American Cruise Lines

We recently enjoyed an 11-day New England family cruise with ACL, and the experience has been excellent so far. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. The cruise caters to an older crowd, which is reflected in the room features, such as a medical emergency button and ample drawer space for clothing. Each room offers a view and a balcony, providing a spacious and comfortable environment. The food is well-served, fresh, and beautifully presented. With only 170 passengers on a smaller ship, there are no long lines like on larger cruises. However, the trade-off is fewer amenities and higher costs. By the end of the trip, it feels like living in a small town where everyone knows each other. The staff, mostly U.S. employees, work long hours and handle various roles, unlike other lines with international crews. If you prefer a more intimate experience without large crowds and enjoy exploration, this cruise line is a great choice.

Great cruise aboard the American Legend. The Cape Codder itinerary was fantastic. Outstanding staff, beautiful ship and delicious food.

Just booked 2 cabins for the Maine Coast and Harbor Cruise. Kerrin was my contact. She did an absolutely wonderful job. I had many questions and concerns. She answered all my questions seamlessly and effortlessly. Thank you Kerrin. I hope the cruise will be as stress free as the booking process.

Took a Lower Mississippi River Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans in April 2024. This was my first river cruise as a solo passenger. Airfare and hotel was included as well as all meals. I was blown away by the staff, meals, room and amenities provided. Land excursions were excellent, some were complimentary and others were at an extra cost. I was extremely happy with the ones I had picked. A big shout out to Princess in housekeeping, Thania-Housekeeping Manager who helped change my room (I was under the River Lounge where there was nightly entertainment), Colin the Cruise Director who kept us informed of excursions and Mark the Excursions Director who made sure we all got on the right buses and all the staff who greeted us when we got back to the ship. Another Thank You to the chef for accommodating my picky eating. Thania also helped me book my next cruise for next year to Alaska. High marks for this senior, no kids cruise line.

My wife and I tried to book a ada compliant room and understood that's what we were booking. But that did not happen. When we figured it out we called to address. We got hung up 4 times before reaching someone and then escalated it and got rejected total refund. Because the cruise was expensive our cancelation cost is $2700. In our opinion the American cruise line made a mistake and would not recognize, they basically have there policy and that is it. We found out on the cruise ship we were going to take only had one ada compliant room. Be careful if you need a ada compliant room. We will never book on this cruise line. Customer service is a call center and how things were handled, things would only get worst if went on cruise.

We recently booked and went on a Lower Mississippi River Cruise on the American Splendor. It went from New Orleans to Memphis. What a fantastic cruise and a great time was had by all! The ports of call were great and there were plenty of options for daily excursions and activities. If you were bored, it was your own fault. The ship was great and the crew and staff were so accommodating. Everyone was so friendly and nice. The food and meals were fantastic and there was plenty of it. Free beer, wine and spirits! Our cruise director Fernando was so much fun and second to none! Thanks to everyone and we would definitely do it again! The trip is highly recommended!

My wife, Sharon, and I had a great time on our trip down the Upper Mississippi. All the staff were great and really took good care of us. The ride and venues were great! Our only problem was the morning after arriving at our hotel the breakfast was supposed to be free. It wasn’t but my vacation advisor called ACL and the took care of it

Cruising on the inter-coastal waterway from Charleston to Amelia Island on the American Star, we had the best time! In summary, The staff performed exceptionally; The rooms were maintained daily, the food was of the highest quality and plentiful, and the excursions and nightly entertainment were fun and educational. We can't wait for our next cruise; We are booked for a week off the Maine Coast this August!!!

We are having the best experience on a much smaller cruise ship. Everyone smiles, and is sincerely interested in our well-being. Even the Captain makes his presence known and solves challenges that arise.

be careful with your valuables! We just spent a week on the American Legend out of Tampa. We had an early flight the morning our ship returned and my wife left her wedding ring on the nightstand. Later that day, we contacted the company and were told the ring had not been located. They promised a more thorough search and a call back. after no call for 2 days, we contacted them and were told the ring had not been found. we forgot the item, but it's a ship. A closed vessel, at sea. How much effort was made to locate the item. Why no callback? They really push their Eagle Society of which we are members. Little good that did. ACL... you have a least one thief on your ship.

