Few American cruise destinations have a past as engrained in popular culture as Salem. Settled by European fishermen in 1626 and named for the Hebrew word for peace – “shalom” – the seaport in 1692 was anything but peaceful. Multiple attractions harken back to the days of the witch trials, including the Witch House and the Trials Memorial. The Maritime National Historic Site comprises the Custom House, the enduring wharves and buildings along Derby Street and the Friendship of Salem, a replica of the East Indiaman tall ship launched in 1797. The Peabody Essex Museum is the nation's oldest continuously operating museum and has outstanding collections of art and maritime history. The birth home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and the adjacent House of the Seven Gables are also must-sees. Beyond its fascinating history, Salem has a walkable downtown filled with quaint shops, fine restaurants, live music and great nightlife.
