My wife and I love the fact the ACL ship has 100 passengers max. The ship is cozy, casual and very well run. The crew, top to bottom, are friendly, responsive and efficient. The cabins are roomy with private balconies. The food and service is excellent. We have done the big ship cruises (3000+ + passengers, and swore we will never do another big ship again!) We discovered ACL last summer when we did their New England Island cruise, and loved it. We have already signed up for our third cruise with ACL for Nov. 2020. It was fun to be able to mix and mingle and sit with different people at every meal. Since many passengers, like us, were older, retired people, and from a variety of states, cities, businesses and professions, mealtimes were always interesting and entertaining. American Cruise Lines have smaller ships so they can visit more of the coastal and river ports than the big ships, so we you get to see more of the country up close and personal. Landing in port, there are at most only 100 passengers who disembark or go on shore hikes and excursions vs. 3000 people descending on a port at the same time. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of its itinerary (which was unique and they were good ports that we enjoyed). Unfortunately due to the very poor quality of the ship and crew we were not pleased with the cruise overall. There was poor service, marginal food, dirty and unkept ship and cabins. A couple of people left the cruise after the first 24 hours apparently due to the underwhelming conditions. They do have good marketing skills because their brochures describe a luxury 5 star cruise and they charge 5 star prices. The ship is designed well for what it does (small ports) but it was not built as a 5 star luxury ship. The entertainment was marginal, but we were not going on this cruise for the entertainment. Some of the lectures were good but most were not. By far, the service was the most disappointing. We always ordered two glasses of ice tea or water, because they rarely came by to provide refills. We usually had to wave down a waiter to come take our order and sometimes waited 45 min to get the meal. The crew was inexperienced and simple jobs like docking and tying off the tender were laughable. The best laugh was when a crew member let a wheelchair roll off the dock and into the water (they tried using a grappling hook, but they never found the wheelchair). Unfortunately American Cruise Lines is just not up to par. Read Less

We have sailed on small and large ships and they both have something going for them. This cruise had about 150 passengers and was a great way to meet new people. On this size ship you see the same people all the time and it is easy to get to know each other. The lectures are very topical and even the entertainment although limited came down and joined us for our meals. On a large ship you may not see someone more than once with dinner shifts and sheer volume of people. On the other hand a larger ship has more entertainment and certainly more glam in the entertainment stage productions. It is all about what you want on the cruise. This trip to the coast of Main was certainly more enjoyable with new met friends and an excellent smaller ship and crew. The food was excellent and the daily menus offered a good variety of selections. Read Less

In my opinion it all begins with the Captain of the ship and this Captain was on top of everything. His presence was constant and he put an emphasis on the passenger’s well-being. This attitude flowed downward to his directors and crew…and, more importantly us. His mate when he wasn’t the Captain’s shadow, he insured the security of the ship and did a great job of handling the deck crew. His hotel managers, cruise director, and housekeeping took their cue from the Captain and provided outstanding service. They always went with the flow, remaining extremely flexible as we ran into several bouts of inclement weather. They and the stewards even make a lobster boil in the middle of a torrential rainstorm fun! It was a “lobster” cruise and every meal their executive chef found some way to bring lobster into the menu and it always was fantastic. He ran a very close second to the regional chef that we had on our New Orleans to New Orleans cruise over last New Year’s. I didn’t realize that having lobster three times a day wouldn’t get old. Having said that, I had several beef dishes, also great! The chef took personal pride in his position and visited the tables every evening. It was evident that the deckhands and stewards bought into the Captain’s professionalism; they were super. All in all, a fun cruise with old friends that came all the way from New Zealand and the opportunity to make new ones. Read Less

