American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines is a family-owned small-ship line based in Guilford, Connecticut, that sails only within the United States. Its riverboats and coastal ships carry between 90 and 180 guests, are built in the United States, most of them by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, fly the U.S. flag and are crewed by Americans.
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About American Cruise Lines
Charles A. Robertson, a shipbuilder, started the company with his wife, Carol, in 1972. That first business failed in the late 1980s and its ships were sold; Robertson revived the line around 2000 with a new American Eagle. Growth since 2018 has been rapid: a series of modern American Riverboats with glass atriums, followed from 2023 by Coastal Cat catamarans and Patriot-class ships under a newbuild program the line calls Project Blue. It also runs four traditional paddlewheelers and five older coastal ships of the Independence and Constellation classes, and has further riverboats and coastal ships on order through 2029. Routes cover the Mississippi and its tributaries, the Columbia and Snake rivers, the East Coast from Maine to Florida, the Great Lakes, Puget Sound and Alaska's Inside Passage.
Fares are largely inclusive: meals, wine, beer and cocktails, a nightly cocktail hour, gratuities, port charges, a hotel night before embarkation and at least one shore excursion in each port, with premium tours sold separately. Most days include a port call, an onboard expert gives talks on the region, and evenings bring live music in a lounge. There is no casino, dinner is a single open seating, dress is casual, and most cabins have balconies.
What American Cruise Lines is known for
American Cruise Lines is known for roomy cabins by small-ship standards (the line quotes 250 to 1,500 square feet), inclusive fares and a young fleet: all but one of its ships were built in 2005 or later. Its ships have won recognition: Time magazine listed American Song among its World's Greatest Places in 2019, and Cruise Critic's editors named American Serenade the best new river cruise ship of 2023. Guest reviews are strongly positive; on Trustpilot the line holds an average of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 10,000 reviews as of October 2026, with recurring praise for friendly crew, good regional food, clean ships, and well-run excursions and onboard lectures.
The usual reservations concern price and pace. Fares listed on the line's site for its standard eight-night cruises mostly start between about $4,500 and $10,000 per person, and solo guests in a double cabin pay 150 percent of the fare. Some reviewers find excursions short or dining service slow at times. Entertainment is low-key, built around lectures and live music with no casino, and medical care aboard is limited to a trained first responder with defibrillators and oxygen, so anything serious means a transfer ashore.
Who it's for
River · riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days
- Couples
- History and culture
- Solo travelers
The line suits travelers who want to see American history and scenery up close without flying overseas: Civil War and Mark Twain country on the Mississippi, the Lewis and Clark route on the Columbia and Snake, lighthouses and harbor towns in New England, or glaciers in Alaska. Couples and other travelers who like lectures, included excursions, spacious cabins and a quiet evening with live music fit in well, and solo travelers can book dedicated single cabins. Repeat guests are rewarded through the free Eagle Society.
Families will find the onboard program aimed at adults, centered on lectures and live music, and travelers who want casinos, big production shows, lively nightlife or foreign ports should look at large ocean lines instead; every port on this line is in the United States. Budget travelers will find the fares high, and travelers who need ready access to a doctor should note that medical care on board is limited.
Cruising solo on American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines suits solo travelers well: every ship in the fleet has single staterooms, from two on the smallest coastal ships to 18 on the paddlewheeler American Heritage, according to QuirkyCruise, and most have balconies. These cabins are limited and are often the first to sell out, so booking early matters; otherwise a solo guest pays 150 percent of the double rate. The ships carry 90 to 180 guests and fares include a nightly cocktail hour and excursions, although the line publishes no solo-specific events.
