American Cruise Lines

For Americans, by Americans.

Ever wanted a cruise line that explores the history of your country in detail? Well, American Cruise Lines lives up to its name by focusing exclusively on the United States. Launched in 1991, American Cruise Lines operates 25 small ships that sail America's most beautiful rivers, from the Mississippi River and Alaska to New England, the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Their ships are American, the Crew is American and we bet every single plank onboard is American as well.

Their ships are incredbly small and intimate, and accommodate just 90 to 180 guests, which is small even for river cruise standards. Their ships are intentionally compact to navigate narrow rivers and reach remote destinations inaccessible to larger cruises that belong to mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean. Each of their ships features a main restaurant, outdoor café, lounge and also a small fitness center. Most staterooms include private balconies and range from 250 to 650 square feet, which is a pretty good size when you compare it to the competition.

American Cruise Lines offers an all-inclusive experience, which is always nice. Your fare covers gratuities, all meals and beverages including alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi and at least one complimentary shore excursion at most ports. Many itineraries also include a pre-cruise hotel stay and transportation from your hotel all the way to your ship.

By focusing on a single destination, they also offer a ton of interesting and thematic river cruises. Some examples include cruises through Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, an American Revolution Cruise visiting historic sites like Chesapeake Bay and Yorktown and expeditions to Alaska's National Parks. There are several cruises that are all about understanding America history, from cruises based on the Civil War to those that explore niche locations and try to explore the music background of a specific region. They are great for history buffs!

Onboard activities focus more on lectures and low-key entertainment. You can enjoy live performances by local musicians, art classes, cooking demos and listen to a local expert sharing interesting details about the destinations you visit and more. Mississippi River cruises, for example, feature lectures and meetings that talk about the Civil War and the river's influence on American music.

American Cruise Lines is basically unbeatable when it comes to American history, but prices are usually on the high side. Expect to pay $3,000 per guest for 6-day cruises, and that price climbs to $6,000 for Alaska itineraries.

American Cruise Lines may not suit families with children, as there are no kids' clubs and entertainment focus 100% on older guests interested in history. However, for older couples, retirees and history enthusiasts that simply want to learn and understand America more, American Cruise Lines delivers a great experience that looks at the United States from a completely unique point of view.