american cruises reviews

Suggested companies

Cruise america, vacations by rail, quasar expeditions.

American Cruise Lines Reviews

In the Cruise Line Company category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.8.

3,109 total

Most relevant

The cruise was great

The cruise was great, all employees were wonderful and the food was delicious and it was nice to feel pampered. The one issue I had was, the walking track on the upper deck was above my room. While the staff had asked all the guests not to use the track until 8:30AM, the track was used every morning at 7:00 or 7:30. I let the staff know that I was awakened by the thumping noise above my room, they said they would address it, but it was never addressed and continued through out the entire trip. One morning it started at 4:45 and I had to go out and ask the guest to stop, which was extremely uncomfortable for me. I'd recommend placing a sign on the track as a reminder.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Our favorite cruise

We loved the small size of the ship, the personalized details, the spacious and comfortable rooms and bathrooms. Up close to beautiful scenery. Interesting and scenic ports with fascinating history. It was a wonderful experience and we hope to be back again soon.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

THE CRUISE REVIEWS

THE CRUISE REVIEWS Dawn was the best singer whom we harkened; The best excursion was Butchart Gardens; Sweetest presentation? Cindy’s candy! And the others were also just dandy; The staff and crew were all respectable, And all the meals were quite impeccable; Miranda, a mother hen with her brood, Always kept us all in a festive mood; Doing something for someone ev’rywhere, Rick exhibited a true servant’s flair; Witty entertainer in his own right, Perhaps Kody could have a Cascade night; Effervescent and jubilant Janie Always kept things from becoming zany; With no lapse Brandon managed his job well, And helped make the cruise experience swell; Both morning and night the people who clean Kept our stateroom invitingly pristine; Alvin was our personal attendant Who kept our room comfy and resplendent; Captain Hobcroft was visible and nice; We saw him not just once but at least thrice; We loved your Veterans’ Presentation: ‘Twas both a tribute and celebration; Thank you for making our first cruise with you One that we will e’er fondly refer to. Jim & Susan Mohon American Constellation Stateroom 408 April 7-15, 2024

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

So many great people

So many great people - Kaleel and Isabella as food servers; cruise director Nicky; the Great Gray excursion director; David and Lennon in the Sky Deck lounge to name a few.

Date of experience : April 17, 2024

I’m sold on small ship travel!

The crew was friendly, accommodating, and accessible. Small numbers and open seating for dining made it easy to get to know just about all the passengers. The ship was always clean and neat. Tours were well organized and informative.

Date of experience : April 13, 2024

Lower Mississippi cruise was awesome

We did the lower Mississippi from Memphis to New Orleans on the American Symphony. The ship is gorgeous, the staff incredibly friendly, helpful, and professional, the food delicious. We had terrific lectures from a historian, and fun entertainment after dinner. It was really an amazing time.

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

Best Cruise we have been on.

Very responsive supportive staff. You don't have to walk a mile to get somewhere! it is comfortable ship to be on and meals are great, snacks and drinks are always available. Excursions are well planned. The bus service that accompanies the ship is a great feature.

Date of experience : March 19, 2024

The crew and staff are incredible

The crew and staff are incredible. They are always available to answer questions and manage to smile even if they have probably heard that question asked at least 20 times. The food is most always first rate..so grateful that they have 1/2 portions. It's difficult to choose the "on shore" excursions weeks in advance...a couple of our choices were disappointing, especially Hilton Head. We wish more time had been spent in Charlston.

Date of experience : March 23, 2024

A wonderful experience awaits.

The staff really went above and beyond to ensure our comfort, safety, happiness, and enjoyment. The food was superb, the dining staff attentive. The excursions were informative, fun and planned well. The process of booking, traveling to the ship and returning home were all handled in a way that was stress-free for us.

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Best River Cruise Line

i am giving you a 5 star rating only because can't go ant higher. The trip to Puget Sound was just great. This is our 3rd trip with American Cruise Line and you have always been the best. As for this trip the crew was out standing. all our trips on shaw were all well planed out and went off smoothly. The food was top notch.Would tell anyone to book with you

We had a wonderful time and everyone…

We had a wonderful time and everyone was excellent in serving us and helping us throughout the week.

The Columbia and Snake river cruise was…

The Columbia and Snake river cruise was like taking a week long history class. We followed the Lewis & Clark rout via river and were treated very well by the friendly crew. The meals were scrumptious and even offered half portions when less hungry.