- Cabins for one
- Single occupancy staterooms, most with a balcony and some with a window
- Single supplement
- Single staterooms have their own fares for one person. A solo guest in a double stateroom is charged 150 percent of the double-occupancy rate, according to the line's FAQ.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 4.5/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 5/5
- Pools & decks
- 1.9/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 24 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where American Cruise Lines sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.7 ★American Eagle2023 · 100 guests · Canada and New EnglandAmerican Eagle is a 100-guest catamaran built in 2023 by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, one of four Coastal Cats that opened American Cruise Lines' Project Blue…
#23.7 ★American Encore2026 · 180 guestsAmerican Encore is the newest of American Cruise Lines' American Riverboats, a 180-guest ship that began sailing on the Columbia and Snake rivers in May 2026 and was christened…
#33.7 ★American Glory2023 · 100 guests · Canada and New EnglandAmerican Glory is a 100-guest Coastal Cat catamaran delivered in 2023 by Chesapeake Shipbuilding, a sister of American Eagle and, like it, named after an earlier company ship…Every ship, by class
American Riverboat class
7 ships · 2018–2026 · avg 3.6 ★
Patriot class
4 ships · 2025–2026 · avg 3.7 ★
Coastal Cat class
4 ships · 2023–2024 · avg 3.7 ★
Constellation class
2 ships · 2017–2018 · avg 3.5 ★
Independence class
3 ships · 2005–2010 · avg 3.5 ★
Other ships
4 ships · 1995–2016 · 2,115–2,700 GT · avg 3.4 ★
Coming soon
Where to fly in
- Portland International (PDX)5 American Cruise Lines ships sail from Portland, Oregon4 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)1 American Cruise Lines ship sails from Tacoma, Washington11 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)1 American Cruise Lines ship sails from Providence, Rhode Island1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is American Cruise Lines known for?
American Cruise Lines is known for roomy cabins by small-ship standards (the line quotes 250 to 1,500 square feet), inclusive fares and a young fleet: all but one of its ships were built in 2005 or later. Its ships have won recognition: Time magazine listed American Song among its World's Greatest Places in 2019, and Cruise Critic's editors named American Serenade the best new river cruise ship of 2023. Guest reviews are strongly positive; on Trustpilot the line holds an average of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 10,000 reviews as of October 2026, with recurring praise for friendly crew, good regional food, clean ships, and well-run excursions and onboard lectures.
Who is American Cruise Lines best for?
The line suits travelers who want to see American history and scenery up close without flying overseas: Civil War and Mark Twain country on the Mississippi, the Lewis and Clark route on the Columbia and Snake, lighthouses and harbor towns in New England, or glaciers in Alaska. Couples and other travelers who like lectures, included excursions, spacious cabins and a quiet evening with live music fit in well, and solo travelers can book dedicated single cabins. Repeat guests are rewarded through the free Eagle Society.
Is American Cruise Lines good for solo travellers?
American Cruise Lines suits solo travelers well: every ship in the fleet has single staterooms, from two on the smallest coastal ships to 18 on the paddlewheeler American Heritage, according to QuirkyCruise, and most have balconies. These cabins are limited and are often the first to sell out, so booking early matters; otherwise a solo guest pays 150 percent of the double rate. The ships carry 90 to 180 guests and fares include a nightly cocktail hour and excursions, although the line publishes no solo-specific events.
Where does American Cruise Lines sail?
American Cruise Lines's ships in service sail Canada and New England (9 ships), Mississippi (6 ships), Pacific Coast (5 ships) and Alaska (3 ships).
How is American Cruise Lines rated?
American Cruise Lines's fleet averages 3.6 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 24 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is American Eagle at 3.7.
Does American Cruise Lines have new ships coming?
Yes: American Cruise Lines has 6 new ships on the way: American Anthem (due 2027), American Mariner (due 2027), American Navigator (due 2027), American Beauty (due 2028), American Grace (due 2028) and American Rhapsody (due 2029).
How many ships does American Cruise Lines have?
American Cruise Lines has 24 ships in service on Cruise Frog: American Constellation, American Constitution, American Eagle, American Encore, American Glory, American Harmony, American Heritage and American Independence, and 16 more.
What ship classes does American Cruise Lines sail?
American Cruise Lines sails 5 classes of ship in service: American Riverboat class (7 ships), Patriot class (4 ships), Coastal Cat class (4 ships), Constellation class (2 ships) and Independence class (3 ships), plus 4 ships not in a named class.
Where is American Cruise Lines based?
American Cruise Lines is headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, United States. It has operated since 1972.
What is American Cruise Lines's loyalty program called?
American Cruise Lines's past-guest loyalty program is Eagle Society.
What is the largest American Cruise Lines ship?
American Heritage is American Cruise Lines's largest ship at 2,700 gross tons, carrying 150 guests.
Cruising with children
An American Cruise Lines itinerary should be evaluated as a small-ship sightseeing trip with the family. Start with your child’s interest in the route, not a promise of resort-style entertainment.
Read the American Cruise Lines family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on American Cruise Lines? Enter the price the line quotes and what you'd pay for a drink on board. If your fare already includes drinks, you can skip this one.
American Cruise Lines includes house wine with lunch and dinner. American Cruise Lines ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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