While I was born and raised in New York City, my wife had not traveled in this area. She chose this cruise. I found this cruise to be informative and interesting. I liked the personal attention given by the crew and staff to meeting my needs. I traveled alone with my wife's blessing while my wife remained home and had her gall bladder removed. My role in doing this unexpected solo travel was to "scout out" where my wife and I should go. While I lingered at Mt. Vernon one their shore tour, the boat left without me. I had scanned my card when I left the boat for the Mt. Vernon tour. I called the boat. Traci, the cruise director, arranged to have a limo pick me up and take me to the next stop, Cambridge. Since I arrived in Cambridge before the boat, Traci also arranged for my stay overnight in a hotel. The following morning I rejoined the cruise. On any other cruise I am positive I would have been told to figure out on my own how to rejoin the cruise. This company is outstanding! Basically the folks at American Cruise got all the things to see and do just right and really knows how to take care of its passengers! Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the new ship and the destinations. This was our fifth cruise with ACL. This one was good but not up to ACL standards as we experienced them before. The ship was nice, clean, and user friendly, with elevator service (a big plus for seniors). The staff was polite and personable, although some needed more training or experience. E.g., we had to ask for fresh towels on two occasions, and on one the towels did not arrive until 5:30 pm. Our main issue was that we were not allotted enough time to fully take advantage of the excursions. For example, the stay in Yorktown was not long enough to accommodate a full visit to the American Revolution Museum and the Jamestown Settlement. The Jamestown excursion involved a lot of walking in crowded conditions and too much info from the guide. Could have been shorter. The excursion to Mt. Vernon was too short to accommodate a full visit to the GW Museum and the mansion. The Military Aviation Museum was so-so. Washington DC excursion was good. The food was inconsistent and there did not seem to be as many choices as before and too many repeats on the menu. We did not like the new overlapping HH/Dinner, because we were with a group of seven (which formed on board), and it was often difficult to find a table after HH, because earlier diners did not clear out as fast as they should have. Special kudos to server Olivia Wilbur, who could not have been more friendly and efficient, and to historian Bertram Hayes-Davis for informative presentations re Revolutionary War history. The above said, we still have faith in ACL and have signed up for another cruise in fall 2020 (Hudson River Fall Foliage). Read Less

We chose this cruise because my husband is a history buff and the theme was the Revolutionary War; also we wanted a small ship experience staying in protected waters where I would never lose sight of land! The ports we visited were significant during the Revolutionary War but we had a bonus on this cruise. Dr. Harold Cones, Jr. was our lecturer who is also a biologist. We learned some things about marine life in the Chesapeake Bay as well as being entertained by his wit and sense of humor. Logistically everything flowed smoothly;our cabin was large and comfortable, the private balcony was spacious as was the bathroom. Attention to detail was evident at all times. I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for this type of on board experience. The staff is young and they are very polite, helpful and patient while dealing with a older clientele. Only complaint: Better wine should be available to accompany the excellent food Read Less

This was the first cruise of the Constitution and lasted for 10 nights as we cruised around the Chesapeake Bay. I think the highlight for most people on board was getting to visit Washington D.C., even though I really loved Yorktown. We saw the Yorktown battlefield and shopped in the pretty area right around the ship's dock. The Constitution was built in Maryland (surprise!!) and it felt like a perfect way to have the first cruise be in Maryland. The ship is pretty and we had a nice room with large doors and a private porch. All meals are in the dining room on the first floor, where everyone sits together. Some people form little groups and all sit together, but we chose new table mates each night and met some wonderful people, even one with mutual friends from long ago. The chef focuses on the local specialty and I think I had crab 7 of the 10 days I was onboard, it was indulgent but excellent. We plan to cruise again next year and may try the Mississippi for more history. I would love to see Vicksburg. Read Less