To say we over paid is an understatement. Other than the staff this cruise line is a complete waste of money. We were in a suite which had stains on the carpet, bathroom wall and the bed spread. Our private balcony was disgusting! Covered in every insect that inhabits the Mississippi river. We started out in Memphis and spent extra money for the 2 day Graceland package. The so called behind the scenes was anything but a complete RIP OFF!! The behind scenes VIP tour consisted of seeing a few of Elvis's watches, pendants and other memorabilia that was completely forgettable. 1 day would have been plenty. Plus the graceland hotel was worn and tired. Our table in the room had a broken table and the chairs faux leather was peeling off. We knew we might be in for a let down. The stops along the way from Memphis to New Orleans were a disappointment except for 2. The 2 stops we actually enjoyed because there was something to do was Vicksburg MS, and Natches MS. Now the food. The food was at best just OK. Nothing that was worth remembering. Our trip was supposed to end on a Wednesday morning in New Orleans. Our boat docked in New Orleans at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. We were off the boat and headed to the Inter Continental hotel by 10:00 p.m. The next 5 days in New Orleans at least ended our vacation on a positive note. We have never heard back from American cruise lines and did not think we would. What a waste of MONEY!!

Buyer beware!!! My healthy husband had emergency surgery 5 days before we were to go on our cruise. He was in the hospital for 9 days. ACL would not refund any of our $12,500. Really??? The airline did credit us . The hotel credited us. How is it legal to take all of our money and have nothing to show for it ? Why not a credit for another ACL cruise? They do not deserve the one star rating but would not let me post a review without a rating .

Been on 2X with 2 different boats. Dirty rooms, poor, cheap food and both times they ran out of basic condiments and food on menu. Considering the cost you do not get what you pay for. They just assume they can get over on the older lonely cruisers!

Horrific experience on American Cruise Lines: My mother and I were passengers on hugely problematic voyage of American Cruise Lines' American Splendor from 10/9-10/16. For my mother, who is 91 years old, this trip was intended to be her last "travel hurrah," and I was happy to accompany her to make this wish come true. My mother and I believe that we, and other passengers on this trip, were victims of false advertising and operational mismanagement. We have conferred with other passengers and also with staff members and there was widespread agreement that the trip was substandard and mismanaged. In fact, we were so unhappy that we chose to leave the cruise at the first opportunity to disembark, which came after a full four days stuck on the river. Rather than endure more unsatisfactory experiences at the hands of American Cruise Lines (ACL), we traveled on our own to Nashville for the remainder of the week where we incurred several thousand dollars of additional travel expenses. We were subsequently told by many passengers that "we made the right call" as the cruise continued to experience problems of poor planning and mismanagement for the duration of the itinerary which further disappointed your passengers. Below is the "promise" of the trip as advertised on the ACL website. My notes, detailing the reality of what was delivered, are interspersed. ACL version - "Embark on a remarkable journey from Memphis to Nashville, where the mighty currents of the Mississippi River, the commanding Ohio River, and the tranquil waters of the Cumberland River guide you through breathtaking landscapes." Our version - The currents were far from mighty. In fact, water levels were so low that the speed of the boat was slowed and river traffic was an obstacle to timely passage. Further, the landscapes were unsightly. The river was a brown color, and the cement and rocks of the canal were visible. ACL version - "Witness the dramatic interplay of rolling hills and towering cliffs and observe majestic bald eagles and stately blue herons in their natural habitat." Our version - The landscape was flat and one of endless non-descript trees interspersed with highways and other signs of civilization. We saw no bald eagles nor blue herons. ACL version - "Explore historical landmarks that narrate tales of yore, all set against the backdrop of sunsets that bathe the waters in ethereal hues. Venture through an array of cities and small towns that resonate with the echoes of iconic music legends." Our version - We spent four full days of the cruise trapped on the boat. Hardly an "array" of cities and small towns. ACL version - "Each day offers a new slice of excitement with a procession of historic ports that bring to life the spirit of a nostalgic past. Gain deep insights into the roots of blues and rock from our knowledgeable onboard experts and local guides, who reveal the untold stories of musical giants who crafted the soundtrack of America." Our version - The days were tedious and the knowledgeable onboard experts spoke on topics such as prior boat disasters and the history of the river, not the promised speakers with expertise in the music of the region, a theme which had attracted us to this particular cruise. Below is the website's description of the American Splendor Paddlewheeler. Our notes, detailing the reality of what was delivered, are interspersed: ACL version - "American Splendor allows guests to experience the nostalgia of classic paddlewheeler travel, while enjoying perfect comfort and the most modern amenities." Our version - The trip started with the American Splendor having broken down in Vicksburg. Clearly there were some maintenance/mechanical issues neglected which resulted in the boat failing mid-journey. This breakdown led to two full extra days on the river - four days in total - where we were essentially trapped onboard. The en-suite bathrooms smelled like porta-potties. We learned from other passengers after the trip had ended that they were advised to leave the fan on in the bathroom 24/7 to prevent the mold that would otherwise grow and stave off the unpleasant odor. ACL version - "The world's newest paddlewheeler, American Splendor features serene color palettes, luxurious textiles and linens, comfortable furniture throughout, and sophisticated artwork and flourishes." Our version - The "staterooms" were furnished modestly and were small. In the common rooms, the furnishings were tired, dated and of tacky, not sophisticated, taste. We have written ACL numerous times requesting a refund and they have not even bothered to reply. My mother has said she never wants to travel again, given how miserable of an experience we had. When we arrived home, she burst into tears of relief to have the trip behind her. We encourage all those seeking a positive trip to avoid American Cruise Lines.

