For years I have wanted to do a small ship cruise in the USA. We embarked in New Orleans and disembarked in Memphis. The ship is small 185 passengers but this allows people to get to know each other. The cabins are much larger than on ocean cruises and very nicely appointed. Dining is everyone at one time which is nice. It starts at 7:30 am for breakfast, 12:30pm for lunch and 6:30 for dinner. The food is outstanding with "different" and better recipes than the ocean cruise lines. Entertainment is a little lacking but understandable. Service was excellent. The ship is manned by mostly college aged people. They did an outstanding job and I was impressed. I do not believe I would do any part of the Mississippi river again but I think the Snake River would be interesting. The Mississippi lacked scenery for one thing and the river is mostly commercial traffic. The shore excursions provided at no cost by the ship were very interesting. Read Less

This cruise had been on our bucket list for the last couple of years. My husband and I with another couple had done European river cruises and thought that this would be similar. No way can ACL be compared with them. They may both be small boats as far as passengers but that is where the comparison stops. On this cruise the excursions were large bus trips where you stop only at highway rest areas. If you are on the wrong side of the bus you never see the point of interest. Dining options very limited and not up to other cruise lines. The young people in the dining room made the week with their friendly, helpful ways. The dining room itself needs an overhaul. The fabric chairs are stained as is the carpet. Our cabin was not luxury at all. Everything on the boat closes down at 9:00 pm, and no movies offered on the tv. I am sorry that this did not work out for us in our mid sixties, maybe we would have enjoyed it more fifteen years from now. Read Less

This was my first riverboat cruise after almost twenty traditional cruises. Pros: 1) Ship was new & beautiful; 2) my single cabin w/balcony was very comfortable and clean with nice bathroom; 3) cuisine was the best I've had on any cruise line in at least 20 years; 4) staff was young, very friendly, and tried to be very helpful; 5) lounges were very comfortable and well laid out; and 6) the included wines at dinner & happy hour were delicious and served liberally. Cons: 1) This particular cruise up the Hudson Valley had way too many rough edges and poor coordination; 2) the complimentary excursion in Martha's Vineyard and the $65 excursion of NYC were well meaning but very poorly done by the respective tour companies; 3) even though the cuisine was delicious, way too many times the food was served either tepid or had completely cooled; 4) loading of luggage at the hotel recommended by American Cruise Lines was absolute chaos...the very worst I've every experienced; 5) there was no reason to leave the vessel at many of the ports of call simply because there was nothing of interest to do or see; 6) Disembarkation involved a very long walk from the vessel to the airport transfer buses; and 7) Laguardia was an absolute nightmare...avoid it like the plague. Having said all of this, I've already booked a second time on ACL for Christmas 2018 on the lower Mississippi cruise, which everyone I've spoken with said was an excellent experience. Read Less

Timing and route. couldn't fault the staff and ship. Everything worked. Superb hard working crew and cruise director. Food as good as it gets and we have done 60+ such cruises since retiring 20 years ago . We did several optional pay extra excursions and thought some over priced. additionally,would like to have heard more commentary on the "passing parade" given that we sailed more than 1600 miles amongst one of the great waterways of the world. note this is just a suggestion, not a criticism on what was truly a wonderful travel experience , great ship and superb all- american crew who looked after we guests who were allseniors as if we were family. After dinner musician entertainers were mostly themselves seniors who played the stuff relished by our own generation. as a former muscian i rate most of what i heard as "intrumental virtuoso". Well done american cruise lines. Read Less