Chose this cruise to visit Tangier Island, Williamsburg, Annapolis and other small communities along the Virginia and Maryland shores. The food is always wonderful with accommodations made for dietary needs. There is always a riverlorian or someone knowledgeable in the areas visited on board to lecture and impart wonderful histories and stories. The evening entertainment has, for the most part, been fine. On the last night of this cruise, the entertainer was a young male singer accompanied by his mother. Before too long, he had only a handful of guests staying for his whole show. There is internet available, but very spotty. From the Captain to the deck hands, all the ships' personnel are caring and pleasant. It is a pleasure to sail on ships where everything is AMERICAN MADE. Sailing on ACL ships provides a wonderful, comfortable way to see American from the beauty of American waterways from Alaska to the Mississippi and the Eastern coasts. Read Less

I had never been in this area. It was a good introduction to this part of our United States. I leaned so much about the area and the American Revolution from the lectures and then seeing the areas. The Captain and crew were very friendly. They learned the names of most of their travelers and actually took time to visit when they were free to do so. The food was fantastic. Each item was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. The chef went the extra step to create delicious special desserts for the diabetic person in my group. Each night the chef came by our table and asked if we enjoyed the meal. He was a visible presence in the dining room and received our praise and any comments we wanted to share. I enjoyed my fill of crab dishes from breakfast crab omelets to crab salads and crab cakes. Then, when I couldn't see another crab, there was steak, chicken and many other items to choose from on the menu. Three cheers for a fantastic trip, crew and cuisine! Read Less

We have used American Cruise Lines before (New Orleans R/T; Columbia and Snake Rivers) and were very impressed with the size of the staterooms; the food service; the helpfulness and friendliness of the crew members; and the cleanliness of the ships in general. The experts they had on board to give information regarding the cruise area were just that: very knowledgeable and very approachable. The visit to the ports of call are generally well run and they make you realize how much you do not know about the USA. We were on the Chesapeake cruise and outside of Yorktown and Williamsburg, visited places that we had not known existed and enjoyed them thoroughly. We are definitely fans of American Cruise Lines and have already signed up for the Maine Coast and Harbors cruise for next year. (And no long, redeye flights to Europe needed to reach the port of embarkation!!) Read Less

7th cruise with American Cruise Lines and each getting better. Looking forward to #8 in August.. This was a brand new ship and only on it's second cruise. Some problems with the free wi-fi and on board printers but again the staff printed our airline boarding passes for us. As usual the food and the happy hour with an open bar and great snacks was enjoyed by all. One of the best things about American Cruise Lines is that they employ (but only for 16 weeks) American college students and to meet with them on a daily basis and hear their hopes and dreams for the future is refreshing. On a previous cruise high water prevented the ship from completing the trip. So the company changed the destination and provided all shore trips at no cost and rearranged everyone's air at no cost to the passenger. I have done many big ship cruises and a number lf over seas (Europe, Russia, Egypt) river cruise but none can compare with the experience on American cruise Lines,. Read Less

We chose this cruise to be with friends that we had cruised with previously. Also, it was an area that we had not yet explored. We looked forward to being on a brand new ship, its second cruise! It was everything that they had advertised. We loved the different color schemes on each deck, especially the use of orange on the fourth deck lounge. It makes it very bright and inviting. There is also a lounge on the second deck that is larger. That is where lectures and evening entertainment is held. Both lounges have early bird breakfast items available. The ship had personnel out by the curb to handle our luggage and put it in our rooms. As we signed in, we were given name tags and a card for keyless room entry. It was also used for leaving and returning to the ship. Our room was very spacious. We loved the balcony with its medium sized table and two comfortable chairs. It was deep enough to get around on. The bathroom has aa shower with a closing door and plenty of grab bars. This is especially important if the seas get a bit rough. However, this ship seemed very stable in our five foot waves one day. Our meals were very good. We always had several choices. We could get half orders, change veggies, order something off the menu as long as we told them ahead of time. They also ask about any dietary restrictions. I ate too many desserts as they all sounded so good! Harold Cones, our lecturer, historian, was very well informed about the region, its shellfish, and anything else that you wanted to know about the area. He gave several talks that we could attend or listen to and watch in our staterooms. He went on our shore excursions with us so that he could answer any questions. There were several options for shore trips at each port. We signed up at the beginning of the cruise, but could change our plans if necessary. The trolley tour of Annapolis and guided tour of the Naval Academy was one of the highlights of our trip. We had docked out, so we took the launch over to the town. It was handled very well. I liked having two washers and dryers on board for our use. The ship provided the detergent and dryer sheets. Debarkation was well handled. We received tags for our luggage the day before and put our bags outside our rooms before we went to bed. By morning, all of the luggage was grouped outside ready to go with us to our destination. We enjoy ACL because it is small ship cruising at its best! Read Less