Everybody and everything was great! Only one complaint, having to wait sometimes for quite awhile for food in the dining room.

American Symphony

We traveled on the American Symphony in March on the Civil War Cruise. We had a wonderful time. The excursions we took were excellent and the bus drivers and guides were very informative. But most importantly the staff aboard this ship went above and beyond to make sure you felt at home on board. The entertainment, the historian, the restaurant staff, the cruise manager and the cruise director. We would love to do a trip with American Cruise Lines again!

Date of experience : March 16, 2024

I hardly know where to start

I hardly know where to start! This was my first ever river cruise,and of course I'm hooked! The 15% discount offered while on board certainly convinced me. I've told any one who will listen about my fabulous adventure was,how kind the staff and management were,and how accommodating to this old woman and her walker. If I had a complaint (?) it would be regarding the 'fitness room'. Not that anyone SHOULD even bother weighing while on a vacation,but I did....was at first pleasantly surprised I was, until I realized the scale was set 20# lighter than my known weight! Justification for eating all of those marvelous meals served? None the less,my home scale as well as reality have set in, all in all,ONLY gained 10 #. Probably my lack of mobility (couldn't use the stairs),but I'm glad to say the extra weight is going away!

Date of experience : April 03, 2024

The cruise was a 5 in so many ways but…

The cruise was a 5 in so many ways but I could not give the entertainment and the food an exceptional score. Tho some food was excellent, other times, especially at lunch, it was not. The staff were indeed a 5 in every way.For the price here in USA I expected more than on other riverboats. But I am still recommending to my friends.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Best of the best.

What a wonderful experience. I can't rave about the food enough, I loved the 1/2 portions, and no wait to be seated. Tours were fantastic, extremely well put todather. Our cabin was spotless everyday, even a turndown. Entertainment was top notch, a lot of thoughtful effort went into planning. The whole team had smiles, they worked as a complete unit, everybody helped to the guests satisfaction. This cruise line goes straight to number 1 in my book. I'm looking forward to another cruise on American.

Date of experience : March 29, 2024

Robert Yonskie was awesome!

Robert Yonskie was a tremendous lecturer and an even better entertainer. The entire crew, hotel and restaurant staff were helpful, courteous, and attentive. There were a couple of "first cruise of the season" hiccups, but they were quickly resolved, and we had a great time!

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Outstanding Customer Service

My husband and I just completed our 3rd cruise with American Cruise Lines and booked a 4th while on board. The staff consistently goes above and beyond to make the entire experience a memorable one. We celebrated both my birthday and our anniversary while on our cruise and the staff made both very special events for us. Each of our cruises has enabled us to meet new people and explore different places in the US in a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere.

Date of experience : March 15, 2024

From day 1 this cruise has been…

From day 1 this cruise has been amazing. Staff was friendly and helpful. Delicious food, spacious room. No tipping the staff on this line. Great excursions- also a good variety of them. I highly recommend this cruise up the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The scenery is breathtaking and because there is a balcony in every room you can enjoy it all the time!

The Roaming Boomers

Review: american cruise lines.

Posted by David Porter on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 · 14 Comments

Here is our review of American Cruise Lines after sailing with them on their 8-day Great Rivers of Florida river cruise.

American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the leader in U.S. River & Coastal cruising and the largest domestic cruise line in the country.

The company offers a new fleet of 19 riverboats and small cruise ships, each accommodating just 90 to 180 guests. American is the only cruise line in the world with a fleet of 100% U.S. built & flagged riverboats and small cruise ships.

This distinction enables the company to offer all-domestic cruises that visit only U.S. ports of call along both U.S. rivers and coasts. The Line offers over 50 itineraries, which range from 6 to 60 Days in length, and explore in 35 U.S. states.

American’s small ships cruise along protected U.S. waterways from Alaska to Florida, and major U.S. rivers, including the Mississippi River (Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers); the Columbia and Snake Rivers; the Hudson River; and Florida Rivers (St. John’s and Tolomato). American Cruise Lines has over 50 years of experience cruising the U.S. and specializes in authentic American experiences, personalized service, and well-curated destination-focused cruises.

American Cruise Lines Sunrise Amelia Island

One of the ship’s crew members photographing the sunrise at Amelia Island.

