American Cruise Lines
History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News
American Cruise Lines fleet
ACL American Serenade
Current cruise: 7 days, one-way from Memphis TN to New OrleansAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2023 / Age : 1 Passengers 175 ACL American Symphony
Current cruise: 7 days, one-way from Memphis TN to New OrleansAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2022 / Age : 2 Passengers 175 ACL American Melody
Current cruise: 6 days, one-way from New Orleans to Memphis TNAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2021 / Age : 3 Passengers 175 ACL American Jazz
Current cruise: 6 days, round-trip 7 Night Napa Valley CruiseAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2020 / Age : 4 Passengers 190 ACL American Constitution
Current cruise: 10 days, round-trip 10 Night American Revolution CruiseAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2018 / Age : 6 Passengers 170 ACL American Constellation
Next cruise: 7 days, round-trip 7 Night Puget Sound and San Juan Islands CruiseAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2017 / Age : 7 Passengers 175 American Splendor
Next cruise: 7 days, one-way from Memphis TN to New OrleansAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2016 / Age : 8 Passengers 185 American Heritage
Current cruise: 7 days, round-trip 7 Night New Orleans to New Orleans CruiseAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 2015 / Age : 9 Passengers 78 - 150 American West
Next cruise: 6 days, one-way from Portland OR to Clarkston WAAmerican Cruise LinesYear build 1995 / Age : 29 Passengers
Review of American Cruise Lines
ACL-American Cruise Lines Inc (AmericanCruiseLines.com) is a USA-based travel company founded in 1991 and headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut. Currently ranked USA's largest river cruise company, ACL operates traditional stern-paddlewheel riverboats and also several small-sized oceangoing ships. ACL ships cruise mainly in the USA, including Alaska, West and East Coast, the USA's biggest rivers (Mississippi, Tennessee, Potomac, Columbia, Snake, Hudson), also in Florida (St George River).
The company's current President and CEO is Charles B. Robertson who succeeded ACL's founder Charles A. Robertson (1948-2020).
ACL's management team includes:
- Dawn Lancaster (Accounts Payable Lead/Groton CT)
- Kayleigh Yates (Pastry Chef/New Roads LA)
- Brad Csuka (VP of Marketing/Stratford CT)
- Susan Shultz (Director of Sales/Guilford CT)
- Shelly Hartfield (Director of Product Development/New Albany IN)
- Meghan Sturgeon (Creative Director/Guilford CT)
- John Foley (Director of Information & Technology/Bethel CT)
- Makena Hoyt (Travel Coordinator/Salt Lake City UT)
- Matthew Kelley (First Mate, from Kingston MA)
- Marcus Lemon (Line Cook/Orlando FL)
In August 2021, ACL announced a major refurbishment project for its entire paddlewheeler fleet. The redesigned boats were renamed "American Splendor" (fka America), "American Heritage" (fka Queen of the Mississippi) and "American West" (fka Queen of the West), and only American Pride retained its name. The refurb project was via partnership with Studio DADO (Miami-based interior design firm) which was commissioned for the American Melody's interior spaces. By this project (completed by March 2022), the ACL paddlewheelrs' staterooms, bars and lounges, dining rooms and public areas were completely redesigned, featuring new color schemes, artworks, furniture, carpets, textiles, accessories.
Since January 2022, all ACL deals with added domestic flights (between airports in the USA, which includes all the company's 19 ports in 16 US states) are with flat-rate priced airfares (fixed/not subject to future changes). ACL river voyages' prices are inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel overnight.
Since December 2022, all ACL deals are inclusive of port charges and fees (commissionable for travel agents).
ACL's main competitor is Viking Cruises USA.
One of the most prominent features of all ACL ships is that they are USA-flagged, which means that the company hires only American citizens as hotel staff and crews, and pays taxes in the USA (on all cruise deals).
ACL deals are not so cheap, and consist of:
- larger-than-average staterooms (with the first balcony cabins in the US coastal cruise shipping business)
- spacious public rooms (bars and lounges)
- gourmet cuisine, highly personalized service
- hassle-free experiences, complimentary drinks before dinner, intimate, relaxing and friendly atmosphere
- amazingly charming itineraries sailing the inland waterways and stopping at ports every day (these are smaller ports inaccessible to larger vessels)
- an evening enrichment program by professional onboard lecturers
- the cruise ship "Queen of the Mississippi" debuted in 2012 as the largest of all ACL ships. Her sister ship was recently launched (March 2015) under the name "American Eagle".
