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

July 27, 2022
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4 min read
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
New Bay Area cruise to make stop in Napa beginning in 2023
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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.

American Jazz, the American Cruise Lines ship that will carry passengers on the San Francisco Bay voyage. (Photo courtesy of American Cruise Lines)

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.

wineries sign in napa
A sign at Paraduxx in Napa points travelers toward various wineries in the region. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

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

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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.

fisherman's wharf san francisco
Walking around Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. (Photo by Sean Cudahy/The Points Guy)

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.

american cruise lines voyage map
(Image courtesy of American Cruise Lines)

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.

Featured image by CAN BALCIOGLU/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.