ACL American Encore

The 2026-built MS American Encore cruise ship is the seventh newbuild in the American Cruise Lines' "Modern Riverboat" fleet.

From this class, the sisterships include American Song (2018), American Harmony (2019), American Jazz (2020), American Melody (2021), American Symphony (2022), American Serenade (2023), and American Anthem (2027).

Unlike the sisterships, the ACL ship Encore has a slightly modified design that allows for more staterooms, including the two-room Signature Suite, the largest accommodation in the fleet so far.

American Serenade is identified by an IMO number to be announced and is USA-flagged (MMSI to be announced).

History - Construction and Ownership

The shipowner, American Cruise Lines (ACL), is the USA's largest river cruise company, headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut. Operational since 1991, the company specializes in cruises along the USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes), as well as voyages along the East Coast, New England, West Coast, and Florida.

All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's largest passenger cabins with private balconies, spacious lounges, outdoor deck spaces, gourmet cuisine, a top-quality enrichment program with many complimentary land tours and excursions, and highly personalized service by an all-American staff and crew.

All ACL ships are USA-flagged and built at the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury, Maryland, USA.

Traditionally, for large-sized USA riverboats, American Encore has a forward-located boarding ramp (on Deck 1) that allows passengers to disembark at any location along the ACL's cruise tour itinerary. The ramp features an innovative retractable gangway (passenger bridge) design. This technology is often implemented on some of the largest ferries and features an opening bow door.

While other small cruise lines purchase second-hand vessels or older ships, American Cruise Lines has expanded its fleet with new builds to maintain the company's reputation for premium quality and service. Each ACL newbuild features an innovative design with spacious indoor and outdoor areas.

Decks and Cabins

American Encore staterooms (94 total) are all outside, some of the industry's largest, each with a full-size bathroom and a private step-out balcony, offering modern hotel amenities.

All staterooms are balcony-equipped. The smallest are the Studios (single-occupancy cabins for solo travelers), measuring 250 ft² (23 m²). Double stateroom sizes range from 275-315-350-370 ft² (26-29-33-34 m²), including the balcony size.

American Encore offers three suite categories: Sky Suite (470 ft² / 44 m²), Grand Suite (650 ft² / 60 m²), and the largest accommodation, the bow-facing Signature Suite with Wraparound Terrace (1010 ft² / 94 m²).

All suites are located on Deck 4 (top-deck locations).

The ship has 5 passenger-accessible decks, of which 3 contain cabins.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

MS American Encore's interior features a 4-story Vestibule (glass-walled Atrium), spacious indoor and outdoor lounges, large open-deck spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the vessel. The 4-deck Atrium includes floor-to-ceiling windows (portside and starboard) and two SkyLights (transparent glass-roof covers) that allow natural light into the interior.

The two Sun Decks are equipped with sunbathing and shaded seating areas, though they do not have a deck-games area (such as a Putting Green or Shuffleboard).

The ship has 6 lounges (3 with outdoor terraces), a Grand Dining Room (complimentary, glass-enclosed restaurant), a Chart Room & Library, a forward-located Main Lounge (with a central stage for live shows and musical productions, and a glass-roof cover), an aft-located Sky Lounge (with a glass-roof cover and access to an alfresco dining terrace/Ellipse Cafe), a Fitness Room (indoor Gym), and a Yoga Studio (for group classes and private lessons).

The Sun Deck (top-deck) is furnished with plenty of outdoor furniture, including padded sun loungers, padded wicker sofas, deckchairs, 2-seat and 4-seat tables, and live plants. The Sundeck features three large shaded seating areas (covered by 9 retractable canopies) and two SkyLights (glass roof covers) over the Sky Lounge (aft) and the Atrium/Vestibule (midship-portside).

The list of ACL Encore ship's main public venues includes:

• (Deck 1) Boarding Ramp/bow, Vestibule/lobby level, Ship's Office, River Lounge, Dining Room Restaurant, Galley/Kitchen & Storage Rooms
• (Deck 2) Bow Terrace/observation area with seating, Horizon Lounge/forward, Lyric Lounge/midship-starboard, wellness facilities/aft (Fitness Center/indoor Gym, Guest Laundry Room)
• (Deck 3) The Study & Library/midship-starboard, Pilothouse/Wheelhouse
• (Deck 4) High Note Lounge/midship-starboard, Sky Lounge (indoor, aft), Ellipse Cafe (aft, outdoor terrace serving as an alfresco dining venue)
• (Deck 5) Sun Deck with plenty of outdoor seating (premium patio furniture) and a Sky Walk (wraparound 2-lane Walking/Jogging Track)

The Gym is equipped with modern exercise equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, resistance training equipment, and free weights.

