Now on a lightning-fast fleet growth track, American Cruise Lines (ACL) will sail with 21 small ships along U.S. rivers and coastlines in 2025. That's the largest small-ship fleet in the country and among the top three largest globally. Just this month, ACL christened its newest coastal catamaran, the 100-passenger American Legend, now sailing Florida coastal waters. In June and October 2025, ACL will also launch its first two new, 125-passenger Patriot-class vessels—American Patriot and American Pioneer.

"We’re thrilled with how the small-ship cruise industry is changing and how fast it’s changing,” says Charles B. Robertson, ACL’s president and CEO. The latest new ships being built—both coastal catamarans and the Patriot-class vessels, all part of the line's Project Blue series—offer many new spaces, enhanced accommodations and cutting-edge design. Simply put, Robertson's goal is to launch what he calls “the finest” new-builds. "Our own goal is to make our own ships obsolete."

New Ships, Guest Trends

Those two new Patriot-class ships, American Patriot and American Pioneer, will offer five decks, 56 private balcony staterooms and suites, a top deck Skywalk, walking tracks, fitness rooms, multiple indoor and outdoor lounges, casual cafés, main dining restaurants and more. And beyond those new ships arriving this year, American Cruise Lines , based in Guilford, CT, also now has nine more new ships in the construction pipeline. All are being built at ACL's affiliated Chesapeake Bay Shipyard in Salisbury, MD.

Launching in 2026 are the line's third and fourth Patriot-class American Maverick and American Ranger, and a new modern American riverboat-class vessel, American Encore. Robertson emphasizes that the new ships are built to satisfy increasingly discriminating customers. But while that’s definitely been an evolution, “it’s not really a younger generational shift," Robertson tells us. "Baby Boomers are still the majority of our customers." He cites an overall demographic 55 years of age and older. That said, some of the lines' small-ship coastal voyages do draw a bit broader clientele.

Across the board, today's guests are embarking with a bit different mindset than that of guests a decade or so ago. “River cruising is becoming more luxury because I think Baby Boomers are demanding it," Robertson emphasizes.

“So, we’re still trying to focus on appealing to a sophisticated, curious traveler" and while ACL's average age isn't really getting younger, he says the line is refining its product with more new experiences available both onboard and ashore. For example, ACL is seeing more "outdoor enthusiasts" arriving on board, he says. They're looking for a bit more active vacation than guests of past years. They want to go hiking, biking and kayaking, so "in that vein, we’re doing more with active excursions," he says.

On board, "we're also doing a lot more with music or a culinary experience instead of a traditional lecture all the time," Robertson adds. Travel Agent experienced that last year firsthand while sailing on a "Great Rivers of Florida" itinerary. The evening-time live musical entertainment including singers, guitar players or a small group of musicians that kept guests—this writer included—coming back night after night.

Advisors are often asked by guests who they'll sail with if they book a particular cruise line. Those boarding ACL will typically see many couples; friends or adult family members traveling together; and even a few families with kids (no special programming or club aboard). But, increasingly, Robertson says "we're also seeing many, many solo travelers, and we’re one of the most-friendly small-ship lines in accommodating these guests." ACL offers dedicated solo cabins on every ship. For instance, the 150-passenger American Heritage has 19 solo cabins.

Service Center Expansion

On the service side, Robertson reveals a piece of intel not yet announced: “We previously opened our training center in Salt Lake City, expanded it last year” but, in a second major expansion, “it’s now being built out right now where it’s doubling in size.”

More space is needed for training purposes, given the line's fleet expansion. Everyone that goes onto an ACL ship to work—whether a server, manager, chef, deck hand, cruise director or in another position—goes first to that training center in Salt Lake City. Robertson says they receive both job specific training but also training about ACL’s standards for guest service.

“We want to enhance service,” he says emphatically. For example, he cites the continuing elevation of personalized service in the ship’s suites.

Themed Cruises, New Voyages and Longer Journeys

So, what's building demand for small-ship American river and coastal voyages in 2025 and beyond? Besides the buzz about new ships, Robertson cites these elements: themed cruises, new itineraries and longer vacation options.

For instance, ACL's antique-themed cruises are popular given “our fairly long sponsor partnership with 'Antiques Roadshow,'" he explains. Separately, for history lovers, Robertson says the "American Revolution Cruise" provides "such an incredible view of early American history as we travel round-trip from Washington, D.C. to Annapolis" and beyond.

We asked which itineraries are most popular with guests right now? He tells us those include "Lewis & Clark" voyages and wine cruises on the Columbia/Snake Rivers of the Pacific Northwest; New England/Maine coastal voyages where guests can chow down at lobster bakes; and music-focused cruises along the Mississippi River.

In fact, the Mississippi season just kicked off last weekend as the modern riverboat American Serenade set sail on a classic, nine-day "Lower Mississippi River Cruise" from New Orleans to Memphis. Plus, a new 11-night "Mississippi Explorer" itinerary will begin sailing the Lower Mississippi River next month. In total for 2025, five riverboats will offer 12-plus different Mississippi River itineraries of eight to 51 nights.