Our Ship: The American Eagle

As I mentioned above, American Cruise Lines currently has 19 ships sailing on America’s rivers and coastal waterways. Here is a breakdown:

Independence Class (3 ships) – these are the cruise line’s oldest ships, built in 2005, 2007, and 2010 and can accommodate 90 passengers. While I don’t know for certain, my guess is that maybe these ships will be retired as ACL continues to build out its Coastal Cat fleet.
Coastal Class (2 ships) – These ships, built in 2017 and 2018, carry a maximum of 170 passengers and operate on both coasts of the United States.
Classic Paddlewheelers (4 ships) – for those of you who might enjoy a little nostalgia, these ships operate on U.S. rivers and all four were remodeled in 2022.
American RiverBoats (6 ships) – These ships built from 2018 through 2023 are ACL’s new series of American Riverboats. They hold a maximum of 180 passengers and offer guests a modern experience and large staterooms.
Coastal Cats (4 ships) – These are ACL’s newest line of ships. They hold a maximum of 100 passengers, with a very low draft, and offer guests entry into America’s coastal regions and rivers that have not been available heretofore. ACL plans to build 12 of these ships. Two are currently sailing, with two more arriving in 2024.

Carol with our character actor/tour guide in St. Augustine

Carol and I were very impressed with the American Eagle from the moment we stepped on the ship. The colors were bright and modern, but what is immediately most impressive is that their entry-level staterooms start at 300 sq/ft., and the ship holds a maximum of 100 passengers. Many other companies building small European-style river cruise ships are stuffing entry-level guests into staterooms that are 135 sq/ft. But here, you are certain to enjoy a stateroom that is over twice that size.

And for those of you who enjoy suites, the American Eagle offers four Sky Suites at 470 sq/ft and two Grand Suites at 620 sq/ft. Tip : book early to get a suite; they always sell out first.

We also found the ship to have enough public space aboard to comfortably accommodate everyone without any of the crowding found on other ships.

Public Spaces

Restaurant – American specialties with plenty of space for all to be seated.
Sky Lounge – The perfect place to read a book, play a board game, or hang out with new friends. And each morning, this is the spot for early risers to enjoy a continental breakfast.
Lookout Cafe – Located just outside the Sky Lounge is the Lookout Cafe. It was a wonderful spot to enjoy the cruise on the very back of the ship, but it was also the spot where I could get an early-morning breakfast sandwich before the restaurant opened. Carol and I enjoyed all of our breakfasts in the Sky Lounge and Lookout Cafe.
Chesapeake Lounge – This communal space offered space to seat everyone and was used primarily for lectures on our journey, complimentary bar and hors d’oeuvres each night, after-dinner music, and was also the spot for our Super Bowl Party.
Bow Terrace – This small space, just outside of the Chesapeake Lounge, offers a wonderful place to enjoy your morning coffee or an afternoon cruise with the wind in your hair. Carol and I spent quite a bit of time here as we sailed the Intercoastal Waterway.

Carol and I enjoyed sailing with ACL on their Great Rivers of Florida itinerary . We sailed on the St. Johns River, the Tolomato River, and the Intercoastal Waterway. We never felt a wave, and Amelia Island and St. Augustine were the stars of the show. One of our clients wrote on our Instagram Page that Amelia Island was her happy place. We had never been, but we’ll be back.

Carol and I sailed with ACL in one of their Vista Private Balcony Staterooms. To see the first impressions video of our stateroom, please CLICK HERE . Be sure to turn your volume up.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin w/ Carolina Stoned Ground Grits

The Cuisine

We found the cuisine aboard the American Eagle to be very good. In fact, every guest that we dined with aboard the ship agreed.

To the right is a photograph of our first meal aboard the ship. I was hoping for some southern grits on this cruise, and my wish was granted on our very first meal.

Each morning, at breakfast, we were given the day’s menu for lunch and dinner. We then made our selections and turned in the cards so that the kitchen would know how many of each item to have on hand. And don’t worry, if you change your mind, they could handle that as well.

And for those of you who might have dietary restrictions, on the first day of sailing, the cruise line offered a meeting with the chef to discuss your individual needs.

Oh, and for those of you who enjoy a treat during the day, there was “Cookie Time” each day at 10:00 and 3:00.

Best onboard service we’ve ever experienced.

I would be remiss if I didn’t bring this up. The experience, the atmosphere, and the vibe that the crew created on this cruise were the best we’ve ever experienced on any cruise ship.

I am struggling with how to explain this. We’ve certainly had outstanding service with friendly staff on any number of the cruises we’ve experienced. But this crew created an atmosphere aboard the ship that, I don’t know, endeared us all to them? And it just wasn’t me. Every guest that we interacted with felt the same way. Dare I say that we fell in love with the crew?

