We always wanted to go to Alaska and wanted and intimate experience. It was an excellent ship with a wonderful crew. We saw the wonders of Alaska; spectacular scenery, wildlife including bears, eagles, humpback whales and orcas, sea otters and sea lions, the native culture and people, and wonderful history of the area. American Cruise Lines does an excellent first rate job. We have already booked another cruise. Accommodations were very comfortable. The crew was friendly, caring and service oriented. Onboard entertainment and lectures included people who lived the life we were learning about. The food was outstanding throughout with many delicious choices at each meal. Happy Hour was the time to share the day's experience with new found friends. On-shore excursions offered flexibility and choices that provided comfort and interest for all. Our cruise was an experience of a lifetime. We would highly recommend this Company for "Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly." American Cruise Lines lives by this motto! Read Less

Having cruised on several "big box" ships, I much prefer the small ship experience and this was our second small ship cruise. Starting in Juneau AR, the Constellation made stops in ports that the larger ships skip. We got to experience several National Parks saw 3 of Alaska's better known glaciers and witnessed the 'calvings' of large portions of glaciers. We saw wildlife up close, bears with cubs, moose and deer and on the water, whales, sea lions, seals and water birds. We threaded our way through waters dotted with brilliant blue and white glaciers. In the ports we met lots of people who are year round residents who gave us an insiders perspective on what it is to work and live in Alaska. Our days were busy and we were usually tired when we returned to the ship where all the service was excellent and we would enjoy a great evening meal and relax. Traveling on the Constellation made this a really great and memorable vacation. Read Less

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The small ship (175 pax), great itinerary and solid crew made this cruise a most enjoyable experience. The staterooms are large (300 sq ft) and well appointed. The bathrooms are well laid out and the overall condition of the ship was excellent. We even used our balcony several times, even though we were in a cool climate in Alaska. The dining was uniformly outstanding all week. If you like fresh seafood from Alaska this is the cruise for you--wow what a feast! The dining room is large and well lit and can easily fit the entire passenger complement at one sitting. The shore excursions were also well planned and with one exception were terrific. We loved the nightly entertainment. Just the right amount of quality music and fun, since most of use were quite tired after days that were packed with so much to do. The White Pass Railroad trip was a big highlight, along with two separate glacier experiences that were almost beyond description. The smaller ship was able to get up close and personal to these massive rivers of ice and the experience was stunning. I have to mention the most extravagant and fun Hot Cocoa Bar we have ever seen as well. ON one of the glacier visits ACL really pulled out all stops--what an delicious and different bit of fun--yummy!!! All in all a terrific week all around. Read Less

We chose this cruise hoping to find a method of travel and cruise line that would work okay for person of limited mobility. Sadly, we felt that this trip was overpriced, and that we were misled by sales people. The Spirit is in need of refurbishing. The salesperson I spoke with said it had been done. The cabin was clean enough, but I have traveled on much older vessels that were more updated. I was told that the Spirit would be the next ship to be replaced. The fitness equipment on board was pitiful. The equipment was outdoors and not plugged into power. The salesman said there would be freeweights similar to what you find in a hotel fitness room. There were none. While we appreciated the size, it is a very noisy little ship. Our cabin was on the stern, and engine noise is deafening at times. We were next to the rear outdoor steps, and ship personnel would run up and down at all hours. I finally caught and discussed the door slamming with one of the housekeeping staff. Cabin 321 should be converted to storage.This is an upper level priced cabin. For this price some shore excursions should be included. This was not. Warning to those going to Butchard Gardens...This is a 90 minute ferry ride, 40 minute motor coach, 90 minutes in the garden, 40 minutes back to ferry, and another 90 minutes on the ferry. The gardens are beautiful, but see them on another trip. I appreciated the dining room. We were not assigned seats. There were minimal choicees, but I was happy not to have to fight my way through a buffet to find something to eat. Read Less