The Guest Laundry is a self-service facility with washers and dryers (detergent is provided).

Lyric Lounge is a small room ideal for relaxation and reading, also used for playing cards and popular board games.

The Horizon Lounge has direct access to the Bow Terrace.

Two Lifts (passenger elevators in the Atrium) connect all decks.

Deck 1's forward-located River Lounge is the main lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows. It also serves as the ship's show lounge with a central stage, a grand piano, and ample comfortable seating (comfy armchairs and plush sofas). Here, warm cookies are served starting at 10 am. Complimentary Afternoon Tea service (with fresh pastries) is at 3:30 pm. The free-drinks cocktail hour is at 5:30 pm. Root beer and ice cream are offered during the evening show. The evening entertainment includes one show (starting at 8:15 pm) lasting about an hour. The program may include a live concert, solo performances, music tribute, themed music, or movie trivia. The large space for the evening shows is in the room's center, and the furniture is rearranged daily (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day) to accommodate the themed entertainment. This is also where American Cruise Lines' enrichment program is hosted, featuring lectures on various topics (history, food and wine, literature, etc.), as well as media presentations and multimedia talks related to the current ACL cruise itinerary and tours.

Deck 4's aft-located Sky Lounge is an indoor venue with premium furniture, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (offering 270-degree views), a glass-roof cover (SkyLight), and direct access to an open-air Terrace (Ellipse Cafe). Throughout the day, beverages, snacks, freshly baked cookies, and pastries are served. The Sky Lounge's opening glass doors extend the space by including the furnished Terrace/Ellipse Cafe. The Cafe serves complimentary water, soda, and light snacks. Afternoon Tea service is available between 3:30-4:30 pm. In the evening, a cocktail hour with free drinks is offered.

Sky Lounge's Ellipse Cafe staff serves the entire Sun Deck (the top-deck relaxation and sunbathing area) with drinks and snacks.

Itineraries

The American Encore's itinerary program begins with its Maiden Voyage, departing from Portland, Oregon on May 5, 2026. Early booking prices ranged from USD 6600-11300 per stateroom.

The 8-night/9-day "Columbia and Snake Rivers Cruise" itinerary (between Portland, OR and Clarkston, WA) visits Astoria, OR (Day 3), Kalama, WA (Day 4), The Dalles, OR (Day 5), Columbia River Gorge (Day 6/cruising), Richland, WA/Pendleton, OR (Day 7), and Clarkston, WA (Days 8-9/overnight).

For ACL Encore's inaugural season, the "National Parks & Legendary Rivers" cruisetour itinerary was also scheduled (15-night/16-day from Portland, OR to Jackson, WY). This itinerary visits Astoria, OR (Day 3), Kalama, WA (Day 4), The Dalles, OR (Day 5), Columbia River Gorge (Day 6/cruising), Richland, WA (Day 7), and Clarkston, WA (Day 8/debarkation). From Clarkston, the land portion of the voyage begins—Day 9 (Coeur d'Alene Lake cruise, Kalispell overnight hotel stay), Day 10 (Glacier National Park), Day 11 (Yellowstone National Park, Butte, MT, Ennis, MT), Day 12 (Yellowstone National Park/Yellowstone's Grand Loop, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Fall), Day 13 (Yellowstone National Park/Yellowstone Lake, Grant Village Dining Room, Yellowstone Playhouse, Meadow Vue Ranch), Day 14 (Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Lake Lodge), Day 15 (Grand Teton National Park/Craig Thomas Discovery Center, Jenny Lake Visitor Center, Jackson Hole's National Museum of Wildlife Art), and Day 16 (Jackson, WY/transfer to Jackson Hole Airport).

ACL cruise deals are inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel package, all shore excursions (organized daily), cocktail hour (each evening), cruise accommodation, gourmet meals, Afternoon Tea service, room service (Breakfast only), onboard enrichment and entertainment programs, and Wi-Fi (shipwide coverage).