We love American Cruise Lines and delighted to sail on newest boat Harmony. Absolutely fabulous boat, superior crew and service. Our fourth trip on this line and we signed up for another ACL destination in 2020. Seamless operation from embarkation until disembarkation. Spacious and well appointed cabins, excellent entertainment, service and all around fun time. Immaculately maintained at all times. Crew seemed to enjoy being aboard. Love open seating with cocktail hours and dining left to each passenger. We felt pampered by crew and cannot wait to sail again on ACL. We enjoy fun and casual atmosphere and lack of forced organized activities. Each passenger is addressed by name and crew takes pride in individualized treatment. Our very favorite cruise line by far. Perfect vacation and cannot wait for our next journey. ACL prides itself justifiably on "small boat cruising done perfectly". This is absolutely true and not an advertising ploy. Read Less

Doing the Lewis and Clark riverboat Cruise has always been on our bucket list. This seemed to be a good time of the year. Queen of the West is an older boat and is very intimate. Bedroom very small but haven’t spent much time in it but to sleep. Several places where you can sit, watch the scenery, read or visit with the new friends you meet daily. Crew very attentive and Edgar to please. First morning we boarded at 10:30 AM snakes and open bar has we were oriented to our boat. Meals have been delicious! Who doesn’t like a root beer float or ice cream sundae at 8 PM?? As we travel we learn more about the history of the area we are in. Loved Astoria’s quaint look. Houses on hills like San Francisco but then you seen a doe with her fawn meandering down the street or tucked under a 300 foot fir. Read Less

This Cruise Line was recommended to us, We had studied their literature carefully. I use a cane and scooter and was with my husband. It all worked out very well for me. The crew assisted me with my scooter on and off the Riverboat. This was quite helpful, so I did not miss a thing. We enjoyed meeting new people, many interesting and from all over the USA. We found the group fun and stimulating having shared many of the same experiences in life. The Riverboat,The American Song was new. The furnishing and lounges were quite nice with large windows. This was a Food and Wine Cruise so we raved about the Food Selections and Wines. My husband, in particular had seafood at each meal. I tried other menu selections. We found the lectures interesting and stimulating. We found two of the evenings of entertainment most enjoyable. The entire crew made our experience the Best! The shore excursions were fabulous, the small towns in the Pacific Northwest, the Museums we visited, the magnificent Columbia and Snake Rivers were Wonderful to see. The terrain and locks were so impressive to us having lived mostly in the East, Midwest and South. We are from Atlanta, Georgia and signed on for the Alaska Cruise for next Summer in August 2020. Praises to the American Cruise Line. Read Less

First, the cruises offered by ACL are geared towards mature audiences - 60's and up, although there very people much younger on this cruise. Actually who's on the cruise really doesn't matter to me, as long as people are enjoying their experience. I have taken 7 ocean cruises and on rivercruise (20 years ago). If you are expecting in your face activities and craziness, pick something other than a river cruise. This was a celebration cruise for my husband and I, and when greeted when boarding the boat, we were congratulated and on the second day, after returning from a shore excursion, we found champagne and strawberries in our cabin! Every crew member is there to serve you and extend extraordinary customer service, which was evident every minute of the day (we had to ask someone to thread a needle, and they did so with a smile!). When crew members say they love their jobs, that says something about a company! Because the river was running high, a last minute change of itinerary was made and I thought it gave us an even better experience; also, Because we were in the height of Mardi Gras season, instead of staying in a hotel pre-cruise (part of your fare), we stayed on the boat - we were greeted by a lovely buffet and drinks. We were not able to dock at Houmas House or Oak Alley, but those excursions were changed to days when we were in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. We cruised up to St. Francisville instead on the first day, and had the choice of three additional excursions (only 2 of the many offered were premium at an extra charge, by the way...). Also in Baton Rouge, which is not the most exciting stop, they added a walking tour by their river guide, which made is all worth while. And because we returned to New Orleans a half day early, excursions to the WW2 museum and a French Quarter walking tour were added! I think this was all handle exceptionally well!!! On the ACL cruises, beer and wine are included at Lunch, cocktail hour, dinner and during the evening entertainment, so you are not running up a tab. The food was excellent and you could request half portions. There were also snacks, coffee, tea, fruit, juice and soda always available in two of the lounges. My husband had never cruised before and I knew that an ocean cruise was out of the question - he thoroughly enjoyed this and we are considering other itineraries in the future. The cost seems high at first, but when I compared it to an ocean cruise with similar accommodations (balcony), and considering that there is no charge for adult beverages, no tipping, free excursions, free WIFI, the cost is comparable. Read Less

