Review: American Cruise Lines

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 and I sailed on one of their new Coastal Cats: the American Eagle. Click the photo below for a larger view. 

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.

The Crew

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?

Questions?

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.

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