For example, from the moment we walked on the ship, Alicia, the ship’s Hotel General Manager, greeted us by name, and she was always magically around, making sure that we were delighted in every way. One passenger commented how she worked miracles to get a prescription aboard the ship, and we found in her a sincere desire to make us feel at home and well taken care of. And again, this just wasn’t me. We heard the same from many of our co-passengers.

And it just wasn’t her. Wyatt, the ship’s cruise director, the chef, the servers, and the gal that cleaned our room each day were absolutely the best we’ve experienced. Clearly, they’ve been trained well, and the desire to serve the guests on the ship was a part of the cruise line’s DNA.

Listen, you can have the best ships in the world, but if the staff and crew can’t make you feel at home and well taken care of, then forget it.

I must say, I wasn’t expecting this level of down-home, relaxed, yet professional service.

I want more. In fact, I didn’t want to get off of the ship. If this ship was doing back-to-back itineraries, I would have begged and pleaded to stay aboard.

Summing It All Up

If I had to put a star on the whole experience, I would give it 4-stars. They are not trying to be a floating Four Seasons. I would give their down-home cuisine 4.5-stars, and I would give their service 5-stars.

In short, with this level of experience available right here in the good-ole USA, and 50 different itineraries available around the country, and more new ships on the way, this is a wonderful way to cruise close to home. While offering you a wonderful opportunity to explore our country from the perspective of its rivers and coastlines. I’m hooked, and we will be back. In fact, I hear the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest calling my name. And oh, what about the ability to visit all of the little towns and villages in the Atlantic Northeast?

I could go on and on, but I’m already approaching 2,000 words. So, if you have questions, just put them below in the comments section and I’ll do my best to answer them.

How to Book a Cruise With American Cruise Lines

Of course, you can book a cruise directly with American Cruise Lines.

But did you know that booking with Roaming Boomers Travel or Amerian Cruise Lines will net you the exact same price?

Therefore, why not book your American Cruise Lines coastal or river cruise with us and take advantage of our expert advice and service?

We promise to work hard to earn your trust. And with us, you’re always a VIP.

For more information or to book a fun cruise with American Cruise Lines, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request ( click here ), and we’ll reach out to you.

Category: Travel News & Tips · Tags: American Cruise Lines

14 Comments on “ Review: American Cruise Lines ”

Your articles are always interesting and offer good advice. Your first hand experience adds believability to what you publish. We are interested in the ACL cruise along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

We did the Maine cruise last year & the Historic South this year. I could notagree more with your review. A great company. Loved it that all veterans were recognized also.

I have been on two ACL cruises. The Lewis and Clark cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and the Upper Mississippi cruise. Really enjoyed both cruises. Have scheduled a New England Adventure cruise. Looking into San Juan Islands in Northwest.

We also went on Pearl Seas cruise on the Great Lakes.

Small ship cruising is very enjoyable. I would recommend any of the cruises to mature adults.

You’re back! Thanks again for sharing! 🙂

Thanks for your review- May I ask when (month) you took the Columbia/Snake cruise and if there were any optional excursions you took that you would recommend- Thanks

We did our cruise with another cruise brand in the first week of November. As the optional excursions are constantly in flux, we recommend that you choose an excursion that has interest for you. We really don’t have strong opinions on shore excursions.

We went in July. A couple of years ago. Most shore excursions are included. Went to Mt. St. Helens.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. 🙂

Thank you for the kind words. 🙂 I’ll reach out to you privately to discuss a possible booking.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. We’re looking forward to helping our clients cruise closer to home.

We’re booked (through Roaming Boomers) on their Paddle boat this May going on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. We can’t wait. We will make sure to share our adventures and let you know our experiences. We are anticipating a fantastic trip and can’t wait. We are expecting this to be beautiful and awe inspiring as well as totally relaxing.

Hi Mary Lou,

You’re going to love it. We can’t wait to hear about your journey.

Great review Dave and Carol. We have sailed with ACL twice (Snake River and the southeast coast trip up from Amelia Island). Both were very enjoyable. We are doing the American Revolution cruise in Washington DC in 2 weeks. Again – we enjoy all parts of traveling with ACL. but mostly the crew. I get to know most of them by name – even dined several times with the entertainment duo on board and stayed in touch with both for several months afterwards.

