ACL-American Cruise Lines has recorded an unprecedented year in 2025, accumulating 23 industry awards that reinforce its status as the most acknowledged U.S.–based cruise operator in the river and small ship segment.
The company’s latest vessel, American Patriot, was named a top finalist in the Best New River Cruise Ships category by Travel Weekly, and the line’s broader performance earned recognition across multiple platforms. Among the distinctions credited to the operator were Cruise Critic’s Best for Solo Travelers award, Cruiseline.com’s acknowledgment as one of the Best River Cruise Lines, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best River Cruise Lines accolade, multiple Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, a trio of honours from the World Travel Awards, and four USA Today 10Best Awards, reflecting broad industry endorsement of its product and service in 2025. These awards collectively contributed to the tally reported by the company.
Beyond the line itself, American Cruise Lines was cited by U.S. News & World Report among the “9 Top River Cruise Lines for 2025” and featured in Southern Living magazine’s “Top 10 Cruise Lines,” while external travel media such as The Points Guy and Forbes included its river cruise offerings among their recommended global itineraries, underscoring the breadth of its recognition during the season.
An affiliate company, Pearl Seas Cruises, also garnered plaudits in 2025 with a Travel Weekly Magellan Award for its Great Lakes itineraries and a Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Small Ships category, indicating favourable reception of its regional deployment and vessel style.
As the calendar year concluded, company leadership attributed the volume of award recognition to the collective efforts of its travel advisers, industry partners, shore operations, crew and support personnel—factors presented as instrumental in delivering the 2025 season’s results. In anticipation of 2026, the operator has outlined plans to introduce new itineraries aligned with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations, reflecting an intention to sustain its service profile and itinerary diversity in the year ahead.