All ACL ships are USA-built/refurbished, by the shipbuilder Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation (Salisbury, Maryland).
Next infographic of the Queen of the Mississippi (now American Heritage) shows what is what and where on this unique riverboat.
In mid-February, 2020, ACL signed with Vicksburg MS a 20-year deal for preferential berthing rights and ACL investments for upgrading the riverfront docking facility. By the deal, ACL pays the city per-passenger fees and receives priority mooring along the waterfront. ACL also provides shuttle bus services for its customers for land transportation to nearby attractions and popular downtown businesses.
In January 2023 ACL announced the fleetwide introduction of high-speed (Starlink-provided) satellite internet and Wi-Fi services. Starlink's LEO satellites (positioned at low Earth orbit) provide stable and fast internet connections to moving marine vessels and ACL beta-tested the service in 2022. As a promo, in 2023, ACL offered the Starlink Wi-Fi and the shipboard Room Service complimentary.
ACL AQV assents acquisition (2024)
In a held in March 2024 auction in Texas, ACL became the highest bidder and purchased four riverboats plus other assets of AQV-American Queen Voyages/fka AQSC. These assets were auctioned following the bankruptcy of AQV's parent company Hornblower Holdings.
The acquired assets include four paddle wheelers - American Queen (US$2,15 million), American Empress and American Countess (each US$1,6M) and American Duchess (US$0,2M). In May, three boats (Countess, Duchess, Queen) were sold for scrapping.
In addition, for US$0,75M ACL purchased two trademarks ("American Queen Voyages", "AQV"), website domains, and business records.
According to documents filed with the Bankruptcy Court in Houston, ACL paid for AQV's assets a total of US$6,3 million in cash. A hearing to finalize the sale was scheduled for April 4th.
New ships
In late-October 2015, ACL announced the start of the construction of a new coastal cruiser (by Chesapeake Shipbuilding/Salisbury, Maryland USA), with scheduled delivery in 2017-Q1. The vessel (American Constellation) was followed by the sistership American Constitution (2018).
These boats have passenger capacity 170 and are sized slightly larger compared to ACL's old coastal cruisers. They are fully stabilized (active wing stabilizers by Rolls-Royce Marine) and have the USA river cruising industry's largest and most luxurious staterooms. All cabins are with marble-tiled bathrooms and floor-ceiling glass doors opening to step-out balconies.
Traditionally for large-sized US riverboats, American Song has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any place along the ship's cruise itinerary route. The ramp has an innovative design being constructed as a retractable gangway (passenger bridge). The technology is often implemented on some of the largest ferries and features an opening bow door.
In November 2016 ACL announced the start of the construction on a 3rd (larger / new-class "Modern Riverboat") vessel with capacity 195 passengers. In late-February 2017 were announced plans for a fleet of 5 newbuilds.
- The first vessel from the new "Modern Riverboat" series was launched in 2018 (American Song). Followed the sisterships Harmony (2019), Jazz (2020), Melody (2021), Symphony (2022), Serenade (2023), Encore (2026).
- In mid-June 2021 ACL signed with Chesapeake Shipbuilding the contract for constructing two more units (5th and 6th) of the "modern riverboat" series. Both vessels (yet to be named) are planned for inauguration in 2022 growing the company's fleet to 15 (5x small, 4x paddle-wheelers, 6x modern riverboats).
In January 2022 ACL announced a plan to grow its fleet to 25+ vessels by adding 12 units of a new class (Project Blue), each with max passenger capacity 109 (plus 50 crew), length 241 ft (74 m), beam/width 56 ft (17 m), 56 staterooms (~85% balconied).
ACL's Coastal Cats/catamarans and PATRIOT-class/coastal ships are currently planned for launch/inauguration two units per year - in 2023 (Eagle, Glory), 2024 (Liberty, Legend), 2025 (Patriot, Pioneer), 2026 (Maverick, Ranger), 2027, and 2028.
The next video reviews the best features of ACL's 2021-2022-built Modern Riverboats (Melody, Symphony, Serenade).
USA river cruise excursions for free
Any ACL guest booking river cruises on Mississippi or Columbia rivers gets absolutely free shore excursions. This is a year-round deal and the complimentary land tours are offered in each port of call.