Terrific cruise of “COMPLETE MISSISSIPPI” – August 4th thru 26th From New Orleans to Saint Paul MN (8 states in 22 days; 21 nights) on the paddle wheeler (fake) “America” operated by American Cruise Lines (ACL); launched in 2016; has 185 passenger capacity but we had only 137 passengers on board. The Cruise Critic's professional review (https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=1182 ) was spot on but I would add my observations and opinions: • The itinerary was FANTASTIC for us (a photographer and an American history buff). DW shot about 300 photos on her phone and more on her professional camera (numerous eagles, herons, pelicans, cormorants, and others plus wonderful antebellum houses). Every port had interesting aspects; some were stunning! I loved the discussions (lectures) and the ports. The excursions were well done with very good local tour guides and with a Cruise Director or an Asst. CD accompanying on the buses (with restrooms). • Clientele is “older”! We had maybe 2 under 60 and several over 90. Many with mobility issues; the staff handled the situations well. Clientele was also “well-heeled”, well-traveled and congenial. • The formal entertainment was very enjoyable. The on-board “Riverorians” were terrific (better than Smithsonian’s lecturers on Regent Seven Seas Cruises) – discussions were about the Louisiana Purchase, cotton/slavery, Civil War, steam boats, immigration to the West, and controlling the Mississippi River water via dam/locks and dredging. Discussions were held in a spacious, comfortable, family room-like venue. The after dinner entertainment (about an hour) was music (jazz, Dixieland, blues, country, and “oldies”- that had some fantastic performers). • Cabin was best that we had on a river cruise – spacious, quiet, bright, with lots of storage drawers and a small but adequate closet. Bathroom is “cozy” but well-lit and well-ventilated with adequate storage and a nice shower with instant hot water. • Food (of course subjective) for us was good; baked goods were SUPERB, per my wife the baker and me the taster. Breakfast was better for me than what I had on "Luxury" cruises. Lots of complimentary wine (mostly California) and beer (some local) during lunch, “Happy-hour”, and dinner service. • Downsides? Yes! -The staff is American college “kids” for which service is surely not going to be a career. We came to expect at least one gliché per day in either dining or house-keeping. -The cruise is “pricey” as it is an American- registered boat that must meet all U.S. maritime regulations. - There is no Doctor or Nurse aboard. Read Less

Never on a cruise. Selected 4 day to "try out" a cruise. We enjoyed it throughly. The ship new, well appointed and easily accessed by elevators and stairs. Enjoyable sun decks on levels 4 and 5. Open seating dining room allowed chance to meet other travelers. The excursions to. several plantations was a positive experience, especially the Houmas Hosee were the tour guides were especially engaging to help understand the story of the time. Meals aboard the ship were plated, well presented and of moderate quantity which was helpful. Throughout the day the breakfast, lunch and dinner meals were augmented with warm cookies at 10 am, tea and sweets at 3 pm, cocktail hour and heavy h'odouvres at 5:30 followed by dinner at 6:30. If that wasn't enough, during entertainment, ice cream sundaes and popcirn were offered. No one went hungry. It was a great ship experience and this cruise line paid attention to all the small details to give us a great experience. Thanks. 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

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

This is a fantastic cruise company for seniors or people who like a slower pace, (perfect for me, as I love taking photos). They accommodate physical disabilities as much as possible throughout the trip. Children were rare, but the crew made a special effort to find activities and food they would enjoy. Special diets can be accommodated. The locations they stop include plantations, museums and national parks. There is time to go to the local towns, with shuttle service. You will never be hungry on this trip: breakfast, warm cookies at 10:00, lunch, Tea Time, Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and dinner. Open seating in the dining room. Balcony for every stateroom. On board they have bingo, lectures, and evening entertainment. It was a Christmas trip to remember: carolers greeted us as we boarded, decorations, food, the opportunity to attend Christmas Eve service and even gifts! The crew was the most cheerful and attentive I have experienced with any cruise line. Read Less

We traveled in a party of 10: 4 boys aged 5-12, parents in their 70s (one w/ memory issues), and two couples in their 40s. We loved the service, delicous food, live music, custom drinks & friendly manner of all the staff. Our rooms were on the outside of the 4th &5th floor decks, so we enjoyed the views as well. We all loved the engine room - you can walk down and see all the working parts when the ship is in motion. We enjoyed the pilot house tour (when the boat is in port) and riverlorian talks. The lady in the gift shop was delightful & gave my 5 year old a box in which to hold his treasures. The bars allowed kids and our kids were free to roam the boat; they truly treasured that freedom. The kids played bingo and chess and even cavassed the passengers to find additional chess opponents (the passengers were quite friendly). On several evenings we found an unreserved box in the Grand Salon (the theater for live entertainment which is modeled after Ford's Theater in DC). For adults drinks cards are available for purchase which allow included drinks and gratuities for the duration of the voyage ($200). Shore excursions were great fun. We opted for hop on hop off which meant we could visit a variety of stops each time the boat docked. I reccomend departing early because the stops are only 3 or 4 hours and the time passes quickly. On each bus for hop on hop off a local guide gave detailed information about the town and its history. You can purchase shore excursions for additional cost ($60 + per person per stop) but we were happy with the bus. For this leg I'd reccomend the Angonla Prison tour (we missed it and were sad) and the Vicksburg Battlefield tour. The New Orleans to Memphis Tour is good for older adults and kids because the boat stops in port during the day. If you're looking for more of a party scene you do Memphis to New Orleans (the boat stops in Baton Rouge in early evening). In short, I'd happily do another cruise with this company. It has been completely relaxing and I've been made to feel completely at home albeit in a luxurious and pampered manner. Oh, and coming in we stayed an extra evening at the Hyatt by the super dome which was lovely. I'd definitely reccomend a additional day in New Orleans and the World War II Museum is fantastic. New Orleans has Uber which is a great way to get around. The streets of New Orleans are beautiful and kid friendly during the day. Read Less