ACL is very expensive and equally deceptive. In other words, its promise of a luxury cruise holds no water whatsoever. ACL is best described as a floating personal care home (average age about 80 with 75 percent having severe mobility issues). I just cruised the lower Mississippi (beginning and ending in NOLA). Awful (and expensive) experience. Let's start with my bathroom (pics attached). Disgusting. To make matters worse, my room (which smelled so musty that I gagged every time I walked in) was under a lounge that began breakfast service around 6:00 a.m. Starting then, I heard nothing but furniture moving and walkers/wheelchairs traversing above me. The food was horrible. Powdered scrambled eggs, stale mass-produced bagels (cut into four pieces), and old fruit for breakfast. The happy hour was a joke. Disgusting repurposed garbage from days before, and staff controlled how many stale crackers you could have (usually three). The main dining room was disgusting. People who ate earlier would slop up the table with dressing, butter, and spilled coffee, but staff would not change the table cloths. Staff expected diners to eat surrounded by the disgusting slop of others and have no problem with that. Much to my amazement, the other guests did not have a problem with this, but I sure did. And I did not remain silent. Silverware/plates were often dirty. Food was nursing home quality. Oftentimes, ACL ran out of a menu choice and tried to pull a fast one with something else. Example, one night I ordered a Mediterranean vegetarian pasta (described as penne with olives and roasted peppers, squash, and tomatoes). I received cold penne smothered in balsamic salad dressing with one thin pepper slice and two olives. The bread in the bread baskets was cut into cubes not much bigger than croutons. Wine was low shelf -- think Yellow Tail. Excursions catered to the elderly and infirm (ACL's target market). There was little time to see/do anything on an excursion. One day we had six stops on a town loop. We had two hours, so that amounted to 15 minutes at each stop, which time did not include getting the elderly on and off the bus. People who love this cruise line (and it's baffling to me that people do) either know nothing about luxury travel or are suffering from age-related dementia and simply not comprehending what's going on around them. I suppose that if you have money to burn and think that Olive Garden is a gourmet restaurant and The Red Roof Inn is a five-star hotel, you'll love ACL. For the rest of us, take the money you would have otherwise spent on the ACL nightmare and book a Relais & Chateaux.

They are thrives! Beware!!!! If you pay for anything through them and you are refunded... they keep the refund ... WTF!!! My mom is elderly we ended up driving back instead of flying . Flight had already been scheduled and delayed for a full day. My mom has diabetes. So we didn't wanna wait and we drove. The airline refunded us then when we called American cruise lines to ask about the refund they stated they do not provide refunds when explained that they got a refund. They stated that it is their policy not to give refunds. My mom and I both called at separate times thinking we would get somebody reasonable to speak to. We did not. what the actual F%#*! So we paid them and the Airline paid them . What a racket

The training program is the only part of the job where the company is willing to make sure you have the tools to succeed, once you're on the ship, it is an "every chef for themselves" mentality. You don't work as a team, you work as individuals and many of which will go out of their way to sabotage your work by informing you of wrong recipes or leaving the area in unsanitary work conditions. As a cook it was nearly impossible to get a break at all so you are working the entire 14 hour day (5:30 am - 9:00 pm) with no breaks more often than not and can't be anywhere else but your room or a small crew room but they won't tell you that so they can "make you an example" when they write you up. I would also like to give a special shout out to "chef" Eric on American Serenade as his years of experience taught him that if you drop an entire batch of pork belly meant to be served to the 172 guest on board you can still serve it to them. Yeah I saw you drop the entire batch as soon as you pulled it from the oven, you are an insult to anyone that calls themselves a chef; and pull your pants up you wigger, no one wants to see the same stained red boxer you were wearing for 4 straight days thinking no one noticed the smell.

Cleanliness is a big issue on board of this ship! This cleaning crew does not empty the very small garbage pails daily, the 'fresh new' towels have huge black spots on them (looks like someone cleaned something with it before another guest is to use that dirty towel) & then they got folded up & "to be reused". Have pictures of all this stuff.

