Destination: 
South Atlantic Coast

Unexpected pleasures await as you soak in the landscape, feel the history, and discover the essence of these beautiful regions. 

The Antebellum South 2007

Explore one of the most romantic regions in the United States – the Antebellum South. Visit Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston – where shaded lanes, lush gardens and elegant architecture are your reminders of a bygone era. Feel yourself surrounded by an abundance of wildlife making their homes along the great Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Time slows as you cruise this ribbon of protected waterway gently meandering along our southeastern coast. Glimpse osprey in their natural habitat, view ibis and egrets amidst lush saltwater marshes.

Let Cruise West bring you closer to the alluring beauty of the South on this memorable journey through time.

• Tour Costs From: $2,699 pp
• 8 Days / 7 Nights
• Jacksonville to Charleston
• Departures: April 2007

Day 1 - JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 
Board the Spirit of Nantucket in Jacksonville, a strategic port during the Civil War. Dinner is served onboard. D 

Day 2 - FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA (FOR CUMBERLAND ISLAND, GEORGIA) 
Fernandina Beach is a quaint village of late-Victorian architecture that dates from the mid-1500s. Join an all-day excursion to Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island. Explore the crumbling remnants of Dungeness, the mansion built by Thomas Carnegie in 1884, and view the beautiful plants, birds and wildlife, including wild horses, living there. BLD 

Day 3 - BRUNSWICK (FOR JEKYLL ISLAND), GEORGIA 
Enjoy an excursion to Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s famous Golden Isles. Winter home of America’s rich and famous for 56 years, Jekyll Island hosted the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and Morgans, who all closed their Fifth Avenue mansions and retreated to the island’s warmth and serenity. View these spectacular millionaire “cottages” — ornate mansions that have been exquisitely preserved — providing an intriguing view into the era of The Great Gatsby. Your tour concludes with luncheon in the courtyard of the lavish, elegant Crane Cottage. BLD 

Day 4 - CRUISING THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY / SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 
Cruise through the isolated Low Country today along the winding Intracoastal Waterway. Lined with marsh grasses, wide and ocean-like one minute, narrow with plantation homes just visible through moss-draped oaks the next, the Waterway supports a spectacular array of wildlife. Many species of waterfowl and wading birds inhabit this inland passage. Porpoises sport in the wake of passing boats, and shrimp, oysters and crabs thrive, along with striped bass and mullet. On shore, deer, bears, bobcats and foxes roam the thickets and cypress swamps. Arrive in Savannah early this evening, and join an optional tour of the city “by night,” featuring history, ghost tales and a glimpse into lovely, after-dark Savannah.BLD 

Day 5 - SAVANNAH 
You’ll have all day to explore this historic city and its Old South charm, where cobblestone streets are lined with classic wrought-iron fences and 150-year-old, moss-draped oaks pre-dating the Civil War. Explore one of our nation’s largest National Historic Landmark districts, revealing more than 270 years of history, elegantly displayed in exquisite ironwork, splendid mansions and picturesque cottages. Glimpse life as it was lived in old Savannah with a visit to a fine house museum. BLD 

Day 6 - BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA / CRUISING THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY 
The second-oldest town in South Carolina looks to the sea from Port Royal Island, one of 64 barrier islands that make up Beaufort County. Enjoy a carriage ride through the city’s historic district or choose to visit Hunting Island State Park. At the Park, explore the historic lighthouse, stroll along the boardwalk to discover the salt marsh, and, along the way, be on the look-out for dolphins, deer, wading birds and other wildlife. Sail the Intracoastal Waterway past sea islands, small harbors, and coves, catching sight of wildlife that few visitors see. Osprey, egrets and ibis feed in the swampy marshes and sawgrass flats, while alligators and turtles may be seen sunning on the muddy banks.BLD 

Day 7 - CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 
The lovely city of Charleston contains a wealth of 18th and 19th century mansions, but it is probably best known in American history as the site where the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. Charleston was one of the four largest cities on the Eastern Seaboard. A guided stroll through Charleston’s historic streets introduces you to the charms of the city. 