Since loyal past guests also seek out new itineraries, this year ACL is launching many of those. Among them is an eight-day “Hudson River Summer Classic" cruise between New York City and Albany, NY.

As for 2025 inaugural port calls throughout the U.S., those include: Port Canaveral and West Palm Beach, FL; Portsmouth, NH; Port Royal, SC; Alexandria, VA; Lewiston, ID; Madison, IN; and Sag Harbor and Albany, NY. Another first call is at Cleveland, MS, where Robertson cites one big draw as the Grammy Museum, "an extraordinary museum that walks through music history.”

We asked Robertson what he'd suggest for river cruisers seeking something unexpected, His take? He'd suggest checking out the Tennessee River itinerary between Nashville and Chattanooga. Calling that river cruising experience "a totally hidden gem," he says this: "It could be the prettiest river in America. It surprises people."

All total, ACL vessels will call at 125 U.S. ports in 2025, “While we think small ships are perfect for the American river market, our biggest challenge is educating people that it’s possible,” he says. “We have great rivers in so many states around the country,” Robertson emphatically says. “But that’s where we need travel advisors” to educate their clients, so “we can continue growing into this market.”

Akin to a World Cruise

Many river lines globally have recently dreamed up lengthy vacation journeys that combine multiple river voyages with land stays and touring. ACL now offers a 51-Day “Great United States” itinerary, from Portland, OR, to Boston, MA, departing May 30, 2025. "It's a world cruise without ever leaving your country," he says.

This lengthy itinerary and other new longer itineraries too include bucket-list adventures exploring U.S. National Parks from Alaska to Wyoming to the East Coast’s Great Smoky Mountains. In total, the "Great United States" offering touches 15 different states—“some of the most beautiful, famous and difficult to reach,” Robertson adds.

In addition, ACL this year is again offering a 35-night themed "Civil War Battlefields" itinerary that combines river journeys and battlefield land exploration. “It sold out last year, we doubled it this year and it’s nearly sold out again,” he explains, adding that this route that ACL follows is essentially part of the Anaconda Strategy that the Union employed against the Confederacy.

These kinds of longer itineraries also create “an allure and sense of adventure" for guests, he believes. But for travelers wondering how they'll get from Point A to Point B on the various transportation pieces of such a multifaceted trip, Robertson says this: "We take care of guests from end to end—from leaving their house to getting to the ship, and in between the ships. We make it very easy.”

Not all extended cruise-and-land vacations are quite so long, though. Trend-wise, Alaska, too, remains “hot" for small-ship cruising in 2025. So, ACL is sending two ships to Alaska this year, doubling its Alaska capacity. “The American Constitution arrived on the West Coast in January and will spend the rest of its life out there,” he explains. It will operate both Puget Sound cruises and Alaska sailings.

Together, that 170-passenger ship and sister American Constellation will set sail on five different Alaska itineraries, including two new Alaska National Parks cruises. They'll combine seven days of land exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks with a 12- or nine-day cruise between Fairbanks and Juneau, AK. Plus, the ships will have special access within Glacier Bay National Park.

On the shore excursion side, two things have happened. "Groups have gotten smaller, and we also offer more options," Robertson explains. For instance, he says it's now common for ACL's guests to take one shore trip in the morning, and then another in the afternoon. So, they might opt for a morning historic tour that’s low impact and highly accessible, but then in the afternoon, also participate in a more active excursion such as light hiking or kayaking. Or they might instead participate in a cultural or musical immersion experience.

“In addition, one of our American Cruise Lines motorcoaches runs along a circuit to several points” in certain destinations," he adds. So, guests can get off and explore independently but they might also have an ACL-included entry to a museum. Typically, "we’ll run those [in a loop] every 30 or 45 minutes.”

The Driving Force

What’s the draw for Robertson in running ACL? “Living along the Maine Coast, I grew up on boats,” he says, noting that he also spent summers working in Maine "and still love getting back there.” This year, ACL is debuting a new nine-day “Maine Coast & Harbors” itinerary between Portland and Bangor, ME. The June 16, 2025, sailing is antique-themed with special antiques roadshow events.

It's clear that Robertson possesses a strong passion for the small-ship cruise business as ACL keeps chugging along at building new, innovative vessels. While the line bought the four former American Queen Voyages (AQV) paddlewheelers at a U.S. bankruptcy court auction in 2024, it's already scrapped two of those, and, according to industry sources, the other two are now docked at a Louisiana scrapyard. While there was no additional ACL update available at press time, Robertson did say that those AQV ships have environmental and reliability issues.

In addition, ACL already operates four of its own paddlewheel vessels if guests prefer that type of cruise vessel. But moving forward, it's also clear that Robertson prefers espousing a modern standard for the brand. “We have nine boats under construction” in various stages,” he emphasizes.

Some have slight changes from previous sister ships, while others more dramatic innovations. For example, the line’s coastal catamarans from that Project Blue series have been a big success and highly popular with guests. “The catamaran was also the first ship with a shallow draft that allows us to do some Southeast sea isles and the Florida Keys,” he explains. Coming soon, “the Patriot class has a slightly deeper design and capacity—better in a sea way,” Robertson points out. “That’s great for those routes.”