American Splendor

The 2016-built (as "American Eagle") American Splendor cruise ship (formerly "America") is a stern-paddlewheel riverboat owned by ACL and operates voyages along the Mississippi River, departing from her homeport in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Following a complete refurbishment in 2021-2022, the riverboat America was renamed "American Splendor." Fleetmates that also underwent full refits and renaming include Queen of the West (now American West) and Queen of the Mississippi (now American Heritage).

The vessel is USA-flagged (MMSI 367710540) and registered in Port NOLA (New Orleans).

History - construction and ownership

Shipowner American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the USA's largest river cruise company, headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, and operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruises on the USA's major inland waterways (rivers and lakes), as well as coastal cruises along the East Coast, West Coast, and Florida. All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's most spacious passenger cabins with private balconies, large lounges and outdoor deck areas, gourmet cuisine, top-tier enrichment programs (including many complimentary shore excursions), and personalized service by an all-American staff and crew.

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

"American Eagle" was initially the name given to the new Queen of the Mississippi—sistership to American Pride. In 2015, ACL decided to rename the old Queen of the Mississippi as "American Pride" and rename the new vessel "Queen of the Mississippi." On August 4, 2015, ACL announced that the "American Eagle" would be renamed and repositioned from the Mississippi to the Columbia-Snake River System in early 2016, with the ship "America" replacing her on the Mississippi. A new paddle-wheeler built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding assumed the name "Queen of the Mississippi."

America/American Splendor is ACL’s 8th ship and its 2nd newbuild, launched in 2016 and homeported in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to the company, she is "the finest Mississippi paddle-wheeler ever constructed," introducing features never before seen on a riverboat of this kind. Slightly larger than older ACL ships, the vessel has a maximum passenger capacity of 185. Her hull was launched on August 7, 2015, followed by upper deck construction and final outfitting. The ship entered service on May 7, 2016.

Decks and Cabins

ACL's American Splendor has 6 passenger decks and 98 staterooms. Ranked among the most spacious in the small-ship cruise industry, cabin sizes range from 205 to 290 ft² (19-27 m²), with the largest accommodations being the Owner’s Suites at 445 ft² (42 m², including the terrace).

All staterooms are outside-facing with large opening picture windows and en suite bathrooms. Most also feature private step-out balconies.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

The Grand Dining Room accommodates all passengers, offering cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Each evening includes a complimentary cocktail hour, while afternoon tea is served in the Sky Lounge.

American Splendor provides a casual, relaxed atmosphere with panoramic views of the river. Onboard amenities include multiple lounges, an open-air exercise area, a putting green on the Top Deck, live jazz and musical entertainment, and enriching lectures by historians and naturalists. The all-American crew delivers attentive, personalized service.

Itineraries

American Splendor's cruise program is based on Mississippi River roundtrips from New Orleans, including the Grand Heartland Cruise. Some itineraries are themed, with options such as "Food and Wine," "Fall Foliage," "Music," and holiday cruises for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.

This infographic features the American Pride cruise ship, a sistership to Queen of the Mississippi and America. It provides a detailed look at the layout and key features of these unique riverboats.

A fun fact: this American Cruise Lines vessel shares her name with the 2012-launched "HANJIN America"—one of the world's largest container ships, with a capacity of 13,102 containers, operated by HANJIN Line.

Note: You can explore CruiseMapper's full list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.