The food, the service, the attention to detail were awesome from the Captain down to every staff person on deck. The rooms were very spacious! All the ports of call gave a different view of Maine and displayed the current life plus the history.r Things that we enjoyed were the maritime museum, transportation museum, lobster boat expedition, and lobster bake. The cruising time was balanced between both night to get us to the next port and also daytime to allow us to see the scenery via our great balcony view. The exercise equipment was positioned at the back of the boat top outside deck to allow us a have a great view. The equipment was covered out of the sun and wind, Very enjoyable. The captain gave us a very detailed tour of the bridge which included maritime maps, radar review, docking procedures, lobster avoidance, and the many rules of the water. We enjoyed all aspects of this trip. Read Less

This was a 2nd cruise with American and while it was not quite as enjoyable as cruising the Chesapeake Bay on the brand new Constellation, it was still worth the cost. Our trip was a "Lobster" cruise and Lobster it was. Lobster was available on every menu and it was real Maine Lobster. If you ever want to see how much lobster you can eat in a week this is the cruise for you.While the Independence is a smaller and older ship it is in good shape, the rooms were clean and everything worked.On the Constellation our room was a Suite 502 and on the Independence we had 323 which was at the aft of the ship. Both rooms were sufficient in size and for the money I preferred 323. I would recommend that if you make this trip try and reserve a room on the starboard side because with the tide level you will be looking into a harbor wall when you are in port, especially Portland. Also avoid at all cost taking this cruise if you end up in Bar Harbor as we did on Labor day. The crowds were horrible and Arcadia Park was such that you could not see the landscape for the people standing in front of you. This is a quite tour for the older crowd. The entertainment was not Broadway performances but all had a good time and I did learn a lot about Maine and its history. We enjoyed all the small towns and the trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens was a highlight. The service was excellent with the Hotel Manager and Cruise Director going up and above the call of duty to see that all were in the right place at the right time and that all were having a good time. My wife and I have already booked two American Cruise line tours for 2018 so I guess you can say I recommend American Cruise Lines Read Less

We love the small ships and had never seen this part of the country. The embarkation & disembarkation went very smoothly. The bed in the cabin was very comfortable & the shower was great - full size, unlike some small ships. The food was amazing, particularly if you like lobster & all manner of seafood. The wait staff as well as the stewards were very friendly. It is informal so don't expect to have to dress up for dinner. The entertainment was from the locals in the ports we stopped, so no spectacular entertainers. I would not take children or even teenagers on this trip. Anyone under 50 would be considered young. They do their best to cater to people with handicaps. So if you are mobility impaired do not hesitate to go. We have signed up for another cruise - that will be our 4th with this cruise line. Read Less

American Cruise Line definitely knows how to service small ship cruising. The service, food, land tours, and overall benefits of small ship cruising are obvious after a few days on board. The selection of lobster every day was excellent. This was our third cruise with American Cruise Line and it was so much better than the large cruise ships that are so impersonal and 'cattle car' typical. Embarkation. disembarkation were designed to make it fast and comfortable. The ship was immaculate, comfortable quarters, excellent food, Shore excursions - usually one per day but sometimes two per day were excellent, varied and not exorbitant in cost but reasonable. Many were free. American Cruise Line definitely know how to treat their passengers, staff, and ships. We will definitely travel with them again and not on the larger (2000+ passengers) since 100 to 200 passengers allows for more interaction with passengers. We hope they will continue their service. Read Less

I have been on the larger ships several times. This was the first time to sail on a small ship and I will sail small from now on! The American Cruise Lines Independence carries only 100 passengers. We were able to meet and make friends with ALL of the passengers, something you can't do on the larger ones. A lot of us exchanged emails, phones numbers and became friends on Facebook. The crew was professional yet personable. Everyone was VERY helpful and always asked if they could assist even if it wasn't their "job". The crew takes very good care of the Independence and you can see the pride in their work. The ship was always spotless! The food was impeccable! Not only was it great tasting, it was beautiful! The ports and tours offered many options. We sailed on a schooner, took a museum tour and took a tour on a lobster boat. We visited Acadia National Park and learned the history of the area along the way with the help of the onboard art professor and geologist. The crew also prepared a lobster bake lunch while onshore in Rockland, ME. I have already booked another cruise with American Cruise Lines next year! I highly recommend this company. Job well done ACL! Read Less