From my first contact by phone with the cruise agent through the debarkation, everyone and everything was a most pleasant experience. I have been on several cruises and this ranks near the top of the list. First and foremost was the attentiveness and attitude of the entire crew which was directed t making our trip pleasant and enjoyable. The fact that passenger count was small (at capacity) allowed for interaction between everyone which made for a most comfortable time and conversation with all. The ship provided ready access to every public area and was clean and well manned. Our cabin was large by cruise ship standards and dining was excellent. The entertainment was good and their was always something to do. All personnel were dedicated to providing first class service to all passengers. The ports were well chosen and provided good shore experiences. I would most assuredly use American Cruise Lines again. Read Less

My sister-in-law booked this cruise and invited my husband and I to join them. We have traveled numerous times together and have many of the same expectations and standards. Upon reading the itinerary we were excited for the adventure. Upon embarking, the ship smelled old! The flower arrangements were artificial and very dusty/old and tired looking. The main gathering room, The Chesapeake room, has dirty couches and broken blinds. The stateroom was one of “the larger” rooms with a king bed (actually two twins pushed together, VERY uncomfortable) was crowded. The TV was a 19” and hard to view from the bed. The brochure stated dvd’s were available, it failed to mention they were from the 1990’s and very few. Our cabin’s furniture was also very dated and soiled. Three small pillows were there, strange for a king sized bed. The bathroom was very small and cramped. On our preference sheet, we requested extra toiletries and a small fan, neither were provided. Actually, the ship RAN OUT of shampoo and they often did not replace the bar soap. On the third day of a seven day cruise, they couldn’t keep up with the towels. There were times we did NOT have ANY towels. I mentioned my concerns to hotel manager and he told me as he was walking away (over his shoulder) there isn’t any shampoo on the whole ship! He scolded me when I asked him for a replacement key and to keep it away from my cell phone. I mentioned it never worked and that it wasn’t near my phone, he just repeated my scolding louder. Tours were very disorganized and not ADA compliant. My husband had to lag behind to help other passengers as no cruise member did. The entertainment consisted of a banjo player (who was really pretty good) and several lectures! How is lecturing a bonus evening entertainment? The food was phenomenal! Jvon was our server and was fantastic, he kept us sane! There was NO room service so we never had breakfast on board. There was a coffee donut setup from 6-7 Read Less

there was a credit of $800.00 from a previous sailing with the American Queen Steamboat company. We wanted to try the American Queen - the biggest of the 3 ships in the American Steamboat co. We were waiting for the last minute deal , we found this cruise in a very short notice of departure. the ship was built in 1995 - a paddle wheeler, the steamboat built back to the Victorian history of the 1900 -including the furniture in the cabin, the theatre, dining room, lounges. entertainment -done by the ship's own members -dancers & singers, world-class musicians - organized by the Steamboat Syncopators -playing trumpet ,bass, drums ,.piano,saxophone,clarinet , flute & trombone. and also outside guests performance - Dante Vaudeville -magic show,Lainie Gulliksen -Siren Songs celebrating the Sirens of Broadway,Pop, & Opera , also the ship's own musician entertainers During the day there were River Chat ,Movie Matinee ,Bingo dinner - on the J.M. White Dining Room -we were on the 5.15pm early seating food was good service were great there was a land tour -on the ship's Hop on Hop Off busesto visit many Plantation , resorts ,museum churches. there was hardly any children Read Less