I got to go in this cruise because a friend if a friend of a friend could no longer go and sold it for a fraction of the price. It was the best vacation I've ever had. I'm not one for a lot of words, so this will be short and sweet. Food: excellent. Variety, vegetarian options, seafood and red meat. Ammenities: excellent, courteous staff, well timed service Staff: Friendly, personable, uplifting, patient, fun Ship: Beautiful, clean, relaxing, 5 lounges plus a small library. Scenery: Magnificent, beautiful, interesting, educational Ports of Call: Interesting and educational: Skagway is touristy, but the train ride is cool. Haines and Petersburg are interesting and educational. Look for the trash cans in Petersburg. Entertainment: A little lacking... Would love an onboard band and more onboard activities, game nights, etc NOT for young children, but the teens and younger adults seemed to have a good and relaxing time. Read Less

We have sailed with American Cruise Line before. We love the personalized touches of small ship cruising. Southeast Alaska was beautiful. The ports were fun with great activities.I would highly recommend the train tour out of Skagway. The cruise line paid for one night pre-cruise stay at a hotel in Juneau then picked us up the next morning for a tour of Mendenhall Glacier. When we arrived at the ship, our luggage was already in our cabin. We saw other glaciers up close. We also saw humpback whales, Orca, otters, mountain goat and sea lion. The captain would announce any wildlife sightings and just where to look. He would also steer the ship in order for all passengers to have the opportunity to have a sighting. The cuisine was amazing. The service was impeccable. The dining salon has open seating and every server was efficient and friendly. The cabins are very large as are the balconies. Our balcony was large enough for three chairs and a table as well as maneuvering room. Read Less

I chose this cruise because a friend had wonderful experiences with this line and I loved the itenerary. However, I did not ask all the right questions and those I asked of the company were not answered with completeness or accurate knowledge of the ship. My husband is disabled and I notified the staff that we would be arriving with walker and wheelchair... no problem, they said. WRONG! The wheelchair could barely fit into the tiny, difficult elevator, there was no room service, tiny rooms, no phone to contact housekeeping for blankets or towels or special clean up needs. The staff was gracious but I had to go out of the room, wander about the ship to find some help, then request whatever we needed, clearly interrupting them from assigned tasks. This is NOT a ship for the handicapped! Fine for able bodied people who don’t mind the scheduled meals - open seating but if you miss the proper hour, you miss your meal. The staff really tried to make all better and we met a lot of nice people ( only 87 of us aboard) and the excursions were nice. Match your needs to this ship’s accommodations and you will be fine. Kudos to the staff on board who did all they could to make our lives better. Thumbs down to American Cruise Lines who could make minimal changes and market this ship to the appropriate group and solve the problems! Read Less