After an flawless embarkation, this cruise took us to the parts of Maine we were interested in seeing, and because it was a small ship without all the amenities we never used on the big ships of past cruises (disco, swimming pool, casino, etc.) This was our first trip to Maine. The entire crew was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed, the excursions were well planned, and the food was delicious! The variety of cocktail hour d'oeuvres and drinks were very good. Our stateroom was clean and comfortable and we spent a lot of time on the balcony seeing the scenery. Our dining experiences were first class! We met some wonderful friends and had a relaxing, enjoyable time everyday. The friendly crew was always helpful and visible, the variety of entertainment was fun, and the pleasant staff made this a truly memorable experience. In fact, we booked a trip to Alaska while on our Maine trip just because we had such an amazing trip, and are telling all our friends to book a cruise on American Cruise Lines also. Read Less

Thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate the Independence Day holiday on the Independence. The trip did not disappoint. The crew and staff were thoroughly professional, friendly, engaging, courteous and always helpful and attentive to our needs.Both the initial boarding process and the disembarkation were handled smoothly and efficiently. We were able to get into a cruise routine, something relatively new for us, pretty easily and quickly. Meals were tasty and nutritious, social hours were convivial with plenty of refreshments and food options. The daily excursions were appropriate for the environment with plenty of background information by staff to make decisions on what to do. The ship itself was very comfortable and clean.Staff seemed to work hard to keep everything shipshape. The onboard nightly entertainment was not the greatest. Think they could jazz that up a bit.Nothing to really entice us to spend much time in the lounge after dinner. The bingo nite and guest lecturer on Maine history were the highpoints. Musical performances were borderline.Not much in the way of recreational/exercise options but it wasn't an issue with us since we kept moving with shore excursions. Overall the cruise was a pleasant and enjoyable experience with lots of memorable times and photos. WE really couldn't have asked for much more. Would do it again with American River Cruise line on one of their other trips around the country. Read Less

I have traveled with American Cruise Line in the past and have found them to be one of the best. Their staff is very friendly and helpful. It's so delightful to travel with a small group, where you are not just another face. On this cruise we got to know the staff from the Captain down to our servers and had such a nice time talking with them all. The food was great and being in Maine we had lobster galore. This was one of ACL's special cruises where we had a lobster bake on shore and lobster was offered at all meals. Yes, even breakfast. It was prepared so many interesting and delicious ways. Another great time was had when we went up on the top deck to fly kites. Hadn't done that in a very long time. ACL offers a complimentary cocktail hour every evening with great hors d'oeuvres. Also on board we had a speaker who gives you a bit of the flavor and history of the area. Lot of fun, not at like sitting in history class when we were kids! The embarkation and disembarkation is very easy. Your luggage is handled for you and there were only appropriately 100 passengers. Can't wait for next year to join them on a west coast cruise. Read Less

Usually, there are glitches on any trip. Not this one! The food was more than 5 star, the staff were extremely accommodating, the ship clean and just the right size. Loved not sharing it with 2000 other people. If you needed anything, they would help you get it...even for meals. Had a birthday and the pastry chef made me a special cake...it was wonderful! You will never starve on this trip as you could eat as much or as little as you wanted...you have a choice of half or whole portions. As a foodie, I give the food rave reviews! Saw great harbors on the Maine coast and had just the right amount of time at each port. I keep sharing my great memories with every friend I see. If you want to disco or gamble all night long, this isn't for you but if you want a classy, highly memorable trip, we had it on the Independence on American Cruise Lines. Highly recommend this cruise line!! Read Less