We sailed aboard the Duchess from New Orleans to Minnesota departing July 16th. The Duchess is a beautiful boat with room for 166 guests. The design of all the rooms is pleasing to the eye and very airy with high-ceilings. We entered the boat into the room where Pursuer is located. Access to the bar and grand dining from the Purser is through a hallway lined with beautiful replicas by Monet masterpieces. The bar area is spacious, centered by the staircase accessing two decks. Large Austrian chandeliers hang from the ceiling, an abundance of blown and fused glass artwork line the walls there, in addition there are cozy seating areas outfitted with sofas and chairs. The dining room is large enough to hold all the guests. Breakfast (6:30 to 9) Lunch (11:30 to 1) and Dinner (5:30 to 8:00) all meals are open setting, an option that allows guests to eat meals at their leisure. The food was delicious, varied and often local. The service was exceptional, the dining room staff is friendly, professional and willing to go the extra mile. In addition to the grand dining room there is a smaller dining area, River Club and Terrace, on the second deck serving buffet style breakfast and lunch with open setting. Dinners are table service and require reservations. Perks, a little café, is also located on the 2nd deck with a self-serve cappuccino machine, soft serve ice-cream with toppings, juice dispenser, popcorn maker, soda and delicious cookies. Since the Duchess is a river boat and not a ship, one cannot expect the same type of entertainment and activities. However, the entertainment overall was very good. Day time activities were offered by the activities staff and an excellent river laurate. On several occassion a movie was shown and several people arrived with popcorn. A 4-piece band entertained each day before dinner, during the nightly shows and in the evening after the shows. The nightly shows were provided by the activities staff and/or local talent offering an enjoyable way to spend an hour or so each night. I cannot walk, so I traveled with a scooter. The Duchess has done a wonderful job in making it easy for those who must travel with a wheelchair or scooter to navigate the boat by adding slight inclines everywhere there is a door jam. The halls ways were wide enough for me to scoot down even with people coming in the opposite direction. The walls are lined with art work depicting river cruising. There are 2 spacious elevators available at each level which allowed me in my scooter and up to 6 other passengers to ride the elevator. At each port, a Hop On Hop Off bus tour was included,the stops were varied and interesting. Each day we were given a data sheet with details of each stop and an indication which stops were wheelchair (or scooter) accessible. Each bus is outfitted with a lift, so I was able to go on all the tours in my scooter. The bus drivers were wonderful loading me on the bus and off the bus as often as I wanted. They eliminated any concern I had about taking the tours and made me feel safe going up and down the lift. I suggest if you know anyone who has a mobility problem, they will be pleased with taking a cruise aboard the Duchess. We were in a wheelchair accessible cabin in the aft of the boat, which we were excited about as we could sit on the balcony and watch navigating the Mississippi from both sides and up close and personal seats as we went through the locks. They installed a ramp under the carpet which enabled me to access the balcony with ease. (If I were to make a suggestion, I would ask that they provide the same type of ramp outside the doors on the observation decks, as the height of the door jam was too high for me to get back into the boat without someone manually lifting my scooter). The room was large enough for me to navigate with my scooter and the bathroom had a large roll-in shower. The only problem with our room was the noise from the paddlewheel was sometimes annoying and there were nights we were wakened by that noise. If you are considering a cruise aboard the Duchess and desire either a wheelchair accessible cabin or one at the aft, just bring earplugs and/or sound abatement equipment. Read Less

We both wanted to see a part of the United States that we hadn't seen before and a steamboat tour seemed the best idea. Although we knew that the weather would be hot and humid, it wasn't that terrible and most of the places were air conditioned. We spent an additional night in Memphis at the start of the cruise. Embarkation was smooth because of early check in the day before. We went on this cruise with long time friends who also thought this was one of the best cruises they had been on too. While the cabins are small, there is so much to do that you don't spend much time in your cabin. I can't say enough about the entertainment, especially the Ensemble. We went to see them each time and loved the way their voices blended together and they were in sync with their choreography. They seemed to really enjoy each other and what they were doing. Especially enjoyed watching Hannah interact with passengers. Liz in the dining room made the meals for us. She was so personable and remembered everything we told her about ourselves. We enjoyed all of our meals on the boat. While some of the ports seemed depressed, the sites that we saw on our hop on hop off buses were great. We went on the post cruise too in New Orleans and found it was well worth the money. We especially liked the World War II museum. I had not initially been planning on going there but was so glad I did. I think everyone should see this museum. Read Less