We like ACL and this is our 3rd cruise with them. Pluses: We booked our next cruise with them while on board to get the 15% savings. and no port charges. We like the intimacy of a smaller ship with less hassles going on & off ship. For people with mobility issues the smaller ship is good as there is less walking around the ship.The ship being small could go to ports like Petersburg where the larger cruise ships cant go. An added surprise was overnighting in Glacier Bay and being able to go off ship at Barlett Cove and walk around. Again something that the big ships cant do. When we saw whales the Capt stopped for some time and then rotated the ship so everyone could see.. The ship is all inclusive with no shops, casino or spa. We like this as opposed to the big ships that can push sales constantly. There is no mail box or name on the cabin door so no worries about having to cull advertisements out constantly like on some ships PLUS & MINUS: The food is good but rich and the desserts are constantly pushed, cookies at 10 am, desserts at lunch & dinner. Happy hour with treats then dinner and for the night's program root beer floats & sundaes. For anyone struggling with a sweet tooth or watching sugar intake has a constant temptation. Snacks are kept out. ACL has started room service for breakfast which we didn't use. A highlight was our Tlingkat Native interpreters that came on board in Glacier Bay Barlett Cove with the Ranger for 24 hours. Captain, Capt Brown who was retired Coast Guard.Capt Brown was very pleasant and conscientious .Our hotel manager Nico was excellent always working and determined to please. MINUS: The vast majority of the staff are younger students.We found this to be true on the other 2 cruises we took with ACL. This was a problem that wait staff needed better training and meal service could be very chaotic. Even the Cruise Directors were young so we see ACL as a training ground for students going into the hospitality field. I would like ACL to include and pay higher wages to some seasoned waiters to mentor the young waiters. The waiters try but it can be frustrating to see the chaos and their stress. Internet was sporadic and we lost it in Glacier bay for several days which met that people could not check in with home or use their cell phones except for the 3 hour stop at Barlett Cove in Glacier Bay. When we cruised Tray Arm again the loss of internet & cell from about 3 am the last day until about 8 pm when we arrived back in Juneau..I think ACL needs to improve their WIFI which we found to be slow. People with health issues have on the larger ships access to medical clinic with doctors. On ACL there was a medic I believe but no medical clinic. I believe a heart attack in Glacier Bay could be a major issue for a medical evacuation. ACL does cater to the older crowd with a higher probability of health issues. There is no cable TV and some of the videos shown on the ACL channel were very dated at least 20-30 years old. there were movie videos but the lack of updated videos on the Alaska channel was disappointing. Excursions are mainly walking tours and the fishing, float and Kayak tours had limited space and sold out. I would like ACL to have more variety with their tours and increase the capacity for float, kayaking and fishing. Read Less

The purpose of the cruise was to enjoy the vistas and wildlife of coastal Alaska in relaxation and comfort. This cruise was perfect. The small ship allowed the captain to alter course and speed to provide optimal viewing for orcas,humpback whales, and other wildlife as well as the flexibility to visit small communities and approach to within yards of glaciers. The food, service, cabins, public spaces and organization were all excellent. The only negative about the trip was the absence of a tour of Juneau itself, the city of embarkation. We happened to arrive early in the day , 24 h before embarkation and were able to take advantage of a hop on hop off bus tour which included visits to the salmon hatchery [in the middle of the salmon run], a beautiful Russian Orthodox church, a wonderful local museum and a tram ride to the top of an adjacent mountain giving initial perspective to the capital city. Read Less

We always wanted to see the San Junan Islands of Washing state and thought this would be an effortless way to do it. Embarkation was easy. The itinerary was very good and we really enjoyed all the historical little towns and scenery. Our room was quite large and the king size bed was really nice and comfortable. We did not do a veranda, as they were very small and had a metal door, not a big window and other folks said they wouldn't have paid for a veranda had they known. We chose #205 which was fairly quiet and others in the aft of the ship said the engine could be noisy. There were always snacks and beverages available in the lounge and a continental breakfast for early risers. I would suggest booking a room on the starboard side, as it seemed they usually had the better view in port. Breakfast was good and had many choices. There were only 2 choices for lunch and dinner along with a vegetarian choice. I think the food was rather average, except for the last night when lobster and surf and turf was on the menu. No phones in the rooms which could be a factor in a medical emergency during the night. The ship is about the oldest in their fleet and needs a bit of updating, but was clean. There didn't seem to be stabilizers and when we encountered rough seas one day, many folks were ill, but it was only for about 5 hours or so. The wait staff along with the cruise director, etc were all great. The shore excursions and informative talks on board were enjoyable, but it would have been nice to have had a complimentary excursion in each port, such as a walking tour. The walking tour of Port Angeles was $20, but we went to the Visitor Center and got it for $12. Entertainment was just average and usually local people who lived in the particular town where we stopped for the day. This is definitely not a cruise for children, they would be bored. It was mostly 'seniors'. Disembarkation went smoothly and we paid for the airport transfer which was very reasonable. All in all, it was the perfect way to see the San Juan Islands. Read Less