Great to hear from you.

As people learn about these experiences that are available in their own backyards, so to speak, we’re finding interest growing. Carol and I are interested in quite a number of their cruises. When we were on our last cruise, the cruise director said that this cruise in Tennesee was really scenic: https://www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/mississippi-river-cruises/tennessee-rivers-cruise

Sign up for our Newsletter

Travel smart with our best tips, on-location reviews, exclusive offers, drawings, group events, and more... It’s FREE!

Connect With Us

Our client testimonials.

Research Travel Options

Best way to book a cruise.

Unsolicited

Unsolicited - verified purchase.

American Cruise Lines has a rating of 4.3 stars from 51 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. American Cruise Lines ranks 3rd among Cruises sites.

This company does not typically respond to reviews

“Small Ship Cruising at Its Best”

This was our first cruise with American Cruise Lines, and it exceeded our expectations in every way. While the food, our stateroom and the tours were all above average, what really sets this line apart is the staff and how they treat their guests. They really make you feel like family. The 10-night, Grand Puget Sound cruise created a lot of special moments and memories. Do yourself a favor and discover what you can experience on a small ship.

“Deceptive Practices”

Left deposit of $1000. 00 for future cruise in Late July into August 2022. Had to cancel due to unexpected surgery scheduled for next Tuesday, with expected recovery of eight months. Cancelled with in their time guidelines and expected full refund, which was denied. Instead offered only $500.00 refund or credit for upcoming cruise, will never do business with them again. We purchased Deluxe Protection Plan for $980.00. The representatives and statements on protection plan papers were deceptive and misleading. Fellow sailors. BEWARE.

Reviews (51)

Follow Marylee F.

Itinerary not as advertised. This was a mystery cruise for passengers and crew as ACL seemed to be making it up as they went along. I've sailed with ACL before and on the same ship. The San Francisco Bay cruise was a complete 180 degree from my previous ACL cruise. Their Customer Service was poor and also did not seem to know what was going on. Not the way to run a business

Products used: Cruise

Follow Sylvia B.

There wasn't a single aspect of my cruise on the lower Mississippi River that I would change. The employees were all very kind and helpful, they went out of their way to make everything enjoyable. The food, chefs and wait staff were all excellent. My room was clean and comfortable. The excursions were interesting and well planned, the onboard and guest entertainment was wonderful. I signed up for another cruise this year and cannot wait to see what they have in store. It was very helpful having laundry facilities on board also. I cannot recommend this company enough, and I also appreciate that it is all American!

Follow Mary D.

We saw the mighty river while sailing north and south upon it. We felt a part of it. I was born and raised on the Mississippi River, in Quincy, Illinois, and thought I knew all about it. Well, I learned that I had just scratched the surface. On our cruise, we really saw the South, past and present. We learned about the history of the South through some museum tours. We also visited some modern plantations where today's cotton, sugar cane and crawfish are raised. Absolutely fascinating!

Follow John B.

We had been told by friends that American Cruise Lines was best. ABSOLUTELY! Now: Maine's "Coastal Cats!"

Products used: American Melody

Follow Donna C.

Follow Patti W.

The first thing that we like about American Cruise Line is that there are many people our age on board. We don't need the princes lunches, gambling, mammoth slide into the pool or the mac and cheese. We are older and enjoy lectures about where we are, guided tours at our pace and cookie time in the morning and afternoon. We also enjoy it being all inclusive drinks, Wi-Fi, many tours included and gourmet meals every night. Yes, we feel very pampered with the ships only having between 90-130 on board. This also means we are not walking forever to get to our rooms or to the entertainment areas. These are fun river cruises well worth the money and very relaxing.

Our cruise -- the first with American Cruise Lines -- was last September between Memphis and New Orleans. We were very impressed by the ship, the cruise, the staff, the tours, the varied and top-notch evening entertainment, the great fellow who did a daily history/nature report, the food. Their way of boarding us was first-rate, too -- as was the way we departed (everything very efficient, transportation arranged to our hotel in New Orleans.) Liked that we didn't have any extra charges for the tours (which were ultra-friendly and efficient like everything else on this cruise.) We plan to be back aboard with American Cruise Lines.

Tip for consumers: No

Follow Kazue N.

Nice relaxing cruise down the scenic Columbia River Only 200 on board Friendly staff Interesting speaker about Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea Wonderful piano player and singer

From the business

Visit Website
#3 in Cruises
Edit business info