We took my 86 year old mother so we were looking for something she could enjoy with amenities for the disabled. We were told this ship could accommodate the disabled to include most excursions. They boasted the ship had hotel like staterooms and bathrooms and that was not remotely accurate. We paid the big bucks for the owner's suites and thank goodness we did or it would have been a very bad experience. Everyone on the ship complained about the tiny staterooms with no room at all. My mom and two of our friends were in one of the owner's suite and we were in the other. It was tight for 3 people and adequate for my husband and I. The bathroom was a disaster. Tiny like a typical cruise ship and not remotely handicap accessible. Big step up to get into this tiny bathroom and a lip you catch your toe on to go out plus the big step down. It's a miracle none of us fell. Because the bathroom was tiny and there were 3 in the one suite, they looked for another bathroom on the ship and there was only one. The pictures and description of the rooms was totally NOTHING like our rooms or bathrooms. No closet (just an armoire which took up space) and that teny tiny bathroom. We did the Columbia and Snake River cruise and the embarkation port and disembarkation port and every stop in between was fantastic. The food was great! The staff was great! The excursions were great! The entertainment was fair as it was geared for the over 70 crowd (the average age on the ship was 73 so if you are younger like we are, might chose something more for your age). The Historian was boring and droned on and on. He didn't pick up on queues like people sleeping through his lecture. He loved to hear himself talk. He was knowledgeable but yawn! There was one great bus driver, Jodi, who gave a narrated tour on every single excursion. If you got on one of the gentleman's buses forget it. Crickets. One bus driver even turned on a rerun of Johnny Carson while we were driving back from our Portland Tour. He could have told us so much about the city, the area, etc. but instead we watched Johnny Carson. But, overall we really enjoyed it. The scenary was to die for and we learned so much. I would recommend that cruise but I don't recommend that ship. Read Less

My husband wants to see all 50 states, so we added on LA and MS. The history was fascinating, great historian on board and on tours. Most beautiful plantation of all was Houmas House. Being a gardener, I was quite enchanted with all the flowers, trees, statuary (and very unusual and quirky statues) swan pond, fountains, and the house was gorgeous as well. Oak Alley Plantation was beautiful as well, and on our swamp tour we saw some gators, one up close, and even had one of the flying fish land on our boat, a most unusual happening we are told! New Orleans was delightful. Loved the Cathedral and French Quarter, Cafe Monde has great beignets and chicory coffee. The food onboard was top drawer, amazing chef. I particularly loved the soups. I would highly recommend this tour. Also, my husband uses a cane and walks slowly, and he never felt like he had to hurry on this cruise to catch up. Read Less

I have been investigating American Cruise Lines since we took a Mississippi River Cruise with American Queen. I think everyone should travel on American Rivers more and they were offering some appealing options. We loved our small ship Cruise with American Queen, so I really wanted to love this company. We took the San Juan islands trip. The ship was new and their staff is very young and inexperienced, although they worked hard and were very sweet. However, these trips are very expensive. And, since that is the case, there Are many areas that need improvement. First, there was a lack of communication. They just couldn’t get messages out for changes,etc. While they did post on the message board by the dining room, we shouldn’t have to go there to get information. Dining room service was friendly but confusingly spotty. On two occasions we had to rush through meals when we had allowed plenty of time before excursions. Also, while they say they work on dietary needs, we did not find them helpful with my husbands diabetes. Unlike American Queen, there really are no paid excursions. On the last day they did offer transport into Seattle to visit Pike Market while American Queen offers a bus at every stop. Entertainment was really disappointing and the largest Lounge available was too small and poorly arranged for any real program. Finally, they must work on safety for the Ramps off the boat. They need hand rails on the ramps and on the stairs. I don’t want to sound negative, but these trips attract elderly and handicapped people and they must do a better job if they want to flourish. My hope is that they improve, but until they do, I can’t recommend them nor will I travel with them again. Read Less

