American West

The 1995-built American West cruise ship (formerly "Queen of the West") is a stern-paddlewheel riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines (ACL). She is deployed on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, with voyages departing from the homeports of Portland, Oregon and Clarkston, Washington.

Following a complete redesign and refurbishment in 2021-2022, Queen of the West was renamed "American West." The same process was applied to fleetmates America (now American Splendor) and Queen of the Mississippi (now American Heritage).

The vessel is USA-flagged (MMSI 367452710) and registered in Portland, Oregon.

History – Construction and Ownership

American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the largest river cruise company in the USA, headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut. Operational since 1991, ACL specializes in cruising the USA’s largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes), as well as coastal routes along the US East Coast, West Coast, and Florida. All ACL ships offer some of the industry’s most spacious passenger cabins with private balconies, expansive lounges and outdoor decks, gourmet cuisine, top-quality enrichment programs (including many complimentary land tours and excursions), and highly personalized service delivered by an all-American crew.

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

Queen of the West operates 7-day itineraries in the Pacific Northwest, retracing the historic route of Lewis and Clark. The vessel was originally built for American West Steamboat Company, later acquired by Majestic America Line, and then sold to ACL in 2009. She underwent extensive drydock renovations in 2011.

Decks and Cabins

ACL’s American West has 4 passenger decks and 74 staterooms, most of which feature private step-out balconies. Accommodations include 6 Suites, 39 Balcony, and 29 Riverview cabins (with non-opening windows) across 8 categories. All cabins offer opening picture windows with private views, individual climate control, a DVD player, satellite TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The American West features a 20-ton, stern-mounted paddlewheel powered by a hydraulic motor driven by diesel engines. Navigation is enhanced by two Z-drive units, providing greater maneuverability and cruising speed compared to traditional riverboats.

Restaurants, lounges, and bars include: Lewis & Clark Dining Room, Mt. Hood Lounge (for shows), Paddlewheel Lounge (observation), Mark Twain Library, Sun Deck Promenade, Calliope Lounge (observation), and Calliope Bar & Grill (casual dining). Additional features include shaded seating areas, rocking chairs, and live calliope music performances.

American West cruise fares are inclusive of Wi-Fi Internet, all shore tours and excursions, flight and coach transfers, live evening entertainment, daily expert lectures, wine tastings, 24-hour coffee and tea, replenished bottled water, and twice-daily room service.

Cruise prices are listed per person (in USD), based on double occupancy. These are indicative ACL cruise rates and may vary depending on promotions, travel agency offers, group bookings, or last-minute deals.

Itineraries

The Queen of the West/American West offers 7-night authentic paddle-wheeler cruises in the USA’s Pacific Northwest. Although the oldest vessel in the ACL fleet, her 2011 refurbishment transformed her into a modern ship while preserving the charm of traditional American river travel. Departures are from the homeports of Portland, OR and Clarkston, WA.

The Queen of the West riverboat cruises along the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the US Pacific Northwest. She is a traditional sternwheeler (paddle-wheeler) and the oldest vessel in the American Cruise Lines fleet. A notable feature of the ship is her 45 ft (14 m) long bow ramp, which allows guests to disembark at virtually any point along the river route. She also features a three-story-high paddlewheel, powered by a modern propulsion system that uses biodegradable hydraulic oil. Most passengers are senior Americans, with only a few families or children onboard.

Although the vessel is diesel-powered, many American Cruise Lines fans refer to the Queen of the West as a "steamboat" due to her classic design. These types of US river cruise ships are designed as replicas of the high-capacity riverboats that once operated in the late 1800s on major American rivers such as the Mississippi, Ohio, Snake, and Columbia. Also known as "paddle steamers," the original vessels were powered by steam engines that rotated either a stern paddlewheel or dual side-mounted wheels, depending on the design.

This ship’s paddlewheel riverboat design closely resembles that of American Pride and Queen of the Mississippi (both operated by American Cruise Lines), as well as American Empress and American Queen (both from the American Steamboat Company fleet).

The 2011 refurbishment involved extensive upgrades, including refitting staterooms (expanding cabin sizes, adding individual climate control, stationery, closets, and four-drawer dressers) and increasing the number of balconies—now featured in 60% of all accommodations. The lounges were renovated with custom-built furniture and updated interior décor, and both the galley and engine room underwent reconstruction.

Note: You can view 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.