The list of tours includes:
- "Battle of Vicksburg" (in Vicksburg, Mississippi)
- "Oak Valley Plantation" (in Oak Alley, Louisiana)
- "Mark Twain Boyhood Home-Museum" (in Hannibal, Missouri)
- "Mount St Helens" (in Rainier, Washington)
- "Winery" (in Richland, Washington).
The next YouTube video is the company's official release about the signature "Mississippi River Paddlewheeler" cruising experience.
IN January 2020, ACL signed a 5-year preferential berthing agreement with Port NOLA (New Orleans) for Thalia Street Wharf/riverboat dock. By this deal, ACL also received 2 (optional) 5-year renewals. Preferential homeporting is for at least 50 voyages (guaranteed departures) annually. For 2020, ACL scheduled 68 calls at Port NOLA.
In 2023 (March-December) ACL had its ever-biggest Mississippi program with five ships (Melody, Heritage, Serenade, Splendor, Symphony) and 12 itineraries running between homeports St Paul MN and New Orleans LA. The season featured a new boat (American Serenade) and the new 8-day itinerary "The Tennessee Rivers Cruise" between Chattanooga TN and Nashville TN. ACL's entire Mississippi 2023 program included voyages with a complimentary pre-voyage 1-night hotel.
(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021
Due to the COVID pandemic, ACL suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all vessels) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 14, 2020, through May 2021.
Fleet operations resumed on the following dates (by ship) in 2021.
- American Independence (May 1 from Charleston SC)
- MS America (May 4 from New Orleans)
- Queen of the Mississippi (May 1 from Memphis TN)
- Queen of the West (May 15 from Clarkston WA)
- American Star (May 8 from Charleston SC)
- American Song (May 9 from Clarkston MI)
- American Pride (May 1 from Portland OR)
- American Constellation (May 7/Alaska from Seattle WA)
- American Constitution (May 10 from Boston)
- American Spirit (May 8/Alaska from Seattle WA)
- American Harmony (May 1 from New Orleans)
- American Jazz (May 2 from New Orleans)
- American Melody (Aug 27/Maiden Voyage from New Orleans)
Note: Under CERTS (Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act), in August 2021 the company received USD 42,7 million (CAD 58,83M / AUD 58,3M / EUR 36,2M) grant from the USA's government. The CERTS provides grants to eligible (USA-based and all American-crewed) passenger transportation companies (motorcoach, school bus, shipping, pilotage) that have experienced 25% or more annual revenue losses due to the COVID crisis.
ACL boats initially operated with reduced (75% of the max) passenger capacity. All affected bookings were fully refunded (100% monetary refund). With rebooking was offered 125% FCC (Future Cruise Credit based on the fares paid for the canceled sailings) valid before December 31, 2021.
Itinerary of American Cruise Lines
ACL-American Cruise Lines itinerary program includes the USA's Eastern and Western coasts. ACL also offers Alaskan cruises during summer as well as the USA's river cruise regions Mississippi-Ohio (northbound and southbound itineraries) and Columbia-Snake (eastbound and westbound itineraries).
In 2022, ACL ships sailed 35+ USA-only itineraries visiting ports in 31 states.
New itineraries and cruisetours (2024)
ACL's schedule 2024 groups 50+ itineraries across 35 US states, 19 vessels (ships and riverboats) and a total of 125 ports in the USA. The program features two new ports - Sag Harbor (Long Island NYC) and Washington DC.
In 2024, the company also introduced "National Park Cruises", two of which are in Alaska.
- The 18-day "Grand Alaska National Parks" itinerary offers 11 days for cruising (Glacier Bay NP, Inside Passage, Frederick Sound) plus 7 days for guided tours in Denali NP and Kenai Fjords NP (from Fairbanks to Juneau).
- The 15-day "Alaska National Parks" itinerary offers 8 days of Glacier Bay cruising plus 7 days for Denali and Kenai Fjords tours (from Fairbanks to Juneau).
In 2024 ACL debuts two more NP cruisetours.
- The 11-day "Great Smoky Mountains National Park" itinerary is on two rivers (Tennessee and Cumberland) and offers 2 days for land tours (Great Smoky NP) between Knoxville TN and Nashville TN (both ways).
- The 15-day "National Parks and Legendary Rivers" itinerary offers 8 days for cruising (Columbia and Snake rivers) plus 7 days for guided touring (Glacier NP, Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP) between Jackson WY and Portland OR (both ways).