We chose this cruise because it was on my “bucket list,” and the safety of the United States. The boat is beautiful, but could use some maintenance, as far as paint, etc. We were in the Owner’s Suite with ample room, elevated amenities, private veranda, special balcony seating during entertainment in theater. The mattress on the double bed was not comfortable. The butler was very attentive, personable, and efficient. Dining was good but not exceptional. Breakfast and lunch options were buffet or from menu in the main dining room. The dinners were top-notch. Buffet dining was always available at another venue. The bars were tended by very good mixologists. Entertainment was good, considering the size of the boat. Lectures and other activities, such as bingo, were interesting and enjoyable. Service was probably the best part, though some dining staff had some attitude problem. A statement in its brochure said that the boat had an all American staff, and that was a bit of a stretch. The staff was very personable and warm, for the most part. The stops at Nottoway Plantation, Natchez, and Vicksburg were very nice and interesting, but the lower Mississippi doesn’t offer a lot of choices. Perhaps Baton Rogue should be considered. The boat glides smoothly along, pushed by its paddle wheel. It’s very relaxing and calming. Would we do it again? Absolutely, but with lower expectations and a mid range cabin. Read Less

Several members of my mom's family took a cruise on the American Duchess, from Memphis to New Orleans, Oct. 16-23. There was a pre-cruise hotel included in Memphis, the Peabody Hotel on the 15th. First, about the Hotel, we had 2 rooms on different floors. Both had not been vacuumed, there was debris on both of the room floors from previous occupant(s). The food was good, but the prices were high. On the American Duchess, both cabins had not been dusted or vacuumed from probably the first sailing of the vessel a few weeks before our sailing. On other cruise lines, the rooms would be vacuumed, dusted, towels changed, and beds made every day. On this boat, you had to put out a placard on the front of your door to even have the room steward change your towels. Both rooms were never dusted or vacuumed our whole trip. On the matter of being wheelchair friendly, which the cruise line publicized about this boat, you had to have a strong helper to help lift the front of the wheelchair to get out/into the cabin, from the hallway to another area, from the inside to the outside deck. There was a raised barrier to get to each area, include the dining room, Perks, the 24hr. snack room, and even the gift shop. On five other different cruise lines, I could propel myself throughout the ships with no help from anyone. Most of the Premium optional tours were not made for people with wheelchairs. I had booked a Premium tour in each port, and wasn't told until we were already on the boat, that I couldn't go on those tours. The hop on hop off bus tours, included in the price of the tour, were wheelchair friendly and they had a golf cart that was utilized to get you from the boat to the bus, which was very nice. All of the food on the boat was very good except the breakfast buffet, which had cold food, including items which should have been warm or hot. The entertainment, which were the same group of musicians and singers/dancers the entirety of our journey, were very good(four musicians, and three singers/dancers). Also, for a cruise on the Duchess that was to be for the more affluent, it didn't past muster. Read Less