We have sailed on larger ships with, of course, more passengers and enjoyed those cruises. But there is something really special about a small ship and American Cruise Lines stands out in every way. We have just completed our fourth trip with ACL and every trip has been fun, relaxing, and unique. This trip was to Maine and if you love lighthouses, don't miss this itinerary. While you cannot get to all the lighthouses because of their locations, you will pass many and while seeing a beautiful part of our country. The staff is exceptional, the food absolutely wonderful (with a chef who truly caters to the passenger), accommodations clean and comfortable. Every evening begins with gathering in the lounge-a spacious, warm, comfortable area, with appetizers and cocktails and lots of fun people. (We seem to always add new friends from each cruise) From there you dine together, free to sit with guests of your choosing or meeting new ones, for a delightful dinner, great wine, and wonderful food. There is entertainment in the evening-again in the lounge. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful about the ports and activities and the crew is extremely professional in all aspects of sailing, disembarking, and embarking. We will be doing a fifth cruise next year for sure. If you are very active the cruise is for you and if you have limited mobility the cruise is for you, as well! A very well-run cruise company-thank you to all who work hard to make it the best! Read Less

A fabulous cruise of select ports on the Maine coast. Excellent food - and plenty of it. This cruise focused a lot on lobster, and how great is that? However there were always several choices for appetizers, entres and deserts. Dining was open seating - you could arrive at your choice and sit where you wanted. This gave you an opportunity to meet lots of people. Service was incredible! Staff were friendly and the small ship experience enables you to get to know the other passengers. The excursions were fun, although most had a cost associated with them, but there was adequate time ashore to do a sled- guided tour if desired. In addition, there were generally 2-4 choices for excursions that gave people choices. The accommodations were very nice. Single rooms are available, if desired, for passengers traveling alone. All cabins face the water and balconies are availed to enjoy. Read Less

We wanted to experience A smaller cruise ship with less people. We really enjoyed it felt more relaxed. The food was excellent also cocktail hour, hors d'oeuvres were great. Shannon, The hotel manager was very accommodating, I wanted to have my clothes cleaned and she did that for me even though it wasn't one of the options that you can do. I think every crew ship should have that accommodations for their customers to have their clothes clean, when you're paying top dollar especially. We were also disappointed with the age group we didn't know that it geared towards elderly. ( that should have been stated in the brochure ). You should be able to get a cocktail after 9:00PM. Also, in the dining room you shouldn't be charged five dollars if you get a cocktail. I thought that was very tacky. Overall we enjoyed the cruise and probably would do the small ship again with "American cruise lines" Maine Harbors Rosemarie Lancha Read Less

This cruise was subcontracted to a British company. The good bits. The exploration staff are excellent keeping the passengers up to date and work really hard. Their safety procedures were impeccable both for the initial brief and then the zodiac brief. The food was good on the whole and exceptional at times. The only complaint really was that more could have been made of the outside restaurant on deck 6. The menu was limited and on the whole basic. Restaurant staff were variable from totally useless to exceptional. They really need a restaurant manager who can take control. The staff in the bar were excellent. The ship. Silversea is supposed to be a luxury cruise line and the word is liberally used for the Explorer. In reality the ship is well passed its refit, the cabin we were in on the 5th deck well well past its best, the bed was comfortable however the chairs were getting threadbare and there was no stool by a rather tired dressing table. The light fittings needed to be changed (one was hanging off its fitting when we arrived) and the bathroom was badly thought out, short of storage space and I suspect had not been updated for at least 20 years. The blinds in the observation deck were broken and in various stages of retraction, maintenance were clearly not on the job or didn't have the spares. it looked more like a 2 star hotel room than a luxury liner. Throughout the ship the carpets were clean but in some areas heavily stained. The ship spent its whole voyage listing to starboard, apparently due to not being able to discharge waste within 200nm of land however there is more than one grey water tank so there is no excuse. I suspect that there was an unserviceability in the transfer between tanks but we were not being told. So come on SS get some money spent on this tired ship and make it worthy of the Silversea name rather than an embarrassment to the other ships in the fleet and those who work on it. Read Less