Only one cruise with American Cruise Line. Took the Columbia River Cruise May 2025. I can only compare ACL with Holland America Cruise lines, had four cruises with HA, 2011 to 2023. American cruise lines experience was very, very average in any and all categories (Dining, cabin, Ship) The dining room staff were very slow, food very average- like Longhorn Steakhouse food. The buffet food was very average to poor. Holland America rates 5 stars in my experience- pricing is comparable

EVERYTHING!!From the cleanliness of the ship to the epic tours that were provided to us! There is a special touch provided to the customers by the staff. If you want or need anything, the crew will go out of their way to assist you. Anything from alcohol, medication and catering meals to your room. The nightly entertainment was sourced from the region that we visited,which completed the ambiance of the trip.

Boring as hell.... Went up the Mississippi from new Orleans. This was a huge rip off... The meals are skimpy... Night one the ran out of bread!!! This cruise line is terrible.... Choose any other line except ACL!!!

The Lower Mississippi River Cruise we went on in November 2024 was the most disappointing travel experience of our lives. We travel extensively. Both may husband and I are Million-milers.

it was like traveling on motel six. I flushed $11,000 down the toilet. Never again. My shower was plugged. standing water. It took six hours to get someone in there to unplug it. The food was mediocre. And the staff kept jumping ship.

Very well organized! My Family and I went on The American Cruise Line Heritage Trip. We were on a Paddle Boat from Memphis to New Orleans. The Cruise was delightful, so many things to see and people we met. One of the most notable was our Server Charles Drink. He was amazing and tending to all of our Epicurean needs.

Our experience on this cruiseline was so negative that I wrote to the Vice President of Sales before preparing this review. With no reply after almost a month, I can only conclude that American Cruise Lines recognizes the shoddy provider it has become and doesn't care. Lowlights of the trip included: Our room reeked of urine and other odors and the mattress was stained. (See photo). It was apparently adjacent to the employee dining room since we heard parties and other activities, and the hallway outside our room seemed to be a gathering point during shift change, which made it hard to sleep in. On arrival in Portland, cruise personnel stacked all the passengers' luggage outside, uncovered in the pouring rain, which can't be an isolated occurrence for Portland. All our clothing was wet and needed to be washed or dry cleaned after we got home. Both the arrival and departure processes were disorganized. While the itinerary was well designed, the implementation as disorganized as a school class trip, not consistent with the price for the cruise.

American Cruise Lines have a horrible refund policy. In August 2024 I paid a deposit of $500 for the June 2026 cruise. I purchased an extremely expensive cancellation insurance for $1,470. For a health reason, on 5/20/25 I had to cancel the trip. Of course, I lost the $1,470 insurance payment, but the company additionally charged me $250 administrative fees?! to process a $250 check which took them long three weeks to mail. Why did they charge me not the insurance company?

worst experience of my life. the boat was in terrible shape, the crew and servers had no idea what they where doing, where rude, and the food sucked. captain was a total hack. way too expensive for what you get. I will never travel with this company again.

Worst and most expensive cruise of a dozen that I have been on. Don't waist your money or time. We took the American Heritage from New Orleans to Memphis. The ship broke down so we missed our stop at Natchez and half the stop at Vicksburg. Then they docked so far South of Memphis that the 1 hour bus ride each way caused us to miss half of our scheduled stops. Management was unresponsive and /or rude when questioned about multiple unsatisfactory incidents.

My wife had a medical emergency shortly before our cruise was to begin. The company's "customer service" was nasty and completely unwilling to help us. All they care about is the money, which they already had. I have never seen a less empathetic company in my life. stay clear of the company!

This is one of the worst cruise lines I have ever been on. The crew tries hard, but everything is substandard and very disorganized. Geared to a very elderly clientele....think 80+. The itinerary was poorly thought out......went through the most scenic areas of the Columbia RIver Gorge at night. If it was a cheap cruise it would be so so, but it's not cheap, it's very expensive (paid 11k for two people). For the price I paid it was a joke.

Horrible boat on lower Mississippi. Food is bought through lowest quality they can find. (Us foods, and seafood from poorest of poor ) Feel sorry for guests. Especially with untrained, culinary people. Very non FDA approved with people not washing hands, changing gloves w/out fresh wash wash and touching things in kitchen that has not been properly washed. Chef David, by far the grossest of all.. fat chef who does nothing but keep a dirty kitchen, expect more but he goes to sleep to burn off more fat. Then there is pastry chef, who has more education on actually clean food then a two year old making cookies. She is a senior officer at 28 years old but could not make a cookie. Oh, let's not forget the cooks who came from huddle house. If it wasn't for are recipe, they would just give you slop, you would not know the difference cause corporate just needs a photograph to prove it got done. Cheesy all around with no class. No wonder they need training in salt lake City to keep people workers coming. It's a shame, dirty boat with dirt galley help. fDA will be hearing soon how filthy you are.. one way or other we will find a way to shut your gross boats down.. Yours truly, Mr. Law suit