Everything was wonderful! The embarkation and disembarkation at all ports was great--the crew was helpful (my husband is wheelchair-bound)--but we don't get to use the Grand Staircase (duh!) we had to go around the Dining Room through coiled ropes, storage lockers, etc to get to the front of the ship, but even that was interesting to see what they have. The food was delicious! I ate a lot of fish and tried to keep desserts to sorbet (I am maintaining a 60 pound weight loss) so I always added the fresh vegetables, which were different every night (yippee!) We ordered lunch to go when we were on long excursions and they were really nice sandwiches, etc. with carrots and celery when I remembered to request them. The desserts were delicious and a real challenge to eat the whole thing. Yummy! The entertainments was nice--a bit country for my taste, but enjoyable nonetheless. I did one of the games early in the cruise and made several friends that I kept running into, so that was nice. There is a self-service laundry (free) so I didn't have to pack so much and could just do a load when I needed to, nor did I have to pack dirty laundry to take home. I really enjoyed watching the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as we floated by. It was really lovely! And relaxing. And going through the locks was quite interesting! I also enjoyed reading in the Ladies Lounge--very light and comfortable chairs to sit in. Hint--Don't try to use the computers onboard if you want service. It is really spotty, but I knew that before. I also enjoyed walking around the Promenade Deck each day. People were very nice to cheer me on and I got to see both sides of the ship while I walked. I didn't really use the gym--why a treadmill when the view is fantastic?? HINT--take a sweater or sweatshirt to wear to the Dining Room, Show Room and some of the other public rooms. They are kept at Arctic temperatures!! I wore the provided bathrobe more in public rooms than in my cabin. Read Less

1. For future clients, please ask them which dinner sitting they want - early (5:15) or late(7:45). I was defaulted to the late but, because I was by myself, I was able to talk to the maitre d' and get my seating changed. 2. Be aware that this is more like an ocean cruise in feeling than a river cruise, even though it is obviously on a river. Several dinner seatings, large (but lovely!) boat, lots of people - about 450. 3. The Hop on and Hop off bus is not necessarily for everyone, especially when waits can be 15-30 minutes out in the very hot and humid South. 4. Memphis trolleys are not working (even though we got a free trolley pass for three days). http://www.downtownmemphis.com/getting-around/downtown-trolley-shuttles/ 5. In order to make my plane reservations back home, I asked if there were any events scheduled for the last day, Wednesday, July 5, I was told no. In fact, it was suggested that we attend the Civil Rights Museum on Wednesday. I couldn't because I had a flight back home. Sending a copy of the itinerary to the participants would be helpful for making travel plans. 6. Although the Sheraton was a truly lovely hotel, it was about as far away from Beale Street and the rest of the downtown area of Memphis. Because the trolleys were not working and cabs were VERY hard to find, those of us who were out on July 4 had to walk back to the hotel in a huge lightening and thunder storm. The hotel is in a very sketchy part of Memphis - lots of homeless - not a good experience. Other than the hotel, there were no restaurants in the area. 7. It would be nice if the cruise company could negotiate rates with the New Orleans hotel for those who would like to go early for a few days. Read Less

We chose this cruise line because it offered the most bang for your buck! And it did not disappoint. We have been on river cruses before, and this cruise surpassed the European river cruses we took. From the large, comfortable cabins to the food and excursions offered, we were quite happy. The before night stay in New Orleans was at a top notch hotel. The crew was most attentive and made us feel very "special." The on-board activities were informative and the shore excursions were not only easy to participate in, but had a lot to offer. We had free time, which is nice as although we like the escorted tours, it is nice to explore on your own on occasion. If you are looking for a LARGE ship with fancy productions for entertainment, river cruising is not for you. With less than 200 passengers, the venue for entertainment is limited. But the few nights we did attend, we thoroughly enjoyed the selections, which were themed for the region we were visiting. I would recommend this trip and the cruise line. As a matter of fact, we have already booked another trip with American Cruse Line! Read Less

To see Worth West on Columbia River. Food service was outstanding. The crew was very accommodating and customer oriented. The Captain was engaged with passengers and personable. Dining staff was excellent and attentive to out needs. They were willing to chat with guests and go the extra mile to meet our requests. The variety of food was excellent featuring many local foods. The dining staff was open to special food requests like grilled cheese sandwiches. Bill Wiemuth, our cruise guide, was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable and an engaging presenter. With his wife Laura, they were an terrific team. The greatly enhanced our cruise experience. Enjoyed all our post experiences, especially our excursion Mt St. Helens. This was an amazing experience. A special thanks to the Captain and dining staff who welcomed the visit of a close personal friend on board in Richland, WA. for lunch and a tour. It was a highlights for us and "above and beyond for the crew. One of or best criuses. If able we will look at another ACL river cruise. Read Less

