ACL-American Cruise Lines has announced the introduction of three new itineraries on the US Great Lakes for the 2026 season.
The voyages, running May through August, will be carried out by the new-class ship American Patriot, the first from the PATRIOT series, accommodating 125 passengers in 56 staterooms.
The deployment marks the first time in decades that an USA-flagged ship will operate entirely domestic itineraries in the Great Lakes region. By avoiding international borders, ACL will be able to call directly at smaller towns, marinas, and city parks, offering access distinct from that of foreign-flag ships, which must utilize international entry ports.
ACL's President Charles B. Robertson noted that demand for Great Lakes cruising in the line’s established small-ship format had been consistent for years and explained that American Patriot was designed to meet this market.
Three itineraries will be offered. A 9-day program will operate between Syracuse, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio, transiting the Thousand Islands, the St. Lawrence River, and Niagara Falls, with additional calls highlighting regional culture and history. Another 9-day itinerary, round-trip from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will explore Lake Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with visits to Fayette Historic Townsite, Escanaba, Green Bay, and Muskegon. The line’s 14-day American Great Lakes itinerary will span 800 miles across Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan between Cleveland and Milwaukee, featuring ports including Detroit, Alpena, the Soo Locks, Mackinac Island, and Holland, Michigan.
Each itinerary includes a pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary domestic airfare. Onboard services encompass dining in a main restaurant with panoramic views, a casual café, lounges including a top deck lounge with walking track, a chart room, fitness facilities, laundry services, and elevators to all decks. All accommodations are outside staterooms with private balconies, with suite and single options available.
The 2026 launch underscores American Cruise Lines’ strategy of expanding its portfolio of fully domestic cruises, building on its 50-year history of U.S. river operations. The line emphasized that fares will cover dining, cocktails, Wi-Fi, gratuities, guided excursions, and enrichment programs, reflecting its all-inclusive model.