we went on the ship out of Seattle. I was promised a bath tub. There were no bath tubs on the ship. The cabins were Hotel 6. I took a shower the first day and the shower drain was stopped up. It took hours to get someone to unplug it. It took 4 request and hours later to get the bathroom cleaned. I ended up going to housekeeping and begging for cleaning supplies. I helped clean the my bathroom after paying approximately $11,000. for 7 days. I was devastated. The food was sub par. The tours White-washed and denied the existence of the indigenous people and their history. I confronted two of the tour directors and they agreed to modify their future narratives. It was a complete waste of hard earned retirement funds. I was offered a 10% discount on a future cruise. I WISH I HAD READ THE REVIEWS BEFORE!!!! Respectfully Patricia R Gordon The AMERICAN SPIRIT is a bucket.

Worst experience and waste of money---Took a cruise down the Columbia and Snake rivers and saw beautiful scenery. Our experience-- Before one of the presentations to the group on board had begun, I was whispering to the person next to me and the staff member who was to give the presentation made a comment into the microphone that "we have some talkers in the front row". ARE you kidding me? I am paying for this trip and I was not interrupting because her presentation had not started. At breakfast I requested some pastries and was told that I could find pastries on the 5th deck but not in the dining room. No one offered to get them for us.

I called to book a cruise and asked for "an available date" nothing specific. I was given a date and paid a deposit which was accepted. Several days later I received a call that my reservation was cancelled - they CLAIMED they OVERBOOKED. I have dealt with many tour companies and never received such treatment. in addition, I had to go to my credit card company to get my money back because the refund they promised never came through.

WOW! One of my Bucket List items after retiring in 7/2024 was going on a Columbia & Snake River cruise. We receive American Cruise Line sales brochures every few weeks. The brochures lead you to believe they are a luxury cruise line with exceptional organization, staff, shore excursions, and accommodations. I was excited and ready to book the May 11th Columbia & Snake River cruise. My gut feeling was to do some independent due diligence on American Cruise Lines River Cruises. Thank God I did! Usually don't rely on reviews but you can't deny the consistency and amount of their one star reviews. Starting my research over to hopefully find a more fitting River Cruise.

We had an amazing time on our cruise! I booked our NW Pacific Cruise for May 2024 and while it was more expensive than regular cruises, this cruise lines caters to less than 200 people on a cruise and not 5000 people. So the age dynamic is a little different and definitely not for kids or teenagers, but for retired individuals. We are in our late 40s and enjoyed this trip a lot. We had a lot of history, excursions, and the crew was absolutely amazing! The food was superb in my opinion. Our captain was great, docking at the late evening hours and we didn't even know it! Our stateroom was roomy and the housekeeping staff were accommodating! Our Cruise Director Cody, Hotel Manager Robin and our Excursions Director Tyson were so very awesome on the American Jazz! There were limited things to do but they did have cocktail hour, bingo, dancing lessons, cookie time, and we had our very own Lewis and Clark historian on the ship! We also had nightly music entertainment! It may not be a big ship with tons of things to do, but this was perfectly fine for us to just relax and enjoy! Thank you so much for a wonderful time!

I forgot to mention that the entire boat looked like it came from the early 1970's...I'm referring to the decor, the worn and tired upholstery, which was also stained, the mildew odor that permeates everywhere on this old boat. All of the other passengers I met, which was most of them, were pleasant to be with. It's apparent that most were not experienced cruisers. This was a first time cruise for most as they had no idea what to expect and had no basis of comparison. I truly with I would have known this before WASTING a huge amount of money on this worthless cruise. Based on that I personally experienced, it's amazing that this cruise line remains in business. If I would have known any of this prior to booking this overpriced, horrible cruise, I would have never gone....Even if it was offered to me for free!

AMERICAN CRUISE LINES! We booked our trip of "The Historic South and Golden Isles" tour many months ago. When booking this itinerary, we looked at the virtual tour of the ship provided directly below the itinerary. The ship was modern, new, and amazingly beautiful. It was very comparable to the ship we had on the "Snake and Columbia River" tour we took last June 2022. We knew we would then enjoy this Golden Isles Itinerary. When we boarded "The American Independence", we thought we were on the wrong ship. We walked onto a dreary, old, rusty, dirty, and outdated ship that appears to have been given a slightly cosmetic update in "some areas. Some might describe it as nothing more than putting "lipstick on a pig". AMERICAN CRUISE LINES IS NOT TRANSPARENT when it comes to their website advertising. BE WARY. ASK ABOUT THE SHIP YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE TAKING BEFORE YOU BOOK ON THIS CRUISE LINE. Otherwise, you will be in for the shock and disappointment of your life...at a great monetary expense!