We wanted a vacation with easy access on board and on the daily outings. This ship is designed for that. Starting with the ramp with rails on both side to get on and off, the bars in the bathroom and shower for stability, and the elevators to take you from floor to floor as necessary. The staff was amazingly accommodating to any and all of your requests. They were eager to do whatever was necessary to make your stay enjoyable and effortless. They even had golf carts with staff driving them to help you up and down the levees where necessary. When we went on a daily outing, they didn't just drop us onto the bus, but had a staff person along with the tour person. They seemed to have thought of everything! The food was great and portioned correctly and not high in salt. The nightly entertainment was friendly,(southern hospitality I guess) well planned to give you a variety of the music and stories of the area as we moved up the mighty Mississippi. The complimentary daily tours went to places that were well worth your time and added to your education of the south in former days. Open seating in the dining room for all meals at small tables, allowed us to get to hear many different people's stories and get a family feel. There was plenty of wait staff and even the officers helped in the dining room at dinner to be sure you got what you wanted quickly. It was a trip well worth the cost and we can't stop talking about it to others. Read Less

It was a great opportunity to experience the Mighty Mississippi and tour antebellum plantations and Civil War history. The America is a very comfortable boat (on the river, it's a boat!). The staterooms are generous and the balconies are perfect for taking in all the river scenery. The stewards keep the rooms immaculate. The food was excellent and the drinks were free. While there were a few extra-cost excursions, there was at least one complementary tour at every stop. My favorites were: Graceland, Vicksburg battlefield, the WWII Navy destroyer USS Kidd and the Oak Alley plantation. American Cruise Lines service from booking to departure was excellent and everything happened very smoothly with no problems. While I wouldn't recommend this for small children, teenagers and up would benefit from the historical experience. This was our second cruise with American Cruise Lines (went on "Historic South" through the Inland Waterway) and we are looking forward to several of their other itineraries. Read Less

I chose this cruise for two reasons 1) I had traveled on the American Queen and had a great time and 2) the Snake and Columbia Rivers were places I wanted to explore. That being said, one must be philosophical about river travel. This spring the water in the Snake has been too high for some weeks. Unfortunately, mine was one of those weeks. So two of the reasons I signed up for the tour, the Snake River and the Dalles were cancelled. However, this cruise still gets 5 stars because everything that is the control of the on board staff and crew is perfect! The food, the service, the boat, the entertainment cannot be topped. Our Riverlorian, Laurence, was outstanding. The entertainment crew was top notch. In the evenings when I should have been watching the river go by, I was enjoying the entertainment at both ends of the boat. There are not enough superlative words to describe the level of talent on the Empress. The size of the boat is perfect.It is smaller than the AQ but so intimate. After two or three days the crew knows your name, and you have made friends with folks from all over. A few tips:1) If you are traveling with a friend and sharing a room, see if you can get a room where the beds are perpendicular to each other. If I had known this was option I would have requested it as the rooms are very small for two people to move around in. 2) For those of us mechanically challenged, a card in near the shower with instructions as to how to operate it would have been very helpful. 3) Get to know the deck crew. I was lucky to have met Terry. From him I learned that to see one of the best river lock/dam systems anywhere in the world, the John Day, I would need to be at the bow of the boat at 3am. He arranged a wake up call and I was there with a few other hearty folks. It was amazing! 4) Get a bike at the ports where you can bike along the river. 5) On a rainy day, get the art brochure from the pursers office and take yourself on a tour of the art on the boat. It is really nice stuff. Shore Excursions and Ports of Call: One suggestion for the AQ company, is for more time in Astoria. One day was not nearly enough. We spent two days in a smaller port where there was much less to see. Would I go again? YES but only if I could be sure that I would be able to be on the Snake River and see the Dalles. Time of year might make a difference and I would check on that before I booked. I embarked in Spokane a lovely city, with a fine book store with craft shop attached. Loved the Davenport Hotel. I disembarked in Portland. Both processes went smoothly. Read Less