This was my 4th trip on the American Queen this year. Quite frankly, I found the music to be addictive! The whole experience is quite nice, but the music is the biggest draw for me. All the musicians are top notch. I especially enjoy Greg Lupton, who plays piano in the Captain's Bar twice a night. He is so engaging, with his sing-a-longs and warm humor. He's also a very, very talented musician. He makes everyone feel welcome and happy. Also terrific are the twice-nightly staged shows, the blues jam, the afternoon dixieland jazz show, and the late night dance music. The boat itself is really classy without being snooty. You will feel comfortable in casual clothes. The food is quite good, and quite varied. The staterooms are mostly very nice (though there are a few issues with water and room temperatues that need to be sorted out; I expect that those will have been remedied when the boat comes out of dry dock next season). The stops are very interesting, and some good options for side trips are provided. I especially recommend the BB King Museum! The ship is large enough that no one will feel claustrophobic, but not so large that it feels impersonal. The crowd tends to be seasoned and relaxed. We may all enjoy some wine with their dinner, and the occasional cocktail, but this is not a ship of drunken fools. The riverlorian lectures are quite interesting, and other onboard activities are available as well. The staff are friendly and helpful. Overall, I would highly recommend this boat, assuming they can take care of those few repair glitches. And, as fun as the Memphis to New Orleans route is, I actually prefer the run up to Red Wing (a charming port of call). Whichever route you take, you're bound to have a good time. Don't forget to catch Greg's act! Read Less

A trip of a Mississippi Steam boat was an ambition we have had for a long time. WE struggled to arrange direct from the UK. An opportunity arose which we seized as it gave the opportunity to visit New Orleans and Memphis. We found the state rooms very comfortable and well appointed, The food and wine was excellent. Although the dinning room was a little noise which mad it difficult having a conversation with fellow guests at meal times. Out waitress on several occasions was Krystin; we found that nothing was too much trouble and she was very attentive to our needs. All the staff from deck hands to the Management Team were very friendly and helpful and made the cruise an enjoyable experience. We found the excursions interesting but not enough time to take advantage of the visits. We would have liked more time at the Civil War visitor centre to view the exhibits and similarly we were requested to leave one of the Plantations so that we could visit "a gift shop" on the way back to the ship. Read Less

We chose this cruise to view the fall foliage and to tour the historic sites along the Hudson River Valley. We were not disappointed on either counts. I'm glad we packed heavy raincoats for this time of the year, as the weather was always windy and it rained 2 days and even snowed one morning. River cruising means very little motion, therefore no one was ever sea sick. There were only 80 passengers on board, so the ratio of service persons to passengers was excellent. All drinks were included in the fare and happy hour was held each night with wine/beer provided at lunch and dinner. If you're looking for a fast paced, party atmosphere, this is NOT the cruise for you. It is slow paced and relaxing, perfect for retreating from a hectic paced life. I would say the average age of the passengers was upper 60s. The ship has multiple areas for social gatherings and playing games (pack your playing cards). If you're sending post cards, they are mailed every day and you do NOT need stamps. The ship had reading material for our destinations and some lectures; but it would have been helpful if we had studied up a bit prior to the cruise. All of the cabins are incredibly spacious, larger than our master suite at home. Cabins do NOT have safes, so plan accordingly, though we felt secure the entire time on board. All cabins have TV/cable service and DVD players. The ship's library had a limited selection of DVDs; we watched old John Wayne movies in our room each night after the social hour of pleasant, entertainment (geared for the age group on board). For our next cruise, we'll pack a few of our favorite DVDs. We would take this cruise again, but perhaps go a week earlier, though being able to predict peak leaf time is difficult since weather is unpredictable. However, the farther we traveled up river, the more variety and vivid the leaves became. The best part of the cruise was the friendliness of the crew and service personnel. Since the amount of passengers is relatively small, we were able to get to know many of the passengers who were happy to be traveling. The relaxing atmosphere on board, made for great fellowship. I did not see one passenger complain or whine. We also made some life long friends aboard and are planning future trips with them. As with any experience, you get out of it what you are willing to put into it. The food was superior and the chef accommodated special needs or requests whenever able. Gratuities are included in the fare, so that made it convenient. Travel to and from the Manhattan port was expensive and traffic is always congested; try to share taxis whenever possible and avoid LaGuardia which is undergoing some pretty extensive construction for all gates and parking. The internet connections were often sketchy, but if you're cruising, you need to unplug anyway. There are computers with printers on board for accessing your plane tickets and pre printing boarding passes. Be sure to include an overnight bag for your last night on board, it will make luggage transfer go very smoothly. Have a great time, sit back, and enjoy the ride. You'll return with a lowered blood pressure and a few extra joyfully gained pounds, and hopefully some wonderful new friends! Autumn will become your favorite season! Read Less