I took a group for a Chesapeake Bay cruise May 13th, 2017. From start to finish, the cruise was terrific. This was the second cruise for the new vessel. The décor is wonderful. There are two elevators that you would find in the finest hotels. Whoever designed the ship did a great job. The beautiful designs of the carpeting were different on each floor. My room was on main deck not far from the restaurant and easy for debarking the ship for tours. The window was large enough to enjoy the views of sights along the itinerary. I looked at a balcony room of one of my group members. The balcony has now been made larger than their previous ACL vessels. I found the room to be well-lit. Bathroom is large with an enclosed shower. Large drawers in the sink vanity. Hot water was plentiful. Telephones are in each room as well as a large "red" button on the wall for emergency situations. There is now WiFi throughout the vessel however, as expected there were areas along the itinerary that Internet was spotty. American Cruise Lines is working to correct this. The desk has plenty of drawers as well as a desk lamp. If you like a lot of storage in your stateroom, you sure will have it...along with a nice size closet. Cuisine was typical of the area...delicious seafood dishes as well as chicken, pork and beef menu items. There was also lovely salads and soups. I must say that my group members feel the way I do. We all loved our meals...breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would have liked a little more entertainment however, the lectures were very interesting. The cruise directors were very pleasant and added to the fun of the cruise, like Bingo. For card players, there are many lounges with tables. I along with friends, enjoyed playing games in the beautiful Sky Lounge. Everyone loves the peach decor with white wicker chairs and glass-topped tables. Also, I was surprised to see out on the Sky Deck, stuffed lovely blue couches to relax in. There are several areas to be comfortable outdoors plus there is a covered area to get our of the sun or rain. There is an indoor fitness area. Since I am healing from a broken leg, I needed assistance getting on and off the vessel. That was not a problem. The deckhands and mates were so helpful. There are separate housekeeping and dining staffs. Everyone greets you with a smile and a "hello". I wanted to hug each and everyone of them. Front desk staff is very friendly and truly aims to please. The tours were well-handled. Even though the cruise was only 6 nights, there were many ports. The 1/1/2 hour ferry to Tangier Island was well worth it. If you take this cruise, I would highly recommend this tour. There are no cars on the island. A delicious family-style lunch is included. My group enjoyed tours in Yorktown/Williamsburg and Annapolis as well as other ports. Embarkation and debarkation was smooth. The Constellation will be sailing to the Northwest in the future. Her sister ship, The American Constitution is under construction. I have taken groups on all of their vessels and on everyone of their itineraries including the beautiful Pearl Mist. Read Less

This cruise was our first but will not be our last. Having heard many cruise stories my wife and I were prepared for the worst but surprise - no worries just great service and six days of enjoyment. We found Baltimore to be a little dated but what the heck the city has been around several hundred years. The ship on the other hand was only a week old and our trip was it's second voyage. The staff was very helpful and in no time at all we were sailing veterans. Our cabin was 502 top deck and top price. I did not see much difference when I compared the cabin to other cabins on the lower decks. This was definitely a seniors cruise with the majority of the passengers already on the Social Security rolls. Entertainment was limited but had I wanted entertainment I would have gone to Broadway. I was looking for peace and quite with a little sighting seeing and I found it on this cruise. We did enjoy Dr. Harold Cones who gave several lectures on the Chesapeake Bay environment. We are now experts in the life of a crab! The food was superb and served in ample quantities and if the first serving as not sufficient many ordered a second serving. Same with the drinks. I drink non alcohol beer which was not available the first evening. but when requested I was told it would be added to stock which it was at the next port. Every request was meet with a smile and a can do attitude. I really enjoyed the decks where I spent the early morning watching the sun rise while drinking coffee and eating fresh pastries and fruit. I guess you could call me a satisfied customer as I have already booked another cruise for this Fall. Read Less

