American Pride

The 2012-built American Pride cruise ship is the old "Queen of the Mississippi" (steamboat) and one of ACL's stern-paddlewheel riverboats. American Pride cruises on Columbia and Snake rivers (Pacific Northwest USA/Washington and Oregon) between homeports Clarkston WA and Portland OR.

IMPORTANT: In 2021-2022, the riverboat will be completely redesigned and refurbished as part of ACL's paddlewheeler fleet renovation project. Unlike the other ACL paddlewheelers (which will be renamed), American Pride will retain her name.

History - construction and ownership

The shipowner American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the USA's largest river cruise company (headquarters in Guilford Connecticut) operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruise shipping on USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes) as well as in cruises along the US East Coast, US West Coast and Florida. All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's largest passenger cabins with private balconies, spacious lounges and outdoor deck spaces, gourmet cuisine, a top-quality enrichment program (with many complimentary land tours and excursions), highly personalized service by all-American staff and crew.

All ACL cruise ships are US-flagged and built by the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury (Maryland USA).

The 150-passenger riverboat American Pride features a 23-ton paddlewheel mounted at the stern. This authentic and traditional Mississippi riverboat is similar in design to the big-size riverboats American Queen and American Empress operated by American Steamboat Company.

On August 4, 2015, American Cruise Lines announced that the boat would be renamed (first to "American Eagle") and repositioned from Mississippi to Columbia-Snake River System in early 2016, and replaced on the Mississippi by the ship "America". Another new paddle-wheeler constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding assumed the name "Queen of the Mississippi". ACL has since listed on its website the old Mississippi ship's name as "American Pride".

Decks and Cabins

ACL's American Pride riverboat has 5 passenger decks (accessible via one elevator) and a total of 78 staterooms (of which 6 Suite, 49 Balconies, 22 Riverview (non-opening windows) in 7 grades. Most of the accommodations are with Balconies, with floor-ceiling sliding doors leading to a private step-out veranda.

American Pride boasts the industry's most spacious rooms with private balconies (cabin sizes from 268 to 460 ft2 / 25 to 43m2). There are no connecting rooms onboard. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are only two.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The American Pride paddle-wheeler has a single-capacity, open-seating dining room. This is the main restaurant onboard featuring floor-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers, classy furniture, 4- and 8-seat tables and luxury dining amenities. Most of the cuisine is American fare. The menu boasts itinerary-inspired gourmet specialities and fresh food. Breakfast is buffet-style, with made-to-order items. Lunch offers soup, choice of 3 dishes, chef’s salad. Dinner offers soup, salad and 3 entrees. The wine list has a selection of domestic wines. Any dietary needs are catered for.

Magnolia Lounge is the biggest lounge featuring large windows on three sides and Victorian-style furniture. It offers massive-wood bar, comfortable seating and open-air terrace, great to mingle with friends or enjoy live music performances in the evening. Magnolia Lounge hosts daily activities (including media presentations and lectures), evening cocktails and small-scale shows. The evening entertainment program features live band music and magician acts.

Natchez Lounge is a past-guest club room with its own outdoor deck space. it serves the “Eagle Society” loyalty program of the line. Among the activities are trivia and member discussions.

Paddlewheel Lounge overlooks the red-painted 3-story stern paddle wheel of the boat. Its experience is marked by dark wood paneling, panoramic windows and comfortable seating. Binoculars are available for passengers, live piano music is played in the evenings. The lounge has its own self-service bar with complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day.

Sky Lounge is popular for afternoon tea, social gatherings and panoramic river views. Its floor-ceiling doors open to a terrace furnished with deck chairs and padded loungers. The bar area offers light snacks throughout the day.

The ship also has an Upper Lounge (cards room), Mark Twain Library, Sun Deck (Promenade, open-air observation lounge area with Top Deck Cafe bar, shaded seating, rocking chairs, live calliope music, putting green, outdoor gym).

Itineraries

American Pride itinerary program is based on 8-day Columbia and Snake Rivers cruises (one-way itineraries) leaving from homeports Portland Oregon and Clarkston Washington. Some of the American Cruise Lines riverboat deals are on themed voyages. Among those themes are "Food and Wine", "Fall Foliage", "Music", the Holiday themed sailings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Follows the list of the boat's USA ports of call:

• Astoria (Oregon)
• Mount St Helens (an active volcano in Skamania County, Washington)
• Stevenson (Washington)
• The Dalles (Oregon)
• Pendleton (Oregon) or Richland (Washington)

ACL cruise deals are inclusive of the Internet (Wi-Fi), all tours/excursions, flight and coach transfers, live evening entertainment, daily expert lecturers, food tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea, replenished daily bottled water, room-service (twice daily).

American Pride riverboat cruises in the USA deliver a unique experience on a market that was once booming, later dormant, present-day exotic - and like no other. The Mississippi river paddle boats were the "cruise ships of the old", delivering both pleasure travel and cargo shipping services in the US in the late 1800s. But unlike her predecessors, the American Pride boat offers amenities and comforts unseen in these destinations before - including large-sized cabins with private verandas and bathrooms, Wi-Fi Internet, classy room service, lifts (to all decks), complimentary land tours and themed entertainment.

The cruise ship is a classic sternwheeler (paddle-wheeler) and the newest one in the American Cruise Lines fleet (first cruise August 11, 2012). This vessel, by its paddlewheel riverboat cruise ship design, is sister to the fleetmate Queen of the Mississippi/American Heritage (2015) and America (2017). It is also similar to Queen of the West/American West (fleetmate) and to American Empress and American Queen (both of AQSC's fleet).

Despite the fact that this boat is powered by marine diesel engines, many call American Pride "steamboat". The ship is designed as a replica of the big riverboats which used to sail on the USA's largest rivers (Mississippi, Ohio, Snake, Columbia) in the late 1800s. Aka "paddle steamers", these magnificent ships were driven by steam power plants that rotate their stern paddlewheel (some were with two side-wheels).

The riverboat's paddle-wheel is driven by a hydraulic motor, powered by two Caterpillar ACERT diesel engines. For better maneuverability and higher cruising speeds, the ship is also assisted by two Azimuth thrusters (aka "Z-drives"), which are fully submerged underwater and able to rotate at 360 degrees.

The ship's 7-night / 8-day itineraries are on Columbia and Snake Rivers with one-way departures from Portland OR and Clarkston WA. Next infographic shows American Pride cruise ship (Queen of the Mississippi's and America's sister-ship). Here you can see what is what and where on these unique riverboats.

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 companies and their fleets are listed there.