Also new are the three 8-day itineraries "Downeast Maine" (roundtrip from Bangor ME), "Yankee Seaports" (between Boston MA and NYC) and "Florida Gulf Coast and Keys" (roundtrip from St Petersburg FL, which includes tours in Dry Tortugas NP and Everglades NP).
In 2024 (spring and fall) ACL introduced voyages leaving roundtrip from Washington DC, with the ship (American Constitution) mooring/docking at The Wharf (along the city's southeastern waterfront).
Themed as "American Revolution Cruise", they traverse the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and the York River, with Washington DC serving as homeport. These are also the only cruises on the Potomac River. The 10-night/11-day "American Revolution Cruise" itinerary visits Annapolis MD, St Michaels MD, Cambridge MD, Norfolk VA (overnight), Williamsburg/Yorktown VA, Mount Vernon VA, and ends with an overnight in Washington DC.
ACL ships and riverboats' deployment
Follows the list of all ACL ships and riverboats, in brackets (Year Built)
- American Heritage riverboat/fka Queen of the Mississippi (2015)
- American West riverboat/fka Queen of the West (1995)
- American Splendor riverboat/fka America (2016)
- American Constellation (2017) - the new ship offers 2 new Canada and USA itineraries - "Grand New England" and "Grand Historic South"
- American Constitution (2018) - the new ship offers 2 new Canada and USA itineraries - "Grand New England" and "Grand Historic South"
- American Pride riverboat (2015, fka "American Eagle") - 8-day Columbia and Snake Rivers cruises (one-way itineraries) leaving either from Portland Oregon or Clarkston Washington
- (Modern Riverboat class) - American Song (2018), American Harmony (2019), American Jazz (2020), American Melody (2021), American Symphony (2022), American Serenade (2023), American Encore (2026)
- American Spirit (2004) - 7- and 11-day Alaskan itineraries from Juneau AK and Seattle WA
- American Independence (2010)
ACL's Coastal Cats (Project Blue catamarans) and the PATRIOT-class Coastal Ships are a separate fleet of 12x newbuilds scheduled for launches in 2023 (American Eagle, American Glory), 2024 (American Liberty, American Legend), 2025 (Patriot, Pioneer), 2026 (Maverick, Ranger), 2027 (TBN), 2028 (TBN).
In 2021, ACL introduced 3x new itineraries - "Cape Codder" (New England/Cape Cod Canal), "Music Cities" (American music-themed / 8-day between Nashville and Memphis) and "Alaskan Explorers" (11-day Glacier Bay cruise), also 50x new land tours and more pre-cruise hotel packages (Four Season Hotel deals in select USA river ports).
The classic 10-night "Grand Puget Sound Cruise" itinerary visits Washington's San Juan Archipelago.
In 2023, ACL introduced new for the brand ports - San Francisco and New York City (including Sag Harbor and Port Jefferson on Long Island NY). ACL's catamaran cruises (2023-2024 schedule) added Florida's Key West, St Petersburg, Key Biscayne and Fort Myers Beach/Estero Island.
ACL itineraries scheduled for the Coastal Cats/catamarans
Next are listed all currently announced/operated itineraries (as themes, lengths, homeports and call ports) scheduled for ACL's Coastal Cats (Project Blue catamarans).
8-day/7-night "Chesapeake Bay Cruise" is a roundtrip from Baltimore MD. Call ports include Yorktown-Williamsburg VA, Crisfield MD (Tangier VA), Cambridge MD (Oxford MD), St Michaels MD, Annapolis MD.
8-day/7-night "Cape Codder Cruise" (visiting 8 ports and featuring navigation on the Cape Cod Canal) is a roundtrip departing from Boston MA. Call ports include Gloucester MA, Plymouth MA, Martha's Vinyard Island MA, Falmouth MA, New Bedford MA, Provincetown MA.
8-day/7-night "Maine Coast and Harbors Cruise" (visiting 8 ports) is a roundtrip from Portland ME. Call ports include Bar Harbor ME, Belfast ME, Camden ME, Rockland ME, Boothbay Harbor ME, Bath ME.
8-day/7-night "New England Islands Cruise" (visiting 8 ports) is a roundtrip departing from Providence RI. Call ports include Baltimore MD, St Michaels MD, Norfolk VA, Kitty Hawk NC, Beaufort NC (Morehead City NC), Wilmington NC, Charleston SC, Beaufort SC, Hilton Head SC, Savannah GA, St Simons Island GA, Jekyll Island GA, Amelia Island FL (Fernandina Beach).