Near to places where family lives. Wanted to go to Williamsburg. Didn't like paying for other people to drink as much as they wanted as I barely drink. Don't think I will chose a cruise with unlimited alcohol included. WiFI was awful. We did sign up for another cruise, lots of pressure to do so. Felt like a pyramid scheme. Entertainment was just average, especially compared to other cruises we have been on. Not sure we will do another one after the next one. Seemed to make excursions out of places that were not all that interesting. The 1 1/2 hr ride for the crab feed and back again was not comfortable and the lunch was not worth it. Norm on board was very funny and informative. Let's hope the person on the Lewis and Clark trip is just as informative and funny. I will be disappointed if he is not. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we have sailed with American Cruise Lines before and had a fabulous experience. We try to alternate between theEast Coast and West Coast... last year we did the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This year we chose the Chesapeake Bay because we have never been there and we wanted to experience this wonderful new ship. We were on the second cruise of this ship ! Everything was wonderful. Food is top notch, fresh and well prepared. The staff is very professional and go out of their way for the passengers and lovely rooms... amenities and off ship tours are exceptional. We enjoyed the Constellation so much we booked next years trip to Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. We are looking forward to our next Read Less

We have wanted to cruise the Chesapeake for sometime. This trip was very informative as we learned much about the history of colonial America & also much about the history of the seafood industry that is there. The brand new Constellation is a beautiful ship and the crew & staff could not have been better. Maximum capacity is 160 passengers, which is nice & you get to know your fellow cruisers. The cabin was roomy and we never felt cramped or crowed when in our stateroom. The meals were excellent too. Shore excursions were enjoyable, as we had the opportunity to go to some smaller places like Crisfield, Tangier Island, St. Michael, etc.. We like American Cruise lines because it is for a more mature, discerning cruiser. There are NO families with lots of small children running all over the place playing & yelling. We will be traveling with this cruise line again. Read Less

Our inaugural cruise on the American Constellation was a real standout experience , which is why we have continued to book repeatedly with American Cruise Lines. Smaller cruises afford a better opportunity to engage and meet new friends easily. Them meals are top notch and staff are always friendly and conscientious to all your needs. Having a historian/environmentalist on board adds to the whole adventure and overall educational experience of the various ports. Our Hotel/Cruise Manager " Kyle " was outstanding & always willing to help out and answer any questions. " Kevin " our Tour/Excursion Director (2nd time with him ) did such a great job of being friendly but firm and stern with our safety and timelines. " Drew " Director of Hotel Operations , whom we have cruised with before was such a delight to know. Only one comment regarding evening entertainment== wish it could be enhanced a bit but overall and exceptional cruise. We are currently booked for the Columbia/Snake River cruise in September and for the inaugural Spring cruise of the American Constitution to Grand Historic South in 2018. Read Less

This was the inaugural cruise for the American Cruise Lines ship, American Constilattion. As with the previousv14 cruises, the ship, personnel, and the onshore sites, were outstanding. The sites included Colonial Williamsburg, Crisfield Maryland (Bluecrab capital), and included the naval academy at Annapolis. The dining staff was very friendly and accommodating when requests for a change in meals. We later decided to extend our cruise with an additional week, and while not originally booked, the American Cruise Lines was able to extend our cruise. We originally met, married on American Cruise Lines ship American Independence. We were traveling as separate individuals, but stated, through the help of the personnel, we were married as the first couple to be married on an American Cruise Lines ship. We always consider American Cruise Lines as our cruise line. We have taken cruise in Maine, Alaska, the Mississippi, and costal southeast. While pricey in regards to the BIG ships, the difference is worth the cost. SMALL BOAT CRUISING DONE RIGHT. Read Less