If I could I would have given them a negative 10. Several months ago I called to inquire about a specific cruise. Since that time I get JUNK emails daily, and sometimes more than once daily. I have unsubscribed 4 times now, I have sent them an email requesting that they stop sending me emails AND 3 weeks ago I called them about this. The girl assured me that in just a few days I would no longer be receiving solicitation in my email account. NOT TRUE. I am convinced now that the only way I am going to get rid of them is to take legal action. Beware.....don't give them your email address or home address.....I also get JUNK mail in my snail mail box. If you do, like cockroaches you will never get rid of them!!!!

This cruise line is doing everything they can to put their guests at risk. They cram everyone into tiny rooms and don't require the employees to wear masks inside. The cruise is dated and unclean. This cruise line should be shut down ASAP. The GM of the hotel/cruise placed a dirty mask back in the clean ones right in front of me. Crammed dining and can't have your own table. Stay away at all costs. This cruise was a gift and I wish we never accepted it. Also no internet or room service even though they say it's free. Additionally there were covid cases on the boat. Take a look at the photo and see if you're surprised. Guests did a good job with masks, but crew was not good.

Tennessee River Cruise, July 2024 Let the buyer beware regarding these cruises. River cruises, at least stateside, are geared toward an older crowd with many guests taking their annual vacation from their Independent/ Assisted living centers. Consequently, activities and excursions are tailored to their capabilities. Those with expectations of a high-energy cruise may be disappointed. Nonetheless, one of the advantages in servicing an older crowd is that they are often less informed, and much less confrontational. This is where the grifting begins. Never have we seen such an example of people being taken advantage of on so many levels. The focus of ACL's market strategy must target this demographic as they are easier to control. Our expectations were completely grounded. We anticipated a nice cruise with some interesting and historical excursions, and to dock in Nashville, TN on the final leg and attend the "grand Ole' Opry" on the last night. As it stands, changes were made to the itinerary, along with what appears to be deceptive practices and continual misinformation/ disinformation. Consequently, trust was violated, commitments were altered, and we were concerned about losing the money we paid if we did not travel. The cruise itinerary was not followed. Communications disseminated prior to the cruise were fact checked and found to be blatant lies. ACL's itinerary change included a transition for a bus ride from Chattanooga, TN, to Florence, AL. This was a 3.5-hour bus ride to include a 30-minute stop in Huntsville, AL at Walmart. This was the convenience stop for 4 -passenger buses and approximately 125 people. As per numerous reviews, the stops at Walmart were part of the itinerary as far back as January, this practice seems to be a consistent method of business with ACL. This was not in alignment with an enriched travel experience. Management and staff had numerous personnel issues throughout the cruise and the tension in the air was tight. Meals were ok at the start, but overworked staff and personnel issues contributed to a deterioration of quality and service. At every missed opportunity to make things right, management would announce they are sorry about the mix up but we could get 30% off their our next cruise. How about focusing on the cruise we are on and making it the "enriched travel experience" that ACL speaks of on their website?

This is based on our experience on the Constellation in Sept. 2022. DON'T GO ON THIS SHIP! We left the ship on day 3. Cabin was dirty, most chairs in the ship, including our room, were stained, dinning room looked like a 1970's nursing home dining room, carpet was torn in our hallway (major trip hazard), our bathroom was filthy, no safe in room, even tho we were told there would be, a number of things in our room were missing and we had to ask for them, like the desk chair. The crew was friendly, but obviously lacked training and supervision. There was no resemblance to the "modern, elegant, luxurious comfort they talk about on their website and brochures. You pay for the Hyatt and get a Super 8.

If I could leave no stars, I would. We had booked a trip in Sept for the Memphis to New Orleans Mississippi River trip. The Dec. trip was canceled in early October and we were told that the fees would be refunded within 6 weeks. We just wanted the charges to be reversed on our card. 13K. We were told that they couldn't do that and we would definitely be getting a check in that timeframe. We are going on 8 weeks, no refund, no correspondence, no satisfactory answers. Meanwhile, we are paying interest on the CC and they are collecting interest on our $! What a hype! Customer service is basically worthless and has no power to refund through accounting. Wasted another day pleading for my money. Ridiculous policies and deceitful practices. . My review.

Alaska Cruise. Beautiful scenery and ports. However, had higher expectations for the price point. Cabin was nice. Dinning room food was mostly good but they often ran out of choices. Breakfast and lunch buffet left a lot to be desired. No specialty coffees available. I had called cruise line and they told me they had them. Ship manager told me machine was taken during Covid and never brought back. Staff were nice but not as professional as other cruise lines. Mostly young people looking for adventure that get switched around their ships. Included excursions pretty basic. Not likely will cruise with this company again.

