Eats, Cruises & Leaves

Most of the foliage cruises take place in and around the New York and New England area, but there are some offerings that travel the Mississippi River. Each fall, the Mississippi Queen travels between St. Louis, Mo. and St. Paul, Minn. making a number of stops along the way, including Hannibal, Mo., Mark Twain's hometown, and the casino at Dubuque, Iowa. But while the leaves may be equally brilliant, the experience is not the same.

"There's cruising on the Mississippi but that really appeals to a much smaller audience, because the amenities on those ships are not equivalent to the larger ships used in the Northeast," said Geoff Silvers, director of merchandising for Orbitz.com. "The experience is more limited. You don't have as many lounges, entertainers or dining options. These are paddlewheels."

Attention to detail -- and the fact you don't have to plan, you only have to pay -- is what makes foliage cruises so attractive. While it's often said that a cruise's main selling point is that your hotel room floats with you, ending the need to pack and unpack each time you hit a new point of interest, few hotel rooms have five-foot picture windows with acres of foliage drifting by.

Operators like Crystal Cruises and Seabourn operate at the very high end of the spectrum, charging upwards of $4,000 for a week-long cruise, but offering a level of comfort and class that surpasses most five-star hotels. Seabourn's "Canadian Gold" tour, a week-long cruise between New York City and Quebec City, starts at $2,998 and includes food, drink and a world-class suite with an ocean view.

"All of the suites on our ships are 277 square feet and come with a five-foot picture window," said Bruce Good, spokesperson for Seabourn. "The rate is all inclusive, cover meals and bars, everything except spa treatments. Rooms have a queen-sized bed, a fully-stocked bar and walk in closets."