spring, late fall, and around the holidays.

Choosing the Right Option

Short on time or new to cruising: a 3-day Savannah riverboat getaway or a 3-night Bahamas cruise.
Want beaches and value: a 5-day Bahamas cruise from Jacksonville.
Want history, small ships, and nearly everything included: the 8-night coastal river cruise with a Savannah stop.
Mobility needs: the Georgia Queen has a passenger elevator and accessible restrooms; ask about accessible cabins and excursions on every cruise.

Booking Tips

Book Savannah riverboat cruises early; popular dinner and holiday sailings sell out.
For ocean cruises, compare fares across a few dates, since prices change often.
Budget for gratuities, drinks, parking, and a hotel night near the port if you're driving.
Consider travel insurance for longer and higher-priced cruises.
Ask a cruise-focused travel advisor about promotions and shipboard credits.

FAQ: Essential Questions Answered

Do overnight river cruises leave from Savannah?
Not currently. Savannah is a port of call on coastal river cruises between Charleston and Amelia Island, and local riverboats offer sightseeing and dining cruises from River Street.

How long are Savannah riverboat cruises?
Most last about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the cruise.

Is the coastal river cruise really all-inclusive?
Largely, yes: meals, drinks including alcohol, gratuities, port charges, and many excursions are included. Airfare is usually extra.

Do I need a passport?
A passport is strongly recommended for Bahamas cruises. Coastal U.S. river cruises don't leave the country.

Comparing other getaways? See our guides to all-inclusive cruises from Port Miami, all-inclusive Viking river cruise packages, Mediterranean cruise getaways.

Final Takeaway

Savannah makes a perfect starting point for cruise vacations of every length: a 3-day riverboat getaway or quick Bahamas trip, a 5-day Bahamas cruise from nearby Jacksonville, or a week-long, all-inclusive coastal river cruise that stops in Savannah itself. Choose the length and style that fit your time and budget, book early for popular dates, and enjoy the Lowcountry from the water.

Schedules and prices change often. Confirm current sailings, inclusions, and prices before booking.