Retirement Living takes an unbiased approach to our reviews. We may earn money when you click a partner link. Learn More
American Cruise Lines Review
4.5 Overall Rating
Bottom Line
American Cruise Lines specializes in small ship cruises, with ports of call along United States rivers and the New England shore. Their fleet offers intimate, personalized amenities and luxurious, roomy staterooms. Cruises focus on exploration and enrichment programs that allow guests to get to know America in a new way. Their all-inclusive experiences include daily cocktail hour, wine and beer with meals, and complimentary shore excursions on most itineraries. Passengers can choose from 35 cruise itineraries that visit 28 states.
Updated:
About American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines specializes in small ship cruises, with ports of call along United States rivers and the New England shore. Their fleet offers intimate, personalized amenities and luxurious, roomy staterooms. Cruises focus on exploration and enrichment programs that allow guests to get to know America in a new way. Their all-inclusive experiences include daily cocktail hour, wine and beer with meals, and complimentary shore excursions on most itineraries. Passengers can choose from 35 cruise itineraries that visit 28 states.
Destinations with American Cruise Lines include the Mississippi River, New England, the Southeastern U.S., Puget Sound, Alaska, and the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The fleet is comprised of modern coastal ships, brand-new contemporary riverboats, and authentic paddlewheelers.
American Cruise Lines engages in conservation activities in the areas where it operates. Through emissions reduction, sustainable sourcing, onboard recycling and strategies to reduce water and energy consumption, they show respect and responsibility for the environment.
Each destination offers a variety of itineraries designed to showcase spectacular scenery, wildlife, local culture, and American history. Over 350 guided on-shore excursions are carefully curated to cater to guests’ interests, with options for active outings such as biking or kayaking or culturally enriching visits to museums and historic landmarks. Passengers can tour historic Vicksburg and other Civil War battlefields or go harbor hopping among the whales and gaze at wildflowers along Puget Sound. Highlights of shore excursions include the Hells Canyon Flightseeing Helicopter Adventure and Great River Outdoor Adventure on the Double C Ranch. American Cruise Lines carefully selects specialists, naturalists and historians to share knowledge and provide insight as they accompany passengers on each cruise or excursion. Shore excursions cost $20-$70 each and can be booked and paid onboard during the cruise.
Passengers who cruise at least once with American Cruise Lines are eligible to join the Eagle Society loyalty program. Membership is free and includes enhanced personalized service and special benefits such as $500 referral savings, a meet and greet with the captain, and onboard dining for family and friends who are not sailing.
Pros
- Complimentary beer and wine with meals
- Private dining areas for groups of 5-20
- Small ships allow for up-close exploration of destinations not accessible for larger ships
Cons
- Shore tours are not included in the fare
What to Expect on an American Cruise Lines Ship
American Cruise Lines passengers can expect personalized service from all-American crews. There are typically just 90-180 guests on each cruise. Passengers can also expect regionally-inspired entertainment, a daily cocktail hour, and lively onboard discussions with history, ecology and culture experts from regions visited along the way.
Ships feature roomy cabins, many with full-size bathrooms, picture windows, sliding glass doors and private balconies. Every room has an interior entrance and private view. Highlights of accommodations include:
- Largest staterooms in the industry
- Private balconies with breakfast room service
- Elevator service to all decks
- Spacious sun decks
- Modern design, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
- Multiple lounges with panoramic views
- Single seating dining room
Dining on American Cruise Lines
Dining on American Cruise Lines is focused on locally sourced and regionally inspired cuisine with sustainable ingredients. Fresh produce, seafood, and meats are sourced as near as possible to the cruise, which supports farmers’ markets and small businesses. Menus are seasonally adjusted. The kitchen aims to reduce waste by offering half-portions and customized menu options.
Each cruise has a menu designed to showcase local culinary specialties. Regional menu highlights include Littleneck clams and Maine lobster in New England, salmon and dungeness crab in the Pacific Northwest, and gumbo and Bourbon pecan pie on the Mississippi Delta.
Open-seating dining allows passengers to dine when and where they want. Wine and beer is complimentary with meals.