You may then choose to join either an optional excursion that takes you to the botanical treasures of Middleton Place Plantation, or an optional historic tour that features a stop at the Joseph Manigault House, built around 1803 and one of the finest Adamesque mansions in the country, and a drive through The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. BLD 

Day 8 - CHARLESTON 
Disembark the Spirit of Nantucket after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B 

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

Cradle of Colonial America 2007

Embark on a great American travel adventure as you journey back in time to Colonial America. Drift past the architectural splendor of old plantation homes set on the lovely shores of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 

Marvel at restored historic districts with leisurely stops in beautiful Charleston and Wilmington. Savor the colonial charm of Beaufort and the historic triangle of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. From St. Mary’s City, Maryland’s first capital to modern-day Annapolis, experience cities that weave history into everyday life, and take the opportunity to visit several renowned Civil War sites. 

Gliding past scenic inlets, relish the quiet beauty of Chesapeake Bay with its abundant bird and marine life, and cruise inland to savor the grandeur of the great Potomac River.

• Tour Costs From: $3,499 pp
• 10 Days / 9 Nights
• Charleston to Alexandria
• Departures: May 2007

Day 1 - CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 
One of the four largest cities on the Eastern Seaboard, Charleston contains a wealth of 18th and 19th century mansions, as well as reminders of its part in American history as the site where the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. Board the Spirit of Nantucket and spend the night moored in its downtown harbor. D 

Day 2 - CHARLESTON
A guided stroll through Charleston’s historic streets introduces you to the charms of the city. Choose to join an optional excursion that takes you to the botanical treasures of Middleton Place Plantation, or an optional historic tour featuring a stop at the Joseph Manigault House, built around 1803 and one of the finest Adamesque mansions in the country, and a drive through The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. BLD 

Day 3 - CRUISING THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY
Enjoy the typical Low Country landscape of marshes filled with aquatic plants, many species of birds and a host of other wildlife. BLD 

Day 4 - WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 
This morning, make a turn up the Cape Fear River, sailing to the historic city of Wilmington. Having played parts in the American Revolution and serving as the main port of the Confederacy, this city is filled with history. Explore its historic district on a walking tour of the city and its picturesque riverfront. Discover Fort Fisher with its battle remnants, and Bellamy Mansion, a superb example of antebellum architecture built in 1859 by free and enslaved black artisans. BLD 

Day 5 - MOREHEAD CITY (FOR BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA) 
Follow in the wake of notorious pirates — from Blackbeard to Anne Bonny — who terrorized the North Carolina coast in the 17th and 18th centuries as we cruise to Beaufort. In the morning, tour the town’s center with its buildings beautifully restored to their colonial perfection. At the North Carolina Maritime Museum take a look at the area’s fascinating seafaring history, including an exhibit about Blackbeard, whose flagship was discovered near Beaufort Inlet. Spend the afternoon cruising the Outer Banks past stretches of scenic waterway. BLD 

Day 6 - YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA 
Celebrate 300 years of American history in the historic triangle of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. In Yorktown, experience village streets, 18th century houses and revolutionary battlefields that look much as they did in colonial days. Then choose to explore either Colonial Williamsburg, the country’s earliest political and cultural center, where more than 500 buildings have been restored to their 18th century glory, or Jamestown, where a colonial fort, a Pohowtan Indian village and majestic sailing ships have been faithfully re-created. BLD 

Day 7 - ST. MARY’S CITY, MARYLAND 
Historic St. Mary’s City is a museum of history and archaeology located in the beautiful tidewater of Chesapeake Bay. Explore a perfectly re-created plantation, inns and public buildings and one of the earliest English sailing ships. BLD 

Day 8 - ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 
After cruising Chesapeake Bay, dock in Annapolis, first peacetime capital of the United States and an integral port for maritime trade. Travel through the bustling dock area to the Maryland State House, where the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the American Revolution. Explore other government buildings and formal gardens, and visit the U.S. Naval Academy. BLD 