I prefer small ship cruises, and this line seemed to meet all my expectations. Friends had traveled on it and recommended it highly. The only problem seemed to be choosing from a lot of exciting and inviting destinations. My son and I chose the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands cruise and were not disappointed.. Everything was outstanding, from the pre-cruise package which gave us a night in Seattle and transportation to the ship to our disembarkation with the promise of a future voyage. Our single cabins were roomier than expected with plenty of closet and drawer space for clothes. We even had balconies, although I didn't use mine. The only problem was the bed which was narrower than I had expected. But I managed. Food was very good, and we enjoyed the fact that seating was not reserved, so that we had a chance to meet a lot of our fellow passengers. The late afternoon cocktail hour was another opportunity to mix. Because I have mobility problems, I found I couldn't take some of the shore excursions, but my son did and enjoyed them very much. I especially enjoyed seeing the Burchardt Gardens for the third time in my life and my visit to the Suquamish Museum. And even if I couldn't take advantage of the actual trips, I enjoyed David Stephens talks about the area, the people, and the tribal customs. I highly recommend both this cruise line and the ship we traveled on. Read Less

Prior experience with American Cruise lines on the Columbia and Snake river combined with a desire to see parts of Alaska were combined with this nice small ship Alaska arrangements. American Cruise lines handled everything very well - including the loss of WiFi (which was a bit of an irritant at points - but overall not a deal breaker) The cruise included several small towns that much larger ships could not have berthed at - and so kept us from just being another ship in port. Great onboard staff!!! really went out of the way all the time to be friendly. OBTW - they do NOT work for tips - and such are clearly not encouraged. Room was modern - clean at all times - dining was excellent with a very engaged chef - who really did want to know your special dietary needs. Not sure how his staff did it every day - three times a day + the lounge bar hours (this is an open bar ship - no alcohol charges!) Tours were available often twice a day and accommodations for all levels of ability covered. And they were not extra - with the exception of a fishing trip. Most highly recommended! Read Less

The only reason I didn't give this cruise a one out of five is because a few things went well, including embarkation and disembarkation; plus, the poorly trained staff at least tried (for the most part). Our crew were all in training, but this was not a training priced cruise. $11,000 per suite (double occupancy). Crew experience was 16 weeks or less, except for a handful that were asked back and promoted! All were about college age and while nice, not trained or knowledgeable about what it took to do a good job. Very frustrating. The ship looked very old (1980s décor), but it was actually built in 2005. It looked like a retirement home. My room key was a frustration from the very start. Every time I used it I had to pull it out a bit from the lock, get it just right, then turn it, so it would lock or unlock. No room safes, and on top of that, I was told there was no safe on the entire boat!!!! I always locked my door to my balcony when I left my room, but several times, while docked, I arrived back and the room door out to my balcony was not only unlocked, but actually open so anyone could walk right in (I believe this was a housekeeping issue). After being gone all day long and not having a safe to hold things, it was very disconcerting. The food was adequate, but nothing special – at all. The food was not plated well - just thrown on. It was not appetizing. All the menus were gone well before lunch (not a breakfast eater), so I couldn’t see what we were going to be having later in the day to know if I needed to special order. One day I found the extra menus in the garbage in the big room and dug one out (they were supposed to be available most of the day). Food - inconsistent serving portions. The most glaring example was the strawberry shortcake. It looked like a wonderful, healthy, serving size when we saw the first trays coming out. Then, when it came time to get ours, it appeared as though they had run out when putting all the other portions together. Hardly any strawberries, vs flowing over in the first that came, and tiny portions when ours arrived! We had the same issue with entrees, even at the same table. Some were almost double that of others. We originally thought people were ordering half sizes, but they were not, and people were disappointed (I was one of those several times). No portion control. I had a salad at lunch and the lettuce was dirty – caked in dirt in the crevices. It had not been washed. Very gritty, unsanitary and nasty. A couple of the servers could not pour without spilling. One server, at least, could never get orders (food and drink) to correct person at lunch. Cocktail hour food was nothing I ever wanted to eat. The gym was a joke. Three pieces of equipment stuck outside on the back of the boat. I don’t even know what to say about that, except I was planning on being a user and never tried them once. There were cracked ceiling tiles in my bathroom and the bathroom floor corners were nasty – not really sure if dirty or bad job on grouting (or more likely both). Entertainment? What a joke. From bingo to music that was straight from the 50s, and not high-end. Photos we saw ahead of time did not match our ship. This trip was misrepresented. I felt cheated. If I was paying $2500 for our suite, and been told it was a training crew, I would have expected what I got – 3rd rate service, food, rooms, balcony, gym, everything. I am posting an online review so others who are smarter than I (because they will do more research) will know to stay away. I relied on the person making the reservations, and they relied on the cruise line’s word and brochures. MISTAKE. Read Less