American Cruise Lines Costs
Areas of exploration with American Cruise Lines focus on major US rivers as well as inlets on the eastern and northwest shores. Passengers can visit New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi or sail all the way from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minnesota on the Complete Mississippi cruise. Or choose a themed adventure, like the American Revolution Cruise, which explores the quaint towns and historic cities along Chesapeake Bay. American Cruise Lines also offers several options to get acquainted with the Alaskan shoreline.
| Cruise Destination | Countries Visited | Days | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans / Mississippi River | 7 | 5-8 Days | $2,290 – $3,930 |
| Lower Mississippi | 10 | 8 Days | $3,930 |
| Complete Mississippi | 21 | 22 Days | $13,510 |
| Grand New England | 12 | 11 Days | $6,840 |
| Maine Coast and Harbors | 8 | 8 Days | $4,790 |
| New England Island | 7 | 8 Days | $4,790 |
| Hudson River | 8 | 8 Days | $4,695 |
| Cape Codder | 9 | 8 Days | $4,690 |
| New Orleans / Mississippi River | 7 | 5-8 Days | $2,290 – $3,930 |
| Historic South and Golden Isles | 7 | 8 Days | $4,215 |
| American Revolution | 12 | 11 Days | $5,610 |
| Chesapeake Bay | 8 | 8 Days | $3,435 |
| Great Rivers of Florida | 6 | 8 Days | $3,930 |
| Columbia and Snake Rivers | 12 | 8 Days | $4,215 |
| Northwest Pioneers | 12 | 11 Days | $7,000 |
| Highlights of the Columbia River | 6 | 5 Days | $2,625 |
| Alaska | 6-11 | 8-15 Days | $5,855 – $9,855 |
| Puget Sound | 8-11 | 7-9 Days | $4,215-$7,250 |
| East Coast Inland Passage | 14 | 15 Days | $7,925 |
Per Person Prices
How to Book a Cruise with American Cruise Lines
Passengers can book online with American Cruise Lines. Prices are listed with each itinerary. Once you choose your itinerary, the website will guide you through booking the complete trip, including pre-cruise accommodations that are close to embarcation and that include breakfast at the hotel. Passengers can call if they require assistance with airfare reservations.
During the online booking process, passengers can view stateroom prices, options and detailed diagrams showing each cabin’s location on the ship. A deposit is due at the time of booking and payment is due within 90 days of the trip.
American Cruise Lines Complaints
American Cruise Lines closed 29 complaints in the past 12 months. Complaints tend to focus on cancellation policies and requests for exceptions to these policies. In these cases, American Cruise Lines refers to its Cancel For Any Reason trip insurance and maintains that it must apply its cancellation policy fairly for all guests. The company seemed eager to resolve issues with customers who complained about not receiving refunds. In general, American Cruise Lines replied promptly to complaints and offered to talk with customers directly to resolve any issues. However, the company is not BBB accredited.
American Cruise Lines FAQs
Ships in the American Cruise Lines fleet accommodate 90-180 passengers, depending on the vessel.
Single, double and triple occupancy staterooms are available aboard American Cruise Lines ships.
Per person fare includes passage, dining, snacks, complimentary cocktail parties and onboard entertainment. Fares do not include shore tours or port charges and fees. Gratuity is not included and not expected.
American Cruise Lines does not have restrictions on luggage, but recommends bringing as few bags as possible.
If you book a cruise and change your mind within 24 hours, you are entitled to a full refund. If a cancellation is made 91 or more days in advance, you will be eligible for a full refund minus administrative fees. Cancel between 90 and 46 days in advance and receive a 50% refund. Trips canceled between 45 or less days prior will not receive any refund. Customers can purchase a protection plan that provides better refund terms, including credit towards a future cruise if you cancel 9 days or less before embarkation.
Conclusion
American Cruise Lines offers an intimate and enriching way to see the river and coastal towns of the US. Small ships offer personalized service, regional food, and shore excursions designed to enhance passengers’ knowledge of American culture, wildlife, landscapes and heritage. Aboard American Cruise Lines, passengers will see quaint cities and towns, island hop along the coast, explore meandering rivers, and sail through history.