My wife and I just returned from the Historic South and Golden Isles cruise on the American Independence. The from start to finish the experience was outstanding. We will be going on another cruise with this company. I understand that the Independence is one of the older ships but I have no complaints. The room was comfortable and clean. The bathroom larger than I expected and we slept very well on the comfortable bed. The private balcony was large enough for two chairs and a small table, we used it every day. The other public rooms on the ship never seemed crowded. The food was very good. While many on board enjoyed the seafood, I have a shellfish allergy. I ate very well and the chef even prepared meals specially for me when the non-seafood options were not interesting to me. There is a happy hour in the evening and plenty of adult beverages available all the time. A passenger can bring their own liquor on board but there truly is no need. The cost of food and beverages is included in the booking, we didn't pay a dime more for any of it. The stars of the cruise were the staff. Without exception the crew was courteous, helpful and friendly. My wife and I were often being asked if we needed anything. In short we had a great time. It was an experience I will not forget. My wife and I are now planning which American Cruise Lines trip we will go on next.

My sister and I took the cruise from New Orleans to Memphis. If it hadn't been for the excursions the trip was super boring. Nothing to do on the boat, most of the time you had no internet. We were lucky to get TV. The food was ok. Of course you could only have one roll with dinner and they ran out of bottled water and milk the 5 day out. The desserts were amazing. I would NEVER recommend this cruise to anyone especially because the cost was way way to much money. TERRIBLE Cruise. I would NEVER RECOMMEND AMERICAN CRUISE LINES TRIPS TO ANYONE

These people are crooks. I was unable to reach my Maine Coast Cruise on Aug 19 2024 because of weather caused by Hurricane Ernesto. No flights in or out of Newark-----was in airport for 24+ hours because no hotel rooms. PLaced on standby for first flight to Portland on Friday (missing 5 days of our cruise already) Customer Service of American Cruise Lines suggested I just meet them at the next port---no airport, would have to drive there---highway department begged me not to drive in flooded Maine with bridges and roads out. Car would have had to sit there until I came back after it + I had no clothes---had no idea where our suitcases were. American Cruise Lines told me that they couldn't control the weather and offered me 25% on another cruise! ha! I had to pay my own flight home and am out close to $20,000. It was my 50th Wedding Anniversary Cruise Celebration---gee thanks! Please folks to NOT use American Cruise Lines----they are crooks!! I will tell everyone I know NOT to ever use them!

We recently cruised the lower Mississippi from New Orleans to Memphis. We were in a Sky cabin. We were used to cruising on the larger mega liners, so this was new for us. We had a wonderful time and met wonderful friends for life! Our cabin was spotless, our attendant went above and beyond. I was telling her one day that I missed my Diet Pepsi because they didn't have that onboard. When we stopped in Vicksburg, she got off the ship and found me Diet Pepsi, unbeknownst to me! Wow! The food was good. I would have preferred our red meats to be cooked more toward the medium well side. That would be the only negative in reference to the food. We did the shore excursions that went with the cruise and had a wonderful time. There were never any crowds. Meg, Colin, crew went above and beyond. By the middle of the cruise they knew a lot of us by name. Entertainment at night was relaxed. This would be the only time I ever felt a "crowd." The ship carried about 130 on our sailing but again, we never felt any crowding or pushing. We took the 15% discount toward another cruise and booked for February on the American Eagle.

I'm still a big American Cruise Lines fan. I keep going on the boats and keep having fun. The newer boats are the best to be on, but the old ones are ok too. Its neat to have a local company have so much around the country.

that they consider why it was canceled 2 days prior i tested positive to covid my husband 1 day and we had flights the day before and they will not take in consideration why we cancelled for our refund to be adjusted

Do not waste your money. We booked on New England tour The company cancelled Oct. 19, 2023, the morning of the trip. They lied and said it was weather-related. It was not, the ship caught on fire we heard also everyone on the previous tour got sick. They told us because we booked with a travel agent they would not arrange air travel back home. We made our arrangements. We had TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE even though they told us in writing they would REFUND for any reason, they refused. I have spent months trying to get my money back --we have sent every document validating our claim-- they stall you by saying they need more. We have turned to credit card co. for a claim also the insurance commission in Colo. THE COMPANY IS A SCAM

Paid $10480 for a 7 day cruise to New England. Terrible experience: company was unresponsive til a federal agency got involved but issue was left unresolved due to lack of jurisdiction. Company deceptively advertises; experience is budget NOT luxury! Food is cafeteria quality and dining room experience awful: stained table linens, chipped glasses, cracked cups, no dress code. Worst of all is housekeeping: ACL scheduled but KEPT SECRET its plan to steam clean 20% (9 of 45) of cabin carpets on Day 5 (Newport). We returned in late afternoon to a cabin w/ soaking wet carpet, loud fans and now the risk of a slip and fall. This negligence was made worse by the fact that it was planned maintenance foisted upon captive and, for the most part, elderly consumers in order to keep its fleet running 24/7 during its high profit summer season. We requested a refund equivalent to the cost of two lost days ($3k); instead, we were offered a 20% discount on our next full fare cruise. ACL's 'defense': what did we expect when we booked one of its older ships? We expected an honest broker and they are not! Our next stop is the BBB. Yours should be a different cruise line ... BUYER BEWARE!

