Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
The northern terminus of Upper Mississippi River cruising, where Saint Paul's Gilded Age grandeur meets Minneapolis's world-class arts scene — all framed by the only major waterfall on America's great river.
The northern terminus of Upper Mississippi River cruising, where Saint Paul's Gilded Age grandeur meets Minneapolis's world-class arts scene — all framed by the only major waterfall on America's great river.
River cruise ships dock at Lambert's Landing on the Saint Paul waterfront — a direct gangway-to-pavement arrival with no tendering.
💡 Pro move: This is often an embarkation or debarkation port — plan to arrive the evening before or stay a night after to explore properly.
All river cruise ships dock at Lambert's Landing in downtown Saint Paul — pier berthing only, no anchoring or tendering.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| American Cruise Lines | Lambert's Landing, Saint Paul📍 | Docked |
| Viking River Cruises (Viking Mississippi) | Lambert's Landing, Saint Paul📍 | Docked |
From Viking-era architecture to gangster speakeasies, the Twin Cities pack serious variety into a single shore day.
In the 1930s, Saint Paul's infamous 'O'Connor System' made the city a safe haven for John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Ma Barker. The Wabasha Street Caves — carved into river bluffs — served as the city's most notorious speakeasy and are now open for dramatic guided tours.
Find gangster history tours →Walk the historic Stone Arch Bridge — built of native limestone and granite by railroad baron James J. Hill — for the best views of St. Anthony Falls, the only major waterfall on the entire Mississippi River (long since engineered into a concrete spillway after the natural falls collapsed in 1869). The adjacent Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum tell the story of how Minneapolis became the world's milling capital.
Find Minneapolis walking tours →The free Minneapolis Sculpture Garden showcases the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture and 40+ works from the Walker Art Center. Pair it with a visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) — a world-class museum with 90,000 works across 5,000 years, also free admission.
Find Minneapolis art tours →Stroll the longest stretch of preserved Victorian-era architecture in the United States. See F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthplace at 481 Laurel Ave, the massive James J. Hill House, and block after block of Gilded Age grandeur on one of America's most beautiful residential streets.
Find Saint Paul walking tours →Watch your riverboat navigate through Lock and Dam No. 1 (the Ford Dam) — a highlight of Upper Mississippi cruising. The locks lift or lower the vessel as the river transitions between levels, offering a front-row engineering spectacle unique to river travel.
Find Mississippi river cruises →Taste Minnesota's culinary signatures: the 'Jucy Lucy' cheeseburger (cheese molten inside the patty) at Matt's Bar, walleye pan-fried at a riverfront restaurant, and cardamom buns at Fika inside the American Swedish Institute. Cossetta in Saint Paul does enormous, inexpensive Italian with legendary cannoli.
Find Twin Cities food tours →Saint Paul's riverfront to historic downtown is a manageable walk; reaching Minneapolis requires the Green Line light rail.
From the dock, follow the riverfront path north and uphill into Lowertown — Saint Paul's arts and dining hub. Pass the Farmer's Market site, historic brick warehouses, and arrive at the Union Depot, one of America's finest Beaux-Arts train stations.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Head uphill from Lowertown to Rice Park — Saint Paul's charming central square flanked by the Saint Paul Hotel, Landmark Center, and a statue of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Continue up the hill toward the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the start of Summit Avenue's Victorian mansions.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F / -5°C | 7°F / -14°C | 6 | 7:46 AM | 4:57 PM |
| Feb | 25°F / -4°C | 7°F / -14°C | 6 | 7:12 AM | 5:40 PM |
| Mar | 41°F / 5°C | 23°F / -5°C | 8 | 7:24 AM | 7:18 PM |
| Apr | 53°F / 12°C | 35°F / 2°C | 11 | 6:27 AM | 7:58 PM |
| May | 68°F / 20°C | 49°F / 9°C | 12 | 5:43 AM | 8:34 PM |
| Jun | 80°F / 27°C | 61°F / 16°C | 10 | 5:25 AM | 9:00 PM |
| Jul | 82°F / 28°C | 64°F / 18°C | 10 | 5:40 AM | 8:55 PM |
| Aug | 80°F / 27°C | 63°F / 17°C | 11 | 6:14 AM | 8:17 PM |
| Sep | 73°F / 23°C | 57°F / 14°C | 9 | 6:51 AM | 7:22 PM |
| Oct | 57°F / 14°C | 42°F / 6°C | 10 | 7:28 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Nov | 41°F / 5°C | 28°F / -2°C | 8 | 7:10 AM | 4:42 PM |
| Dec | 30°F / -1°C | 16°F / -9°C | 8 | 7:44 AM | 4:31 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.