American Pride

The 2012-built American Pride cruise ship, formerly known as "Queen of the Mississippi," is one of ACL's stern-paddlewheel riverboats. American Pride sails on the Columbia and Snake Rivers (Pacific Northwest USA), operating between the homeports of Clarkston WA and Portland OR.

IMPORTANT: In 2021-2022, the riverboat underwent a complete redesign and refurbishment as part of ACL's paddlewheeler fleet modernization project. Unlike the other vessels in the fleet (which were renamed), American Pride retained her original name.

History - Construction and Ownership

American Cruise Lines (ACL), headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, is the USA's largest river cruise company, operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruises on the USA’s major inland waterways (rivers and lakes) and also along the East Coast, West Coast, and Florida. All ACL ships feature some of the largest passenger cabins in the industry with private balconies, spacious lounges and outdoor areas, gourmet dining, enriching programs with complimentary land tours and excursions, and highly personalized service provided by an all-American staff and crew.

All vessels are US-flagged and built at the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury, Maryland.

The 150-passenger American Pride features a 23-ton stern-mounted paddlewheel. She is a traditional Mississippi-style riverboat, similar in design to the larger American Queen and American Empress operated by American Steamboat Company.

On August 4, 2015, ACL announced the renaming and repositioning of the vessel. Originally slated to be renamed "American Eagle" and relocated from the Mississippi River to the Columbia-Snake River System in early 2016, she was eventually renamed "American Pride," while the name "Queen of the Mississippi" was reassigned to a newbuild paddlewheeler constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding.

Decks and Cabins

The American Pride riverboat has 5 passenger decks (accessible via one elevator) and 78 staterooms, including 6 Suites, 49 Balcony cabins, and 22 Riverview cabins (with non-opening windows), across 7 categories. Most accommodations feature private balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors leading to a step-out veranda.

American Pride offers some of the most spacious staterooms in the industry, with sizes ranging from 268 to 460 ft² (25 to 43 m²). There are no connecting cabins, and only two cabins are wheelchair-accessible.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The ship has one open-seating dining room with single-sitting capacity. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers, elegant furniture, 4- and 8-seat tables, and upscale dining amenities. The cuisine is predominantly American, including regional specialties and freshly prepared dishes. Breakfast is buffet-style with made-to-order options. Lunch includes soup, three entrees, and a chef’s salad. Dinner offers soup, salad, and a choice of three main courses. The wine list features selections of domestic wines. Dietary requirements are accommodated.

Magnolia Lounge is the ship’s largest lounge, offering panoramic views, Victorian-style furnishings, a hardwood bar, and an open-air terrace. It hosts daily enrichment presentations, evening cocktails, and live entertainment including music and magician acts.

Natchez Lounge serves as the past-guest club (Eagle Society) and includes its own outdoor deck. Activities include trivia and member events.

Paddlewheel Lounge provides views of the ship’s three-story paddlewheel. With dark wood paneling and large windows, it features live piano music, a self-service bar, and complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day. Binoculars are available for sightseeing.

Sky Lounge is a popular venue for afternoon tea, social gatherings, and enjoying river views. Its terrace is furnished with lounge chairs and padded seating. Light snacks are available from the bar area throughout the day.

Additional facilities include an Upper Lounge (cards room), Mark Twain Library, and Sun Deck, which offers a promenade, open-air observation area with Top Deck Café Bar, shaded seating, rocking chairs, a putting green, outdoor gym, and live calliope music.

Itineraries

American Pride’s itinerary program includes 8-day one-way cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, departing from Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington. Themed voyages include "Food and Wine," "Fall Foliage," "Music," and holiday cruises for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.

Ports of call include:

• Astoria (Oregon)
• Mount St. Helens (Washington)
• Stevenson (Washington)
• The Dalles (Oregon)
• Pendleton (Oregon) or Richland (Washington)

ACL cruise packages include Wi-Fi, all tours and excursions, flight and coach transfers, live evening entertainment, expert lectures, food tastings, 24-hour coffee/tea service, daily replenished bottled water, and twice-daily room service.

American Pride riverboat cruises in the USA offer a distinctive experience in a market that was once booming, later dormant, and today considered exotic—truly unlike any other. In the late 1800s, Mississippi River paddle boats served as the "cruise ships of the old," providing both leisure travel and cargo transport across the United States. Unlike her historic predecessors, American Pride delivers unmatched modern comforts and amenities to these classic destinations—including spacious cabins with private verandas and bathrooms, Wi-Fi Internet, elegant room service, elevators to all decks, complimentary shore excursions, and themed onboard entertainment.

The vessel is a classic sternwheeler (paddle-wheeler) and the newest in the American Cruise Lines fleet, having entered service on August 11, 2012. By design, she is a sister ship to Queen of the Mississippi/American Heritage (2015) and America (2017), and is similar to Queen of the West/American West, as well as American Empress and American Queen of the AQSC fleet.

Although American Pride is powered by marine diesel engines, she is often referred to as a "steamboat" due to her traditional design. The ship is a modern replica of the grand riverboats that once sailed America's largest rivers—Mississippi, Ohio, Snake, and Columbia—during the late 19th century. These "paddle steamers" were originally powered by steam engines that turned their stern paddlewheel (or, in some cases, twin side wheels).

The vessel’s paddlewheel is driven by a hydraulic motor, powered by two Caterpillar ACERT diesel engines. For enhanced maneuverability and improved cruising speed, American Pride is also equipped with two Azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives"), which are fully submerged and capable of rotating 360 degrees.

American Pride operates 7-night / 8-day itineraries along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, with one-way voyages departing from Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington. The infographic below shows the layout of the American Pride cruise ship, which shares its design with sister ships Queen of the Mississippi and America. Here you can explore the ship’s unique features and layout.

Note: Visit the CruiseMapper River Cruises hub to view a complete list of all river cruise lines and their fleets, along with available itineraries.