8-day/7-night "Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise" (visiting 8 ports) is a roundtrip departing from NYC/New York City NY. All call ports are in the New York state and include Catskill, Albany, Kingston/Hyde Park, West Point, Sleepy Hollow, and NYC (overnight stay before debarkation).
8-day/7-night "Historic South and Golden Isles Cruise" (visiting 8 ports) is a one-way itinerary operated between homeports Charleston SC and Jacksonville FL (Amelia Island). Call ports include Charleston SC, Beaufort SC, Hilton Head Island SC, Savannah GA, Jekyll Island and St Simons Island (GA), Amelia Island FL (overnight).
8-day/7-night "Yankee Seaports Cruise" (visiting 8 ports) is a one-way itinerary operated between homeports NYC and Boston. Call ports include Long Island (Sag Harbor/day 2, Port Jefferson/day 3), New London Connecticut (Mystic Seaport/days 4-5 overnight), Newport Rhode Island (day 6), Plymouth Massachusetts (day 7).
15-day/14-night "East Coast Inland Passage Cruise" (visiting 15 ports) is a one-way itinerary operated between homeports Baltimore and Jacksonville FL/Amelia Island. Call ports include Baltimore MD, St Michaels MD, Norfolk VA, Kitty Hawk NC, Beaufort NC (Morehead City NC), Wilmington NC, Charleston SC, Beaufort SC, Hilton Head SC, Savannah GA, St Simons Island GA, Jekyll Island GA, Amelia Island FL (Fernandina Beach).
In 2024, ACL announced introduced the "Hudson River Summer Classic Cruise" itinerary. The 7-night/8-day roundtrip from New York City visits Catskill NY, Albany NY, Kingston NY/Hyde Park NY, West Point NY, and Sleepy Hollow NY, ending with an overnight stay in NYC.
In 2024 was introduced (with American Glory) the 14-night/15-day "Grand New England Cruise" itinerary (roundtrip from Boston) visits Portland ME (DAY2), Bath ME (DAY3), Boothbay Harbor ME (DAY4), Bar Harbor ME (DAY5), Bangor ME (DAY6), Rockland/Camden ME (DAY7), Portsmouth NH (DAY8), Gloucester MA (DAY9), Provincetown MA (DAY10), Newport RI (DAY11), Martha's Vineyard MA (DAY12), Nantucket Island/Martha's Vineyard MA (DAY13), Plymouth MA (DAY14) and ending in Boston MA (DAY15).
Florida Gulf Coast and Keys
In 2023, ACL introduced the 7-night/8-day "Florida Gulf Coast & Keys" itinerary.
The roundtrip from Tampa was specifically designed for ACL's catamarans/Coastal Cats and was introduced with the ship American Glory.
Date / Time | Port |
---|---|
DAY 1 | Departing from Tampa |
DAY 2 | Marco Island |
DAY 3-4 (overnight) | Key West |
DAY 5 | coastal cruising/at sea |
DAY 6 | Punta Gorda/Fishermen's Village |
DAY 7 | St Petersburg |
DAY 8 | Arriving in Tampa |
On this ACL ex-Florida voyage, on days 3 and 4 the ship stays in Key West overnight. This allows tourists to explore Key West City on Day 3 (with a complimentary guided tour to the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum) and the Dry Tortugas National Park on Day 4 (visiting Fort Jefferson/Civil War prison)
"The Civil War Battlefields Cruise" (2024)
In May 2023 ACL announced the introduction of the 34-night/35-day "Civil War Battlefields Cruise" visiting all major battlefields from the American Civil War (1861-65) in 13 states.
Starting on May 4, 2024, from New Orleans, the unique itinerary ends in Gettysburg (on June 6th). This is a B2B/back-to-back cruise involving 3x ships (American Melody, American Symphony, American Eagle), cruising on 3x rivers (Mississippi, Tennessee, Potomac), as well as coastal navigation (along ICW-Intracoastal Waterway/East Coast USA, and the Chesapeake Bay).
Prices started at US$24700 per person or US$726 per night. Fares were inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel stay in New Orleans, daily excursions, onboard entertainment/meals/beverages/WiFi/tips/gratuities, all land transportation and hotels between the segments, all port charges.
Next are listed the itinerary's call ports and ships.
American Melody (Days 1 to 8) "The Anaconda Plan and the Vicksburg Campaign" segment from New Orleans to Memphis.
American Symphony (Days 9 to 14) "Major Land Campaigns of the Civil War’s Western Theater" segment from Nashville to Chattanooga.
American Symphony (Days 15 to 17) "Scorched Earth"
American Eagle (Days 18 to 26) "The Union Advantage: a focus on naval power" segment from Jacksonville to Norfolk
American Eagle (Days 27 - 33) "Eastern Theater of the Civil War" segment from Norfolk to Washington (disembarkation) and bus travel from Baltimore to Sharpsburg MD (for Antietam).
(Days 34 to 35) "Battle of Gettysburg: The Turning Point for the North" segment is a Land Package to Gettysburg PA.
- DAYS 1-2 Pre-Cruise Hotel in New Orleans
- DAY 3 Houmas House, LA
- DAY 4 Baton Rouge, LA
- DAY 5 Siege of Port Hudson | St. Francisville, LA
- DAY 6 Battle of Port Gibson | Natchez, MS
- DAY 7 Siege of Vicksburg | Vicksburg, MS
- DAY 8 The Anaconda Plan | Day of River Cruising
- DAY 9 Memphis Naval Battle | Memphis, TN
- DAY 10 Battle of Stones River | Nashville, TN
- DAY 11 Battle of Fort Donelson | Clarksville, TN
- DAY 12 Paducah, KY
- DAY 13 Battle of Shiloh | Savannah, TN
- DAY 14 Florence, AL
- DAY 15 The Battles for Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN
- DAY 16 Battle of Chickamauga | Atlanta, GA
- DAY 17 Sherman's March to the Sea | Atlanta to Jacksonville
- DAY 18 Battle of Olustee | Jacksonville, FL
- DAY 19 Brunswick, GA
- DAY 20 Savannah, GA
- DAY 21 Hilton Head, SC
- DAY 22 Beaufort, SC
- DAY 23 Day of Cruising
- DAY 24 Fort Sumter | Charleston, SC
- DAY 25 Beaufort, NC
- DAY 26 Kitty Hawk, NC
- DAY 27 Battle of the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" | Norfolk, VA
- DAY 28 The Peninsula Campaign | Yorktown, VA
- DAY 29 Battle of Fredericksburg | Washington, D.C.
- DAY 30 Alexandria, VA
- DAY 31 St. Michaels, MD
- DAY 32 First Blood of the Civil War | Baltimore, MD
- DAY 33 Antietam | Sharpsburg, MD
- DAY 34 Battle of Gettysburg | Gettysburg, PA
- DAY 35 Transfer to Airport from Gettysburg
"The Great United States Cruise" (2024)
In late March 2023, ACL announced the 60-day B2B/back-to-back "The Great United States Cruise". The unique itinerary combines 4 rivers and coast-to-coast travel on 3 ships, ranking it ACL's longest-ever domestic itinerary.
"The Great United States Cruise" departs from Portland OR on August 14, 2024, and visits 20 American states and 4 time zones within the continental USA. It also includes a national parks package visiting Grand Teton NP, Glacier NP, and Yellowstone NP.
The first leg of the itinerary is from the Pacific Coast (Portland OR) for cruising on Columbia/Snake rivers (ship American Jazz). The second leg is on the Mississippi River (ship American Symphony/from New Orleans to Saint Paul). The third leg is from Maine to New York/up the Hudson River (ship American Independence).
The 60-day voyage ends in NYC/New York Harbour on October 14th (2024).
Flights from Jackson Wyoming to New Orleans and Saint Paul to Portland ME are included.
The price per person ranges between US$51060-77945. The pricing includes all flights, a pre-cruise hotel stay, hotels between the cruise segments, all meals and beverages, daily land tours, Internet, port charges, and gratuities.
San Francisco Bay Cruise itinerary (2023-introduced)
ACL's 2023 schedule (ship American Jazz) included the company's first-ever California voyage.
The 7-night/8-day "San Francisco Bay Cruise" itinerary (roundtrip from San Francisco) visits four other Californian ports (Stockton, Sacramento, Napa, Vallejo) and ends with an overnight in San Francisco. Overnight port stays are offered in either Sacramento or Napa. A pre-cruise hotel package (inclusive of San Francisco Four Season Hotel overnight stay) is optional.
ACL's San Francisco Bay Cruise itinerary features scenic cruising in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay (an evening stop in Vallejo), as well as cruising on the Napa River and San Joaquin River.
The voyage includes passing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Treasure Island. A guided San Francisco city tour visits Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf. The cruisetour's signature experiences also include NASCAR-style driving (at Stockton 99 Speedway) and visiting a Napa Valley Winery (wine-tasting excursion). A guided Old Sacramento tour visits the underground city, the port, and the California State Railroad Museum.
"Grand New England" itinerary
The new 10-night / 11-day cruise itinerary of the company (named "Grand New England") covers New England destinations, among which are charming islands and coastal towns located within the Northeast.
The itinerary visits the following ports of call:
- Day 1 (Boston MA)
- Day 2 (Provincetown MA)
- Day 3 (Newport RI)
- Day 4 (Martha's Vineyard MA)
- Day 5 (Kennebunkport ME)
- Day 6 (Camden ME)
- Day 7 (Bar Harbor ME)
- Day 8 (Rockland ME)
- Before the Rockland arrival, the cruise ship passes through the 10-km / 6-ml Merchants Row passage.
- The itinerary is operated by the new ACL ships American Constellation and American Constitution.
"Grand Historic South" itinerary
The 10-night / 11-day "Grand Historic South" itinerary is roundtrip from Charleston SC to destinations along southeast USA's Intracoastal Waterway.
The new itinerary visits the following ports of call:
- Day 1 (Charleston SC / South Carolina)
- Day 2 (Wilmington NC / North Carolina)
- Day 3 (Beaufort NC / North Carolina) - horse-drawn carriage ride tour
- Days 4 and 5 (Savannah GA / Georgia)
- Day 6 (Sapelo Island GA / Georgia) - Oyster Roast
- Day 7 (Jekyll Island GA / Georgia) - "Millionaires Village"
- Day 8 (Fernandina Beach FL / Florida) - Amelia Island
- Day 9 (cruising)
- Day 10 (Beaufort SC / South Carolina)
- Day 11 (Charleston SC / South Carolina)
- The itinerary is operated by American Constellation and American Constitution.
The itinerary route features architecturally significant traditional homes, grand plantations, wildlife, amazing coastal landscapes. Also included are locally inspired cuisine specialties prepared by the ship's master chef.
"American Revolution" itinerary
The 12-day "American Revolution Cruise" itinerary visits some of the most historically significant port cities along the Chesapeake Bay.
- The itinerary also includes new ports - Washington DC, Chestertown MD, Mount Vernon VA. In Washington DC, passengers can enjoy private tours of any of Smithsonian Museums or a guided tour of the National Mall. In Chestertown MD, they can visit Schooner Sultana (replica of Royal Navy Frigate Sultana / in the British Navy between 1768-1772). At Mount Vernon VA, the cruise company's expert guides offer an exclusive tour through George Washington's Estate.
- Passengers also travel to the last battlefield of the Revolutionary War in Yorktown and Jamestown's first English settlement.
- In addition to the ashore enrichment program, the shipboard expert is Dr. Harold Cones (biology professor, emeritus / retired from professional life at Christopher Newport University).
- The "American Revolution Cruise" itinerary is leaving roundtrip from Baltimore MD. Voyages started in spring 2018 on American Constitution. Departure dates in 2018 included Oct 29, and Nov 8.
American Cruise Lines ship tracker
Our American Cruise Lines ship tracker is a function integrated into all review pages. At page-bottom in each page, you'll find a map with the ship's current location (AIS position). All the real-time tracking data is provided by VesselFinder. It's all about convenience - you will find where is your riverboat (ship) cruising today and now along its current itinerary!
Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All river passenger shipping line companies and their fleets are listed there.
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ACL-American Cruise Lines has unveiled plans for 2 additional small ships set to debut in 2025 - American Patriot (June) and American Pioneer...
April 11, 2024 - Cruise Industry
ACL-American Cruise Lines acquires 4 paddlewheelers/riverboats from AQV-American Queen Voyages
ACL-American Cruise Lines has completed the acquisition of all four paddlewheelers previously belonging to the AQV-American Queen Voyages fleet...
April 3, 2024 - Cruise Industry
ACL-American Cruise Lines introduces exclusive New England voyages in 2024
ACL-American Cruise Lines unveils its captivating summer lineup of New England voyages, presenting the sole coastal itineraries in the region...
March 31, 2024 - show more news