American Cruise Lines is a great company to work for and a great opportunity for someone who wants to save money and get ahead financially. It's hard work but definitely worth it.

Don't know why they would only have a 2 star rating. We just returned from the maiden sailing of American Glory and it was my favorite cruise, and we have been on many. There were things that went wrong as with any maiden sailing, but everything was taken care of and put as they should be. The weather didn't cooperate and we missed some ports, nothing you can do about the weather. The crew made up for everything, I have never seen a crew that worked so well together, they were really the ones that made the trip. Thanks

My fiancé and her parents went on a 5 day Highlights of the Columbia River Cruise on American Cruise. We had an enjoyable time, seeing the sights, enjoying the cruise, meals and outings. The accommodations were nice and the food was good, and plentiful. The crew was very friendly and engaging. However, we found that the crew was not very familiar with the various excursion offerings. I would have expected some of the crew to have taken some of the excursions so they could talk about what to expect. But no one we talked with on the crew had been on any of the excursions. One excursion that we were excited about was a morning kayak outing on the Columbia River. But when we assembled on the morning of the excursion we were told that the outfitter had cancelled at the last minute. That was very disappointing. American Cruise refunded the cost of the kayak outing, and also refunded a lower priced excursion we had taken on a previous day. But still disappointing to miss out on the experience, and left us with a half day at a port location with nothing planned to do. I had a particularly disappointing experience with how American Cruise handled my luggage. On the final night of the cruise all passengers are instructed to leave their luggage out in the hallway, outside their room before they retire. Then the crew picks the luggage up during the night, collecting it to be put on the transfer bus the next morning for the trip to the airport. It rained all night and early the next morning. In the morning we got on the transfer bus, and headed to our next destination. That afternoon, when I arrived at my hotel, I unpacked my bag and found that much of my clothing was wet. In the process of collecting my bag during the night, and storing it until the departure the next morning, the crew must have left my suitcase out in the rain and it got soaked. I called the customer service line after discovering my wet clothes, he said the office was closed so there was no one to talk with about my concern. I ended up hanging my wet clothing all over my hotel room to dry. A couple of days later I heard from American Cruise and they apologized for the wet luggage and clothing. I asked for a $300 discount to compensate me for my trouble and inconvenience. They got back to me a day or so later with an offer of a 20 percent discount on a future trip instead. I wrote back to them and thanked them for their offer. But explained that I was not satisfied - the problem I had with American Cruise was on my trip in June, so offering a discount on a future trip didn't really address my concern. The only way I could realize value on their offer would be to take another trip. This was the first time I had ever taken an American Cruise trip, and I don't currently have plans to take another. I reiterated my expectation of a cash discount, explaining that my request represented only about 4 percent of the cost of my booking (around $7000); their offer of a 20 percent discount would represent a much larger number. I never heard anything more back from the company. It is highly unlikely that I will take another trip with American Cruise. So overall an okay experience, but with a couple of real downers.

Reading the reviews, I'm glad we never stepped on the ship. I actually cancelled the cruise because the customer service is so incredibly apathetic and unresponsive. Apparently all of their budget goes to marketing. Typical current business model - all about getting the money, no concern for the quality of the product or service sold. It is possible that they make most of their money keeping $500 per person from their cancellation policy.

After taking many cruises, including river cruises in Europe, we were looking forward to trying a cruise in American waters and found ACL. The ship was nice enough and the crew (primarily all in their 20's) were very pleasant. However, the crew's training was clearly deficient: trays of drinks were dropped and orders weren't served correctly or forgotten. They mostly came across as a bunch of college kids working a summer job. Even their casual dress (polo shirts for every meal) showed they were far from professional. The food was clearly not freshly-made. It appeared and tasted pre-made, institutional and pre-frozen. Their "chefs" simply could not cook over-medium eggs: the whites were either runny or the yolks were cooked hard. The last breakfast was a buffet which was no better than you would expect to find in a cheap motel chain. Amazingly, we heard some passengers rave about the cruise and the ship's food. They clearly had no previous experience with a high class river cruise like you would find in Europe.