The maiden voyage of the brand new Constellation was outstanding. This was our 7th cruise with American Cruise Lines and they surpassed our expectations again. We booked our 8th cruise in Alaska for next summer. The food was very good - a lot of crab since it was the Chesapeake Bay. Didn't like the beef one evening, but the rest of the time the meals were presented nicely and delicious. Good to see Chef Tom again and Jonathan. Servers in the dining room anticipated our needs. Saw Drew and Kyle, which was nice too. We love how they know our names when we arrive to the boat. The decorations were very nice. The older ships in the fleet should be renovated to look like this. The tours were nice, especially Annapolis. Cambridge was lacking, but we enjoyed the schooner tour. Oxford was lovely, St. Michael's was beautiful. Wish that they would arrange a tour to the ship yard. Great time and we are looking forward to being back soon. Read Less

Traveled in style on this brand new ship in American Cruise Lines inventory, great tour of the Chesapeake Bay. This was my eleventh cruise with ACL, and it was fantastic!!!!!! The crew was well trained, and ready to assist in any way possible. Shore tours were well planned and very organized, which is a hallmark of American Cruise Lines. The Captain kept us up to date on landmarks and points of interest along the way. On board area specialist extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Bay, its geological background, and how evolution has made it as it is today, still a great source of seafood, crabbing specially. The cruise was well worth the money!!!! Well done, once again, American Cruise Lines. I will be back for two more cruises this year, Columbia and Snake rivers and Alaska, and am planning already for 2018, so you have a customer for "life"!!!!!! Read Less

We have been cruising with American Cruise Lines for the past six cruises. We love so much about them. The ships are beautiful, the staff is wonderful, the excursions are terrific. I am vegetarian. The chefs have always done an amazing job preparing my meals. The food is amazing. The wait staff are so well trained. We always have one or two that we'd like to bring home with us. Our rooms are kept quiet clean. On most of the cruises, they been big and roomy. We always get a balcony too, which is a nice plus. Meeting the captain is always a pleasure. This trip, I took the tour of the pilot house. I am glad I did. It was quite informative. The captain entertained all types of questions. He was great. We have already booked two more cruises with American Cruise Line. We look forward to these adventures. Read Less

We wanted to visit some of the historical ports this cruise offered. It was the maiden voyage of American Cruise Lines new ship Constellation, which was all we expected and more. River cruising is so relaxing and on a small ship, intimate without being crowded. The food was exceptional and the wait staff were friendly, helpful and good, despite for some this being their first job serving while moving. There were a few blips, but everyone pitched in and got the job done. We were very impressed with all the "suits" on board, pitching in and doing whatever was called for. You don't see many upper management personnel waiting tables, cleaning up and all the other every day jobs just to make sure all the guests were taken care of. This being the maiden voyage, they were there to make sure all went smoothly. The guest lecturer, Harold, was very informative concerning the Chesapeake Bay area. He was witty as well as being able to make the culture come alive for us. The only negative comment I have is the getting to the ship & back to transportation. It is always a long walk for those of us who don't have the ability to walk long distances. Over all, I would say if you haven't been on one of American Cruise Lines cruises, you have missed a great experience. This was our third, but hopefully, not our last. Read Less

Excellent service: everyone is easily accessible including the captain and they go out of their way to please. For example: We decided to leave the ship after dinner the last night to stay in a local hotel. One of the deck hands insisted on walking us over to our hotel with our luggage. When we got there he waited for us to check in and took us to our room to make sure we were settled and safe. It was different than the river cruises we have taken in Europe but that is what we were looking for. We took the cruise because we wanted to see more of the USA and it fulfilled our expectations and then some. The food was wonderful. If the dinner wasn't something I liked I could request some broiled chicken and he would make it for me. There was always food around. I am still losing the weight I gained. I can't think of anything we didn't like. Read Less