My husband and I finally decided to take the American Queen on a round trip lower Mississippi cruise. My expectations were a slow boat down a muddy river. Boy howdy was I wrong. The ship was elegant but not overstated. The staff, everyone we encountered totally delightful. The entertainment as good as it gets, a professional 8 piece Dixieland jazz band, 4 very talented song and dance performers, and a piano man extradoaire. I wish the food wasn't so good. The maitre d, Dana handled the dining room with grace and true hospitality. The front porch buffet was cheerful and served prime rib every evening. Weather cooperated enough to dine outside. We tried to compare this cruise to other cruise experiences and we could not. The American Queen stands alone. We especially liked the hop on hop off bus. It allowed the best possible experiece of the historical towns we visited. A stand out is the civil rights museum and the basillica in Natchez, the Kidd and Lousiana state Museum in Baton Rouge. Our balcony cabin had plenty of room and the bathroom roomy with a full tub. My husband loved watching the commerce on the lower Mississippi. The cabin was refreshed twice daily. We never had to ask for ice. Embarkation was very easy from the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. One thing that stood out in my mind was how kind the employees were to folks with moblility issues. Golf carts were available to access the levees. The excursions gals were excellent. The riverlorian, Bobby was a great banjo player and story teller. Read Less

The staff on the ship were the most friendly and helpful and they were concerned with our comfort. My husband has physical difficulties and we were not sure if he could enjoy all the excursions.The staff provided the necessary assistance so that he did not miss one port. The room was large and had a full bathroom that was big enough for two people to be in at the same time.The ship was spotless and clean. The food was wonderful and had a lot of variety. The chef was very considerate of special dietary needs. We booked another cruise will we still on the ship that is how much we liked the cruise. The entertainers were fantastic and they mixed with the guests and make you feel at home.The ship was just the right size and you didn't have to wait in long lines for anything . We would recommend traveling with American cruises to anyone who is looking for a quality experience. Read Less

This was our second cruise on the American Queen and based on our previous cruise had high expectations. A pre-cruise one night hotel stay is included in the cruise. We stayed at the Airport Marriott and it was very nice. The next morning included a buffet breakfast and the ship check-in was done at the hotel prior to being taken to the ship. Check-in was very organized and smooth. This cruise was from Nashville to Memphis on the Cumberland, Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The river scenery was prettiest along the Tennessee, otherwise, nothing special. The towns that we stopped at were not that memorable. American Queen does an excellent job with their hop-on, hop-off tours in each town. The food was excellent. The ship staff is excellent and always willing to help. Our cabin steward did a great job. Our only complaint was poor service from our two dining room dinner servers. Our servers on our previous cruise were excellent. The shipboard entertainment was excellent. The shipboard internet could not be accessed inside or outside our cabin. The only good reception was in the public room where the ship computers were located. American Queen should upgrade their system so that internet is available in every cabin. There were a number of passengers using canes, walkers and wheel chairs. The crew made every accommodation to ensure they enjoyed their cruise and land tours. Read Less

Wanted a local, small river cruse for personal service. I'm 91 and the Snake River cruse was on my bucket list. Cruse line changed my early arrival hotel which was right across the street from the ship to a hotel that was over 20 miles away. That hotel had no restaurant and we had to have sandwiches delivered for dinner. I had to get a cab to the ship. Cruse line was to provide baggage transfer. When I arrived at the ship, NO baggage. Cruse lines didn't bother to find my bags or assist in locating them. Cruse lines didn't bother to assist getting me a ride to a local store to buy some clothes. Without any baggage, I had no coat and couldn't attend and off ship excursions due to the chilly weather. NO help from the staff. Spent lots of time in the ship laundry cleaning the clothes on my back. Stuck on board. The airline was able to reunite me with my bags at the airport when I departed to come home. Cruse lines refused to provide any type of refund or even a letter of apology. Read Less