In 2026, ACL-American Cruise Lines will introduce 3 new vessels and roll out 11 new itineraries, marking what will be its most expansive year ever. The line plans to visit nearly 200 U.S. ports as it navigates the country’s rivers and coastlines.
The new itineraries include two National Parks–oriented cruises. One is a 15-day Pacific Northwest voyage offering guided visits to Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park followed by sailing around Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and Friday Harbor.
The other is an 11-day cruise along the Tennessee River through the Appalachian region, offering exploration of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and visits to towns such as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
In addition, the new schedule expands the company’s coverage of the country’s inland and coastal waterways. Cruises will traverse the Mississippi River and its tributaries, including a first-time 9-day route on the Arkansas River between Memphis and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a new Gulf Coast route linking New Orleans, Louisiana with Pensacola, Florida, among other stops.
For the first time, the line will offer all-domestic cruises on the Great Lakes: these include a 9-day sailing of the waters around the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls, a 9-day Lake Michigan/Upper Peninsula itinerary, and a 14-day voyage spanning 800 miles across Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan.
Among the three new vessels debuting in 2026, the modern riverboat American Encore will begin sailing the Columbia and Snake Rivers in May. It will accommodate 180 guests in all-balcony staterooms, including single-guest cabins available without supplement.
Later in the year, the small coastal ships American Maverick and American Ranger — the third and fourth vessels in the company’s Patriot Class — will enter service on East Coast itineraries, each capable of carrying 130 guests.