I chose this cruise because I went with a group of 20 people. The Columbia River Gorge is beaufiful and in a part of the country not visited by my husband and me before. Other members of the group has previously cruised with American Cruise Lines; this was a first for us. I would not recommend the Queen of the West to anyone else. We managed with the room and bath but it was far less than desirable. The crew, service, and food were excellent - could not have asked for better. The excursions were excellent and tour quides very knowledgeable about the areas visited. I like the small ship crusing experience - a first for us as we had been on larger ships on other cruises (twice to Alaska). I would travel with American Cruise Lines again but would definitely choose a newer vessel with better accommodations. That's all folks! Read Less

I traveled with my elderly Mother. She used her own portable wheel chair to get around the ship. The crew was wonderful. They helped her to get ashore and were always ready to lend a hand on the ship too.The ship was spotless. The cabin was spacious and comfortable with a large deck, two chairs and small table. The bathroom was comfortable too. The food was superb. I enjoy cooking with fine ingredients and was very impressed with the quality. There was plenty of lobster, seafood , steak , veggies and desserts. It was well seasoned and interesting. A true pleasure unlike the other cruises I have taken. Also, every day in the afternoon, cocktails were offered with cheese, meats and fruits. Wine also was served during this time and at dinner as well. When the trip is advertised as all inclusive it is really correct. Breakfast could be anything within reason. Eggs made any style with fresh fruit , pastries , juice. Coffee was good too. At lunch, the menu was equally extensive. There was never an occasion to eat off the ship. It was so well prepared! The harbors in Maine are like a string of jewels. The planners curated our stops to show us the very best of the coast line. The towns were all steeped in history and beauty. The perspective that is presented arriving by boat into the harbors is an unforgettable experience. There is a charge for some of the shore excursions, but I never went on those. I was happy to explore the towns on foot and all are very walkable. Some of the walking tours were included in the cruise price. I highly recommend this line as the first choice to see the Maine Coast in all of it's splendor. I have been in Quebec, Turks and Caicos ,and NYC since my return and finally had a chance to write this review. Hope that travelers find it helpful. Read Less

We had always wanted to see the Maine coast from the water side. This one is listed as a special lobster cruise out of Portland Maine, returning there, which made it easier to plan transportation to the ship. We decided to drive over there from Ohio and arrive a couple of days early so we could do some sightseeing. Our hotel, the Ramada Plaza, allowed us to leave our car there for free while we were on the trip. The ship personnel met our taxi at the port and transferred our luggage to the ship and our room. They also offered golf cart rides out to the ship for those who didn't want to walk out. We were greeted at the gangplank, signed in and given our name tags and room access cards. They had blueberry sangria, cookies and an appetizer ready for us to sample while we waited for access to our rooms. It gave us time to find old friends and make new ones. We were into our room around 11:30. Unpacked our suitcases and went to the lounge for our safety talk. Then we went down to the dining room for our first meal. We had a red pepper bisque, seafood salad and Maine blueberry pie. Everything was excellent and preparation was so pretty. I think we have an excellent chef on board, so much for my waistline! There was an informational talk in the afternoon about the tours that were available. Happy hour for the hour before dinner was well received as were the wonderful appetizers that were available. All the meals had several choices, including dessert. We had no complaints about the food! Our staff was all American, young people being given a chance to do intermanships and see a part of our United States that they wished to visit. They were always smiling and willing to help in any way. Every one from the Captain down was very personable. Our guest speaker, Harold Cones, answered our questions and was readily available during the cruise. The entertainment was different every night, with one night relegated to BINGO. Something for everyone! All in all, we would definitely recommend any of the American Cruise Line cruises. We have loved the Upper Mississippi and Puget Sound ones. It is small ship cruising at its best! Read Less

