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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Southeast Alaska cruise was wonderful. Being a smaller ship we were able to get into ports and closer to glaciers that large ships could not. We can't say enough about this crew and itinerary. Each day was a unique experience. I have some food allergies and the crew went out of their way to ensure I had many choices and alternate methods of preparation. The scenery, the wildlife and the history were presented very well. The shore excursions were well organized and the guides were knowledgeable and interesting. In Glacier Bay a National Park Ranger came onboard all day to explain the history and wildlife of the park. We enjoyed Kake and the presentation on the language as well as the performance by the children at the school. Haines was so special - bears, eagles, seals and our guide was very good. Tracy Arm was fantastic - turquoise water and cobalt blue ice, seals etc. We did take a seaplane tour in Petersburg that was unbelievable - flying over the glaciers and icefields. As we were taxiing back to the hanger there was a sea lion sitting on the dock - must have weighed at least 900 pounds! Read Less

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

This is my fourth cruise with American Cruise Lines and it has been the best so far. I will only travel on smaller ships due to heal issues and the risk of getting sick on larger ships. I also did not want to have thousands and thousands of other cruise ship passengers crowding each of the ports of call so that I was one of a huge herd of people. American Cruise lines has selected a wonderful itinerary that highlights the grandeur of Alaska and brings out up close and personal to glaciers and wild life you can not do on the large cruise ships. The ship was small, 170 passengers with new spacious accommodations. The crew went above and beyond in meeting the needs of the guests. The food was 4 star cuisine and inspired. I also appreciated the all inclusive cost with no additional add-ons for alcohol, services and excursions. There were no surprises at the end of the trip with a big bill and no gratuities accepted. I look forward to my next cruise. 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

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

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