American Cruise Lines to Unveil New Ships, Itineraries in 2024

Table Of Content

• Pacific Northwest River Cruises
• San Francisco Bay Cruise itinerary (2023-introduced)
• Decks and Cabins
• Historic Mississippi River Cruise
• American Glory Is Part of The Line's Plans to Double Capacity for U.S. Coastal Cruises
• ACL-American Cruise Lines opens 2023 season with American Star ship from Florida
• Bar Harbor (Maine) investigating "unauthorized" visit by ACL's cruise ship American Constitution

So, the best time to set out on your Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise will depend on whether you like it hot, or if you prefer to witness the most colorful landscapes. The 10-night / 11-day "Grand Historic South" itinerary is roundtrip from Charleston SC to destinations along southeast USA's Intracoastal Waterway. Call ports include Yorktown-Williamsburg VA, Crisfield MD (Tangier VA), Cambridge MD (Oxford MD), St Michaels MD, Annapolis MD. American Cruise Lines is gearing up for an exciting 2024 season that promises new cruise itineraries and the introduction of two state-of-the-art small ships.

Pacific Northwest River Cruises

From New Orleans, LA to St. Paul, MN, enjoy well-customized excursions, led by engaging local guides who live and work in these great port cities of America’s Heartland. Get a backstage pass to Elvis’ Graceland and the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. Explore the boyhood town of Mark Twain in Hannibal and be treated to a live show at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. Flights from Jackson Wyoming to New Orleans and Saint Paul to Portland ME are included. Next infographic of the Queen of the Mississippi (now American Heritage) shows what is what and where on this unique riverboat. All ACL ships are USA-built/refurbished, by the shipbuilder Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corporation (Salisbury, Maryland).

San Francisco Bay Cruise itinerary (2023-introduced)

Launching in fall 2023, American Glory is the second of 12 identical ships in American Cruise Lines' Project Blue Eagle-class, which features all-new environmentally friendly hybrid catamaran-style vessels. There's an abundance of outdoor space on American Jazz, primarily designed for lounging and scenery watching, but Deck Four also has an al fresco grill area serving early breakfast, lunch and snacks every day. Getting around on the ship is accomplished via central hallways on each deck, the atrium staircases, outdoor staircases forward and aft, and a pair of elevators reaching all but the top sundeck. Another year, too much rain flooded the river, making it impossible for riverboats to get under bridges and forcing the closing of several locks. Boats scheduled to sail the Upper Mississippi were diverted onto the Ohio. The roundtrip from Tampa was specifically designed for ACL's catamarans/Coastal Cats and was introduced with the ship American Glory.

Decks and Cabins

MS Independence boasts with casual and friendly "country-club" atmosphere, interesting itineraries with numerous call ports, knowledgeable local experts on shore excursions and tours. Because of their smaller sizes, ACL ships can visit smaller ports to offer their guests exceptional tours to little-known scenic sites and most charming places in the USA. Similarly, the 15-day “Alaska National Parks” itinerary features an eight-day cruise coupled with seven days of guided exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords national parks, and cruising in Glacier Bay National Park. If you want to experience cruising the Mississippi River in a more "traditional" way (but with modern comforts), go for a steamboat; if you’d rather travel in something less traditional, opt for one of the modern cruise ships.

Ask about our brand new flat-rate domestic Airfare option available on all of our Columbia & Snake Rivers itineraries. 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). For passengers with time to spare, 2024 will also see the introduction of American’s longest-ever river cruise itineraries; a 35-Day Civil War Battlefields cruise in May and an epic 60-Day Great United States sailing in August. Elsewhere, there are new sailings in New England such as the eight-day Downeast Maine round-trip sailing from Bangor. The ship American Constitution with full active wing stabilization caters to vacationers looking for an intimate high-end experience of a smaller vessel.

Historic Mississippi River Cruise

Finally, the ship will head for Mount Vernon, where guests can tour George Washington's famous home, before returning to Washington, D.C. The ship is powered by 2x Caterpillar marine engines running on low-sulfur diesel. These modern engines require less fuel and produce fewer emissions (COx, NOx, SOx) and soot particles in comparison to other boats on the US river cruising market. The 2018-built MS American Constitution cruise ship is the second of American Cruise Lines fleet's "Coastal Class" boats - with sistership American Constellation (2017).

