CHESAPEAKE BAY
8-Day Cruises

Departing from the heart of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, you'll wind your way to the mouth of the James River where you can immerse yourself in centuries of history with a visit to the Jamestown Settlement, a recreation of Virginia's first permanent colony, to the renowned Williamsburg living history museum, or to the Yorktown Victory Center which celebrates Washington's defeat of the British in 1781. Then set sail for Crisfield and Tangier Island, weaving along the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the company of the skipjacks, schooners, and bugeyes, the traditional sailing craft that ply these waters.

Along the shore you'll pass shipwrights, marinas and scenic lighthouses, gliding into ports accessible only to your small ship. Perhaps you'll choose to tour the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, or follow James Michener's wanderings in Oxford, the setting for his novel Chesapeake. You'll certainly want to investigate the fascinating exhibits at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum in St. Michael's, and the shops that line its charming streets. These serene, historic villages are steeped in five centuries of history, having played crucial roles in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. Annapolis is an 18th-century port which pleasinglypreserves its colonial American charm, boasting magnificent architecture and the United States Naval Academy, ( national historic landmark. With city street! boasting 1,300 pre-1900 buildings from 15 different architectural styles, Annapolis is often called a "museum without walls", And with its superb collection of charming boutiques and world-class shops, Annapolis is a great place to shop too.

Your journey ends back to Baltimore, passing Fort McHenry, site of the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's anthem "The Star Spangled Banner." Memories of your Chesapeake Bay cruise will follow you home, from the sound of the wind in the rigging or the church bells at St. Michaels, to the scents of a fresh sea breeze and tempting regional cuisine served each evening. You've discovered a part of America that truly represents 'the land of the free, and the home of the brave.'