This is our second cruise in Alaska. The first was a large ship cruise, which convinced us to take a small ship cruise to allow to see more of Alaska. We cruised out of Juneau, AK and returned to Juneau. The itinerary took to a couple of places that the large ships go, but mostly we went to places that the larges ship to not visit, Haines, AK, Petersburg, AK and the Lodge at Glacier Bay National Park. We flew into Juneau, AK day early so that we could do some additional whale watching with Harv and Marv's Whale Watching Tours. American Cruise Lines did extra work to ensure that our personal hotel reservation was tied to the precruise hotel, which allowed us not change hotels or rooms. Getting onboard and getting started was seamless. Our bags were in our room when we arrived. The Cabin on the American Constellation was large than the cabin on the large ship. The bathroom was also larger, with full sized shower. Dining was excellent, and while there wasn't a 24 hour buffet, no one went hungry. Onboard entertainment was local talent, from the places we stopped, so we were also able to discuss living in the remote parts of Alaska with several different people, from several different places. None of them regretted being remote. There were complimentary shore excursions, which were well planned and always accommodated everyone. There were also additional paid excursions which were on topic for Alaska. Rafting, kayaking, etc. We did not travel with children. In fact this type of small boat cruising tends to attract the senior crowd. We have already scheduled our next small ship cruise. Read Less

I picked this cruise based on the availability of a 'solo' cabin, by the time the cruise was over had decided to again sail with ACL again next May. The ship was clean and well run, the Hotel Manager, Natalie Pozdol, and the Cruise Director, Jean Vielman (be sure and ask her to make you a Green Goddess) were truly outstanding, quickly responding to any problems, and arriving at rapid solutions. I had a 'solo' cabin, which was very comfortable, and had a balcony, which I made great use of watching the world pass, and seeing sights that I would not normally see. The professionalism from the entire staff was truly remarkable. Added highly to the enjoyment of the cruise. The ship's galley turned out some outstanding meals. The size of the ship allowed some really close-up visist to some interesting locations, especially the glacier, and to sail close to some of the wildlife, seals, whales, etc. The cruise was so enjoyable that I signed up for a cruise on the Queen of the West in May of 2018. I can honestly tell you to bring a size larger garment to wear when the cruise is over, the food is just that good, and the little extras insure that you will never be hungry. The open-seating and single time dinning allows for the easy making of new friends, and some great conversation. The trips ashore were very interesting, and of just the right length. This cruise was designed for us 'older folks,' and there is very little to do for young children. That about takes care of the review, to sum up,. a great cruise, staffed by some great people. Read Less

First time cruising family. We looked for a small ship with an elevator to take our 97 year old mom back to Alaska where she lived for a year in 1947. American Cruise Lines fit the bill. I can't say enough nice things about the ship, American Spirit, its Captain, and crew. The cabin and bathroom were much bigger than expected. Very comfortable bed and very clean. Each cabin had a large window you could open and look out. The large main lounge, with a 180 degree view, and the top deck had comfortable seating for watching the passage, visiting, reading or napping. The meals were excellent. The menu varied daily with wonderful options and preparations. Portions were perfect. We didn't come away overstuffed or wanting. This is an adult cruise. Not enough entertainment for young kids or some adolescents; no video games or play areas, no movie theater or pool. And limited wifi. Perfect for those of us who want to unplug, decompress, and enjoy the unbelievable scenery. Some shore excursions are included in the booking. They have activities to suit everyone, from wheelchair and walker to hiker, runner, fisherman, and kayaker. I highly recommend this cruise. Read Less

