Mayflower Tours was founded in 1979 in Downers Grove, Illinois, initially focusing on domestic motorcoach tours. In the 1980s and 1990s, the company expanded to include air travel tours across North America and Europe, growing its reputation for personalized service and carefully curated itineraries.

In the early 2000s, Mayflower entered the river cruise market, partnering with various operators to offer inclusive river cruise packages. This addition proved popular and significantly boosted the Mayflower brand.

In 2018, Mayflower was renamed Mayflower Cruises & Tours after being acquired by the Scenic Group, which was founded in 1986 by Glen Moroney in Australia.  This acquisition allowed for more diverse and luxurious travel experiences from Mayflower, including expanded river cruises and exotic destinations.  The Scenic Group owns and operates 24 River ships and 4 Ocean ships.

Today, Mayflower Cruises & Tours is known for its high-quality guided tours and cruises, emphasizing value and exceptional service. Led by company president, and industry veteran, Nish Patel, Mayflower continues to innovate with technology and embrace sustainability practices, maintaining its strong reputation in the travel industry.  Since its inception, Mayflower has provided tours to over 500,000 travelers, many of whom are loyal repeat travelers. The company has grown to offer over 100 itineraries, twelve travel styles, tours, and cruises throughout all seven continents and provides Life Enriching Experiences to thousands of travelers each year.