We wanted to stay in the states. Had never heard of American Cruise line but we booked the Baltimore to Jacksonville trip. Even with some hurricane damage the great was great. Cabins very large in comparison to the European river cruise rooms. Beds didn't pull down from wall. Staff was absolutely amazing. Polite, always ready to do anything to make your trip better. Food was excellent. Even though I was Vegan and needed other choices, the food was very good. I would suggest that if they have vegan passengers they provide more protein available. Did have a veggie burger one day, and tofu one day, but mosty beans in things and not a lot of beans in recipe. Also we were on a 2 weeks trip and the menu pretty much repeated itself. for the 2nd week. Would suggest they have a 2 week menu on a trip that is both a week and 2 week choice. other than those few remarks which didn't affect many the trip was wonderful. We have already booked another trip with them for April 2017. Read Less

We wanted to check out this Cruise Line from a close enough place that there was no long drive or a flight, before we booked a cruise from this company where we had to add airfare to the cost. We had done two National Geographic/Lindbladt small ship cruises before and loved them, but both involved long flights. Since the Nat. Geo. Cruises were ecco cruises, there were no frills, but lots of nature, walking, etc. American Cruise Line also has small ships, but with much more luxurious staterooms and a wonderful lounge area. We stopped at several ports beginning at Yorktown, VA/ Williamsburg area. Form there we cruised to several places, including Tangier Island, St. Michaels, MD, Chrisfield, MD, Cambridge and Oxford, MD and finally Annapolis, MD, then back to Baltimore to disembark. This was also a"crab" cruise, so we had Chesapeake Bay crab included in every meal. The food was wonderful and there was free wine and beer available at every lunch and dinner and an open bar for happy hour the hour before dinner. Lots of appetizers were offered during happy hour too. There were less than 100 people on board, so it was easy to meet friendly folks that you could socialize with on board. All the ships employees were friendly, courteous and helpful and the captain and crew were available if you ever needed them for any reason. Because we enjoyed our time with American Cruise Line so much, we signed up for another cruises which we will be doing this fall, cruising the back bays around Maine. We are guessing this will be a lobster Cruise, but we will enjoy it whether we get lobster with every meal or not. Read Less

This was our first time on a small boat and enjoyed the atmosphere and fellow cruisers. Don't feel lost as you do on a large ship holding 1000's of people. Get to meet and interact with the others cruising (American Glory holds 49 passengers and our trip had 29 on board). Small boat cruising also allows you to have more direct contact with the cruise director and other staff and receive more personalized response. The staff were very courteous and responded to any needs. You can order off the menu if they have the ingredients onboard; i.e., wish a sandwich for lunch instead of a hot meal. The stateroom was very roomy and had sufficient space for clothing and luggage. We found the bed very comfortable. Small boat cruising does not allow for a lot of entertainment, so if you are looking for that you don't want to do this type of cruising. The American Glory did not have any exercise equipment onboard so if this is important than this would not be for you. Majority of those cruising are seniors. Small boat cruising allows for a very relaxing and enjoyable trip, instead of a very active one. Read Less

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on this cruise. The ship is small enough so that you feel you are on your own private yacht with many of your friends. It was easy to meet our fellow passengers during the nightly cocktail/social hour and quickly found some couples with whom we 'clicked'. The lounge is spacious with many different seating areas for visiting. Dining experience was delightful, also, with a good and varied menu. Loved that they tried to serve the regional food.....in this case, crab! The crew was great.....young, enthusiastic and eager to please. We have been on the Golden Odyssey and Sea Goddess as well as America Cruise West, and although the first two ships are superb in every way and perhaps more seasoned and professional, we couldn't find fault with the young people who served us. Read Less