Thank you Jean, Andrew and the whole staff aboard the American Spirit for the BEST Alaskan experience we could ever have wished for.The Captain and deck hands gave us so much time at each of the glaciers that we had time to breathe in the experience and really enjoy BEING there. He had us surrounded by Orcas at one point and was able to cut engines so we could see them up close and one even swam under the bow. The icing on the cake was the Bald Eagle perched on the top of the ice berg as we passed the last iceberg. Everyone began to suspect that they had cued the animals as we passed. MAGICAL!!! Thank you for taking such great care of our Dad and helping to get him off the ship and exploring the sights. Perfect weather was the cherry on top. I don't know how it could have been better. Loved Bill and Laura, Ranger Jenny, and Gary. The food was great - even with my quirky special diet (I believe I put on pounds). Safe travels to you all. Hope to join you again sometime. Read Less

A friend recommended this cruise line. We enjoyed both the itinerary and the small ship experience. It was more casual than we expected - comfortable and friendly. The captain was flexible and would stop or turn around if he spotted wildlife we would enjoy seeing. The staff definitely wanted to please us. The on-ship entertainment was perfect; no big productions, mainly a couple of multi-talented performers. Excursions were educational - some more interesting than others. Living in a flat-land Midwestern state, we were awed by the vistas every day of the cruise. The other passengers were as enthusiastic as we were spotting bears, mountain goats, seals, sea lions, eagles, puffins, otters, and icebergs. It was thrilling to hear the "thunder" prior to seeing a piece of a glacier fall and plunge into the sea. Birds rushed to that location to feast on the small fish that were brought to the surface. Our best cruise yet. Read Less

This cruise was great. The small ship lent itself to stopping when a bear was spotted, getting closer to the glaciers than a larger ship would be able to do.The cabin was quite large, the bed comfortable, and the bathroom roomy. The food was out of this world. The chef even cooked a salmon caught by a family member for our dinner! The entertainment is strongly lacking--enough so that I can't honestly recommend this cruise line to my friends under 70. Not enough fun entertainment after dinner. The lecturer, while knowledgeable, needed to be only in the afternoon, not afternoon after afternoon, and then evening, too. The service was top notch in every department. The ports were as good as could be with what towns were available.The beginning of my cruise did not go well. No one informed me that I was to meet at a hotel lobby, rather than on the ship, to go on a pre-cruise glacial tour so I missed it.All 8 in my party missed it. Disappointing. Read Less

I chose this cruise cause it had a good itinerary. the ship was awful. small rooms, even smaller bathrooms. no entertainment for adults after 10. food was awful. no 24 hr. Pizza. no guys burgers. carnival has them both and entertainment after the show. steep to get back on the boat. expensive excursions. tons more that i can't remember. just an awful boat with horrible food. no cigarettes for sale. no alcohol for sale. just awful. gambling every day for 10 days and you can't get a free cruise. just horrible. Bathroom shower and toilet didn't work twice. had to use bottled water. then when i asked to be reimbursed, had to yell at the guy, yuan to get me 3 bottles of water. was going to send me a pitcher. i used bottled water to shower not pitcher water. horrible. Gina our stewardess was nice. people on the boat were rude. basil, he was very nice. Read Less

We wanted to experience Alaska but on a small boat. So much better than a big boat - a more diverse range of ports, a chance to meet everyone on board, the ability to stop and chase the wildlife rather than sticking to a strict time schedule. We were very impressed with the quality of the boat, the decor and the size of our stateroom The staff were incredibly friendly, warm and helpful The food was excellent and there was always plenty of alchohol, including free cocktail hour every evening The other travellers were also very friendly. Some were in groups, but most came as a couple and were very happy to mix. There were also a few singles, who mixed in well. Being in our early 50s, we were one of the younger couples, but that didn't actually matter at all. We had a historian on board for the whole trip, who made it incredibly interesting - he was fabulous. Quite a few people specifically book trips based on when Todd (Weber) will be on board. Not a cruise for kids. Read Less

