About American Cruise Lines
Discover the heart of American cruising with American Cruise Lines, where rich history intertwines with the beauty of our nation’s waterways. Proudly American-made, our intimate ships offer a unique blend of luxury and heritage, inviting you to experience the warmth of personalized service as you explore the hidden gems of the United States.
Made in America
Since 1972, American Cruise Lines has pioneered new routes, introduced new ship technology to the cruise industry, and grown into a U.S. leader in small ship cruising. They are the only American-owned and operated cruise line. All ships are built in the USA, flagged in the USA, and crewed by Americans.
Largest Fleet with the Most Itinerary Options
Today, American Cruise Lines operates over 20 ships in 35 states, offering an unmatched breadth of ships and itinerary options. Their formula for success is unchanged through the decades with an unwavering passion to provide you the finest cruise experience possible.
Environmentally Respectful
American Cruise Lines’ commitment to environmental stewardship is immediate, rigorous, and tangible. As the largest domestic cruise operator, we believe in leadership through clear standards for sustainable tourism. They are proud to have the most environmentally friendly fleet of small cruise ships in the United States.
- Emissions Control: American Cruise Lines has made a major commitment to emissions reductions by utilizing modern, electronically controlled engines and generators that deliver performance and efficiency.
- Fuel: American Cruise Lines ships use only ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), which contains less than 15 ppm of sulfur (mg/kg). ULSD cuts sulfer content by more than 99.5% over heavy fuel oil (HFO) and marine diesel oil (MDO).
- Plus many more initiatives.
A Personalized Experience
Riverboats are inherently smaller with fewer guests on board, making for a more intimate and personalized travel experience. Though our ships are small, American Cruise Lines has the largest staterooms on any riverboat or small cruise ship in the world.
Rooms average over 300 square feet, with our newest ships having rooms well over 600 square feet. That compares favorably to most other riverboats around the world where rooms can be approximately 180 square feet due to physical limitations on rivers in Europe.
Cultural Enrichment
As you travel along America’s legendary rivers, American Cruise Lines provides their guests with an elevated cruise experience, through immersive cultural exploration, well-designed enrichment programs on board and ashore, and all the comforts that come with cruising on the newest fleet in the country. The crew and onboard experts also become well acquainted with guests and can cater to individual tastes and requests. It’s not uncommon that the crew knows each guest by name and that onboard historians share a meal with guests.