ACL American Grace

The 2028-built MS American Grace cruise ship is the ninth newbuild in the American Cruise Lines' "Modern Riverboat" fleet. Grace is also ACL fleet's 28th vessel.

This class, with the same design, includes the sister ships American Song (2018), American Harmony (2019), American Jazz (2020), American Melody (2021), American Symphony (2022), American Serenade (2023), American Anthem (2027), and the 2028-built American Grace, TBN1, and TBN2.

Unlike the sister ships (excluding Encore), ACL's Anthem features a slightly modified design that allows for more staterooms, including the two-room Signature Suite, the fleet's largest accommodation to date.

American Grace 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) and has been operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruise shipping on the USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes), as well as voyages along the East Coast USA/New England, West Coast USA, and Florida.

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

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

Traditionally for large-sized USA riverboats, American Grace has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any point along ACL's cruise tour itinerary. The ramp features an innovative design as a retractable gangway (passenger bridge), a technology commonly implemented on some of the largest ferries and includes 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 boats to maintain its reputation for premium quality and services. Each of ACL's new builds features an innovative design with spacious indoor and outdoor areas.

Decks and Cabins

American Grace staterooms (94 total) are all outside-facing, some of the industry's largest, each with full-size bathrooms and private step-out balconies, providing modern hotel amenities.

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

American Grace has 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 positions).

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

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

MS American Grace'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 has 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 fitted with sunbathing and shaded seating areas but lack the deck-games area (with a Putting Green and Shuffleboard).

The ship has six lounges (three with outdoor terraces), a Grand Dining Room (complimentary, glass-enclosed restaurant), a Chart Room & Library, a fore-located Main Lounge (with a central stage for live shows and musical productions and a glass-roof cover), an aft-located Sky Lounge (with 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, deck chairs, and two-seat and four-seat tables, with live plants. The Sun Deck has three large shaded seating areas (covered by nine retractable canopies) and two Skylights (glass roof covers) over the Sky Lounge (aft) and the Atrium/Vestibule (midship-portside).

The list of the ACL Grace 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 two-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 equipped with washers and dryers (detergent is provided).

The Lyric Lounge is a small room perfect 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 fore-located River Lounge is the main lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows. It also serves as the boat's show lounge with a central stage, grand piano, and ample comfortable seating (comfy armchairs and plush sofas). Warm cookies are served starting at 10 am. The 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 passed around during the evening show. The evening entertainment includes one show (beginning at 8:15 pm) lasting about 1 hour. The show 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. The furniture is rearranged daily (sometimes two or three times a day) to suit the themed entertainment. This is also the venue for American Cruise Lines' enrichment program, consisting of differently-themed lectures (history, food and wine, literature, etc.). Additionally, media presentations and ACL cruise itinerary and tours-related multimedia presentations and port talks are hosted here.

Deck 4's aft-located Sky Lounge is an indoor venue with premium furniture, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (allowing 270-degree views), a glass-roof cover (Skylight), and direct access to an open-air Terrace (Ellipse Cafe). Beverages, snacks, freshly baked cookies, and pastries are served throughout the day. The Sky Lounge's opening glass doors allow it to expand to include the furnished Terrace/Ellipse Cafe. Throughout the day, the Cafe's Bar serves complimentary water, soda, and light snacks. Complimentary Afternoon Tea service is available between 3:30-4:30 pm. In the evening, a cocktail hour with free drinks is also available.

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

Itineraries

American Grace's itinerary program starts with the Maiden Voyage departing from Clarkston, Washington, on April 30, 2028. Early booking prices per stateroom (2025 promo rates) ranged from USD 9,500 (Single Balcony) to USD 16,900 (Signature Suite).

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).

ACL cruise deals include 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).