This was our 8th cruise with American Cruise Lines - we choose this line for its small ships, American crew, and interesting destinations. To enjoy the American Experience, you have to understand what you are NOT buying - no casino, stage show, spa, salon, specialty dining, etc. What you ARE buying is local entertainment in small ports, friendly and responsive young staff, and mature passengers with lots of travel experience and rich life stories. Cabins are more than adequate in size (although I always pack extra hangers). Dining is one seating for lunch and dinner. Dress code is casual. Although we did not get as lucky with the wildlife as I was hoping (no bears for me) the scenery was beautiful, the weather acceptable, and the long journey south from Juneau to Seattle relaxing. The small ports we visited were unique and charming. The free hotel night in Juneau and transfer to the ship were a great idea. The Hotel Baranof is not a very nice hotel but hotel options in Juneau are very limited. On Alaska itineraries for American, most shore excursions are complimentary. Excursions were simple but the "city tour" in Wrangell, AK was exceptionally charming. Traffic in Seattle is terrible so neither the city tour nor the transfer to the airport were pleasant, but of course this is not American Cruise Lines' fault. Internet and television service were unavailable most of the time as the ship sailed a long distance from land. The hotel manager - also serving as cruise director on this voyage - was amazing. We loved Val's personality and attention to customer service. His eager young staff (the kids serve as both room stewards and dining room waiters) was so friendly and loveable. Some of the food was a little odd and we were disappointed in the quality of the fish and seafood, but I can tell you we did not lose any weight or come home hungry. We are booked on 2 more American Cruise Lines trips, in September 2016 and March 2017. It is a relaxing, informative, and pleasant way to travel the USA. Read Less

Small ships, great itineraries and wonderful, cheerful service. Free wine and beer with lunch and dinner. A full-bar happy hour every day before dinner with great appetizers! Starting in Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier, the Tracy Arm cruise with Watson Glacier and the huge icebergs were beautiful. The historic walking tour of Petersburg gave us a glimpse of real life in Alaska. Out of Wrangell, the Jet boat tour on the Stikine River and Chief Shake Glacier provided up close viewing of the Glacier with a great addition of Mountain Goats 200 yards away! The local town tour of Wrangell was great, beautiful museum and entertaining guides. Duckboat tour of the harbor in Ketchikan. Cruising the Queen Charlotte Straits was a beautiful 3 days. San Juan Island tour in Friday Harbor, Jet boating in Anacordes through Deception Pass. Walking tour in Port Townsend was great and informative. Did I mention that ALL of these tours are FREE on American?!!! Our Naturalist on board was very informative and helpful in identifying Humpback whale behavior and spotting a lone Orca (Sea Panda)! While everything wasn't perfect, the combination of a smaller ship and cheerful staff made our 8th cruise on American all we could expect. We have 2 more cruises booked and will relish our 11th cruise FREE. What a great benefit to have on American Cruise Lines!!! Read Less

This was our third cruise with American Cruise Lines. We have always enjoyed ourselves. Small ship cruising is, imho, the only way to go. Ships carry 80-some passengers, with a crew or 30 or so. There is always someone close by that you can contact for whatever you may need. Management team is always available and always visible and always working to pamper every passenger. The personal touch is everywhere you look. The group activities, shore excursions, cocktail hours, are great opportunities to meet and get to know your fellow passengers. We particularly enjoy being able to get on and off the ship in a timely manner, and being able to have meals at one time and have open seating is a real plus. We usually book our next cruise before disembarking; saves time, $, and gets you a better choice of staterooms. Our next cruise was booked for New Orleans before we departed Juneau. Friends are constantly inviting us to go cruising with them on the big ships. We continue to decline. This is a much better way to spend our time and money. Read Less