Day 9 - ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (FOR HARPERS FERRY / MANASSAS) 
The Spirit of Nantucket docks in Alexandria right next to Old Town. Those who wish, may join an optional excursion that visits two famous wartime sites. First, stop in Harpers Ferry, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia meet. After lunch in Leesburg, continue to Manassas (Bull Run). This once-coveted railroad hub, setting for the war’s first major battle in 1861, is also where General Thomas Jackson earned the moniker “Stonewall.” BLD 

Day 10 - ALEXANDRIA 
After breakfast, disembark the Spirit of Nantucket and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B 

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

Historic Chesapeake Bay 2007

Home to some of America's most historic port cities, the Chesapeake is 
truly a maritime wonder. Explore its tidal rivers and natural harbors along a magnificent shoreline almost entirely designated as a Protected Wildlife Refuge.

Little can surpass what waits ahead – a close and personal look into our colonial history and hands-on experience of this region’s natural splendor. 

And it ends with a grand finale – the awe-inspiring Statue of Liberty with Manhattan’s skyline as its dramatic backdrop - viewed from the deck of the Spirit of Nantucket. 

These unforgettable sights stir the heart, making memories for a lifetime on this wondrous maritime journey.

• Tour Costs From: $3,099 pp
• 8 Days / 7 Nights
• Alexandria to New York City
• Departures: June 2007 (October 2007 in reverse)

Day 1 - WASHINGTON, D.C. / ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 
Arrive in Washington, D.C., and transfer to Alexandria and the Spirit of Nantucket. There is time for independent exploration in the evening. D 

Day 2 - WASHINGTON, D.C. / ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 
Designed by Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant around 1790, Washington, D.C. is a vast “museum” of our national heritage. Join a morning tour of Mt. Vernon, the meticulously preserved estate of George Washington. In the afternoon, there are independent opportunities to visit the monuments that honor Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt, and to experience the power and beauty of both the White House and Capitol Building. Delve into the exhibits at the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institute. 

After dinner, an optional excursion presents our capital’s unique resplendence, beautifully illuminated by the lights of the city. BLD 

Day 3 - CRUISING THE POTOMAC RIVER & CHESAPEAKE BAY / ST. MARY’S CITY 
Enjoy a relaxing morning aboard the Spirit of Nantucket, cruising down the Potomac into the “great bay of shellfish.” One of the most complete estuarine systems in the world, the Chesapeake’s rich waters are fringed by marshlands and mudflats, offering hiding places for waterfowl, and nurseries for oysters and crabs. Historic St. Mary’s City is a museum of history and archaeology in beautiful tidewater Southern Maryland. Explore the houses, museum and lighthouse that perfectly portray St. Mary’s past. BLD

Day 4 - ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND 
In the early morning, the Spirit of Nantucket sails across Chesapeake Bay to St. Michaels, a charming village that was a shipbuilding center for tall-masted Baltimore clipper ships. Our guided tour explores the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and takes a stroll through the town, learning about its rich history as you view its colonial architecture. Later this afternoon, you’ll have the option to sail back in time aboard the skipjack Rebecca T. Ruark. Constructed in 1866 to dredge oysters from the bay, she is the “queen” of North America’s last working fleet of sailboats. BLD 

Day 5 - ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 
After anchoring in Annapolis Harbor, our explorations ashore include a tour of the historic State House, the U.S. Naval Academy and the William Paca House.BLD 

Day 6 - WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 
Located at the mouth of the Brandywine River, Wilmington is part of du Pont country. The du Pont family staked their claim — and in many ways enhanced — the region, creating gardens and houses of great beauty. Visit stunning Longwood Gardens, see Brandywine Valley’s splendid mansions, and examine the work of painter Andrew Wyeth, who found inspiration in the region. An optional excursion takes you to Winterthur, an eight-story mansion and country estate owned by the du Ponts, containing one of the world’s premier collections of American antiques and decorative arts.BLD 

Day 7 - CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY 
After a relaxing morning at sea, arrive in lovely Cape May. From its first days in the 1630s, Cape May was a prosperous fishing and whaling port. Our sightseeing tour provides an overview of the town and its Victorian architecture.BLD 

Day 8 - NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK 
Disembark the Spirit of Nantucket after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home.B 

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner