ACL American Encore deck 1 plan (Lobby-River Lounge-Restaurant-Crew)

Traditionally for large-sized US riverboats, American Encore has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any place along the cruise itinerary route. The ramp has an innovative design, being constructed as a retractable bridge. The technology is often implemented on some of the largest ferries and features an opening bow door.

The vestibule is called the ship's 4-decks high Atrium area (lobby level on Main Deck 1) with an open-floor design. In the Vestibule area are also the ship's 2 elevators (accessing all the 5 decks) and the self-service laundry room (starboard).

The 4-deck high Vestibule (Atrium) features large windows (portside and starboard on each level), small terraces (portside on each level), as well as a SkyLight cover on Deck 5 (transparent glass roof that allows natural light into the interior).

In the Vestibule's lobby level is also located the Ship's Office (portside).

The glass-enclosed Restaurant (aft location) is the ship's complimentary Dining Room with an open-seating arrangement and single-seating capacity. Among its features are classy furniture and luxury dining amenities. The dress code is resort casual. Dining menus are itinerary-inspired, with local specialties. Food is prepared by highly trained chefs using the freshest ingredients (many are locally sourced). Breakfast (7:30-9 am) is buffet-style and includes made-to-order items. Lunch (12:30-1:30 pm) offers soup, a choice of 3 dishes (often BBQ pork sandwich, pasta), chef's salad. Dinner (6:30-7:30 pm) offers soup, salad, 3 entrees (including fish, meat, and vegetarian). The wine list has a selection of domestic wines (available by the bottle or by the glass). Complimentary beer and wine are served with lunch and dinner. Water and soda are complimentary during meal service. Breakfast can also be delivered to your stateroom if an order form is put on the doorknob the night before. Lunch and dinner are both ordered at breakfast time. The next-day menu is posted the night before. Any dietary needs will be catered to. If you don't like the menu items, you can always ask for something different. Two desserts (pie or cake) are always available, also sherbets and a variety of ice creams. Sweets are complimentary and available all day long. Refrigeration is available for storing insulin or other medications that require protection.

Adjacent to the Dining Room is the Galley (kitchen and storage rooms).

Forward on Main Deck are located staff and crew cabins, all of which have non-opening windows.

The fore-located River Lounge is the ship's main lounge with floor-ceiling windows. It also serves as the ship's show lounge with a central stage, grand piano and ample comfortable seating area full of comfy armchairs and plush sofas. Here are served warm cookies starting at 10 am. The complimentary Afternoon Tea service (with fresh pastries) is at 3:30 pm. The free-drinks cocktail hour is at 5:30 pm. Root beer and ice cream are passed around during the evening show. The evening entertainment includes one show (beginning at 8:15 pm) lasting about 1 hour. The show program could be a live concert, solo performances, music tribute, themed music, movie trivia. The large space for the evening shows is in the room's center. Furniture is daily rearranged (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day) to suit the themed entertainment.

River Lounge is also the place for the American Cruise Lines' enrichment program, consisting of differently-themed lectures (history, food and wine, literature, etc). Also hosted here are media presentations and the current ACL cruise itinerary and tours-related multimedia presentations and port talks.