The FREE resources and tools available to you are paid for by supplier sponsorship. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. The newbuild vessel has a modern propulsion system consisting of 2x azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives") manufactured by Veth (Holland). These 360-degree rotating propellers (1x forward, 1x aft) provide the boat with greater manoeuvrability and berthing flexibility.

ACL-American Cruise Lines opens 2023 season with American Star ship from Florida

Following the COVID crisis, ACL became the first cruise company to resume operations in the USA with MS Independence departing on March 13th, 2021, out of Jacksonville Florida. In 2010, MS Independence joined the similar (though slightly smaller) fleetmates Spirit, Glory and Star. Unlike the sisterships, Independence is equipped with Rolls Royce stabilizers. There is a main dining room and cafe and, notably for a small ship, the option for room service. The hub of the vessel is the panoramic forward lounge on Deck 2, and there is also a smaller lounge next to the cafe on Deck 3. A stand out facility is the adventure and swim deck, equipped with kayaks and a tender to offer a different perspective of the waterways being visited.

This 11-night Cruise Is the Only in the World to Dock in Washington, D.C. - Travel + Leisure

This 11-night Cruise Is the Only in the World to Dock in Washington, D.C..

Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

These assets were auctioned following the bankruptcy of AQV's parent company Hornblower Holdings. 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.

Our onboard experts don’t just lecture, they spend time with guests aboard and on shore, giving real insight and depth to each destination visited. Each of our small ships provides a genuine and customized exploration of areas inaccessible to large ships and crowds allowing us to explore in the most meaningful way possible. All of our Mississippi River, Columbia & Snake Rivers, and Alaska itineraries offer at least one complimentary Featured shore excursion in each port of call. 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).

The ship measures 241feet and carries 109 passengers at full occupancy with 50 crew. In 2024 it will offer the seven-night Cape Codder itinerary, round-trip from Boston. American Cruise Lines is continuing its partnership with leading Miami-based design company Studio DADO to create the interiors of American Glory. The ship's vibe will combine a modern and sophisticated feel with interiors promoting a sense of pride and appreciation for U.S. history and heritage. The decor, furnishings and art work will reflect the culture of the New England, Chesapeake Bay, and the Southeast where American Glory will sail. Here are our first impressions of American Cruise Line's new itinerary and American Jazz, from the line's relatively new American Riverboat class of ships.

October is also the ideal time for wine enthusiasts to visit, as this is when the harvest and crushing take place. Explorethe latest travel news, advice, updates, upcoming exclusive deals and more. However, there are slight differences depending on the section of the river you’re looking to cruise. It’s best to cruise the Upper Mississippi in the spring, fall and summer, when temperatures are milder.

The Pacific Northwest produces some of the tastiest seafood and exquisite wines. From salmon to pinot noir grapes, our master chefs have curated a custom Columbia & Snake Rivers inspired menu to make your onboard experience even more special and personalized. Along with the most spacious staterooms in the industry, you will experience breathtaking views and unobstructed scenery on your private balcony. In the Pacific Northwest, you will see the Columbia River Gorge, Mount St. Helens, and other incredible scenery on these magnificent rivers up-close.

In addition to the US National Parks cruises, American Cruise Lines will offer a variety of other cruise options. American Cruise Lines is also introducing nine new cruise itineraries for 2024, including the all-new US National Parks cruises. These itineraries will let travelers immerse themselves in the natural wonders of the United States, offering a unique perspective on the country’s incredible landscapes. When American Cruise Lines broke the news of a new one-week itinerary that includes San Francisco Bay, Napa and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, we knew we had to be onboard.

Its fleet includes the American Queen, which holds the record as the biggest river steamboat. While many cruise lines offer an all-inclusive package at a premium price, with American Cruise Lines, all meals, snacks, and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages are available 24/7, and included in your fare. We even host a daily complimentary evening cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and top shelf liquor. 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.

Additional enrichment specific to the area came from the ship's sommelier who held wine trivia sessions and educational seminars along with food and wine pairing lessons. Arts and crafts and games also focused on the region when possible – think making your own wine glass charms. The interior has a bright and open feel, with a central atrium-style lobby area traversing the five passenger decks. Staterooms all have private balconies, and are spacious by most cruise ship standards.