We picked this cruise because we had cruised with American Cruise Line before and was well satisfied. We picked the Maine Coastline cruise because we had never been to that part of the country before. We loved the idea of the beauty of the rugged coastline and small fishing village communitities. We were not dissappointed. We love this cruise line because it has quality service and staff and make your journey so enjoyable. The lecturer they have onboard is a wealth of information and tells you so much about the region you are exploring. The food is just incredible and plenty of it. We like the small atmosphere of the ship as compared to the large cruise ship. More personable. We got to meet and even eat with the captain. What a pleasure this was! He was such an interesting man and to hear his story. The staff and crew are incredible. Always there to serve and help with a smile. We have already booked our third cruise! Read Less

Our theme cruise to Maine was areal standout experience, which is why we have continued to book repeatedly with American Cruise Clines. Smaller cruises afford a better opportunity to engage & meet new friends easily. The meals are top notch & staff are always friendly and conscientious to all your needs. Having a historian / environmentalist on board adds to the whole adventure &^ overall education experience of the various ports. Our Hotel / Cruise Manager " Drew " was an is such a delight to know as we had cruised. with previously. " Kevin " our Tour / Excursion Director did such a great job of being friendly but firm & stern with or safety & timelines.. " Stan " or Captain was most visible throughout the cruise. Only one comment regarding the evening entertainment--- wish it could be enhanced a bit but overall an exceptional cruise. We are currently booked for the inaugural Spring cruise of the Constellation with American Cruise Lines & with Drew as Hotel/Cruise Manager. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we wanted to see Maine. It was very interesting to see the little towns along the Maine coast. We then left from Portland and took the CAT Ferry to Nova Scotia. If doing the Maine cruise, you can always hop on the ferry then which is right next door to where the ship docks. The lobster was excellent and we had it 3 times during the cruise and also had many dishes made with lobster. The cruise offers a lobster bake. There are many good museums to visit in the cities and town tours to take. The rooms on the ship are as big as a hotel room. The entertainment was also pretty good - banjo playing, piano playing and locals that come in to speak. If you like shopping, the cities are also good for that. These cruises seem to attract the older generation, but we had a few younger people onboard also that were traveling with their parents. There were some families traveling together (9 of them). If you would get to know some of the seniors on the trip, they have had some pretty interesting lives. Don't discount them! All in all was a fun trip and a great way to see some towns in Maine. Read Less

Small ship allowed for interaction with more of the passengers and staff. Passengers represented folks from around the United States and some from abroad. It was interesting to get their reactions to this part of the country. I am an eighth generation American and originally grew up in New York State. I am an American History buff and was very interested in seeing this area of the country that played an important part in the American Revolution. The Sailing ship industry was particularly interesting to see and better understand. The Lobster and fishing industries were also impressive to experience. They also have and continue to play, important roles in feeding our population. We were able to take advantage of the tour on a lobster fishing boat and interact with the real people of Maine. The Lobster Bake was an unexpected delight: well done! Beautiful and historic countryside. The ports of call were not the tourist traps that we have seen on, say the Caribbean islands. We would do it again. Read Less

Friends had travelled on river cruises in Europe and wanted to try US cruises. We knew that they were more money than larges cruise ships but American Cruise Lines advertised that we would get professional and top rated service. This was not the case as young college students that did the housekeeping and waited in the dining room had a 1 week training [as told to us] and were going back to school in a few weeks. The young men and women were Very nice, but not professionals as we were told. Ship was substandard compared to larger ones and the public rooms and decks were not taken care of [in terms of service or cleanliness] Top deck did not have garbage emptied or dirty glasses and ice cream dishes picked up for several days until we asked, and room balconies were never cleaned unless we asked. The evening entertainment was a joke and during the day the public rooms were used for naps or making puzzles. NOT a cruise for families as there was nothing for anyone under 70 to be involved with. Should have stated in advertising that it was a cruise line for the geriatric group. We would not, nor will we use this cruise line in the future. A relative has since cancelled a cruise up the Hudson and friends are rethinking a cruise to Nantucket on this cruise line. Professional staff was NOT friendly . Read Less