This was our third American Cruise in less than 2 years. This spring we cruised Puget Sound, and the year before the Florida Rivers. The only disappointment this time was the lack of sound proofing between our room, 511, and a crew member. We were awakened each morning by his alarm clock, 527am, 447am, etc. We could almost hear what was being said on his TV. On the other side of us we could hear the neighbors voices and their TV. We hadn't experienced that on the other ships. America is a brand new ship, and didn't expect that, especially in a premium room. Very disappointing. I had gotten the idea from other passengers that they didn't hear anyone. Also, I thought the ship was full or I would have mentioned it to the Colin, the Hotel Manager. When I did tell him at the end of the cruise, he was sorry I hadn't come to him sooner, because he could have moved us. I was sorry too. The other disappointment was the din in the dining room. At a table for six I was unable to hear the person across from me without leaning way into the table, and I don't have a hearing problem. It was constant, and during the cruise there were others complaining about it. We are taking the Chesapeake Cruise on the maiden voyage of the Constellation next May and hope this problem will not occur again. We love your crews, food, itineraries. Read Less

This trip was all that we expected and we enjoyed it very much. The America is a beautiful river boat. We found the boats tours very good--they gave us a good overview of life in the South along the River in the in the 1800's and now. We stayed at the Roosevelt in New Orleans for a couple of nights pre-cruise and The Peabody in Memphis post-cruise which also added a lot to our trip. Don't miss the World War II museum in New Orleans and Graceland in Memphis. Some have written about the quality of service in the dining room--these are mostly college age young people and what they lack in experience they make up for with enthusiasm. We found the food very good and to American tastes. We are experienced ocean cruisers and found river cruising very enjoyable. If you reserve another cruise while on board they give you a 15% discount. We enjoyed this enough that we signed up for a 14 day East coast inland waterway cruise this Spring. Read Less

We had a great trip. Loved the accommodations, the size of the boat, dining options and quality of the food, high quality entertainment, educational experiences, hop on/hop off option and beautiful scenery. The population skewed to the older side, so we were considered younger, active seniors (ages 67 and 69). This was not a problem since the Hop on/hop off feature allowed us to do extra walking and independent touring. The ship had a few bicycles available, which we used several times without any problem getting them when we wanted. We can see how this kind of trip would be easily accessible for older people, but it also suited our more active style. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and made an extra effort to remember everyone's name, which was impressive. The staff was also exceptionally talented and the evening shows were high quality. We also liked the Riverlorian who presented her educational information in an interesting and entertaining style. This was the perfect trip combining beautiful scenery, education and history, excellent dining, the right amount of pampering. 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

Following our journey over from the UK and a few nights in Atlanta and then New Orleans we boarded the American Queen - bliss. We have river cruised in Europe, China and Russia (as well as a couple of Ocean cruises) and this beats them all in terms of atmosphere, entertainment and ambience. The boat is lovely and decorated in period style - so much so that I expected Mark Twain to be sitting in the lounge reading the local newspaper or penning his next novel. We had booked a suite with a private balcony and the room was of a similar décor, with wallpapered walls and old furniture. There was plenty of hanging and drawer space for our 7 night cruise to Memphis and a lovely comfortable bed. The cabin music was varied and relaxing with no over-the-top announcements although the aircon did take some adjusting. To open our doors in the morning and watch the world go by in bed, before breakfast, was soooo relaxing. And then to the food, all I can say is excellent, varied, great staff and make sure you take 2 cloth sizes. The entertainment was our biggest surprise and we were luck to have some great people on our trip, everyone was either very good or great but we have to say a special thank you to Greg & Lindy who were exceptional and our CD will remind us of your talent every time we play it. There were various venues on the boat from the Patio, where you could have a light breakfast, lunch or dinner to the bars which had a variety of entertainment from simple piano sing-a-long to blues/jazz/light rock with a piano and guitar/banjo duo. There was also daytime entertainment in the wonderful show theatre. There is a small fitness centre on-board along with a small pool to relax in if wanted. The other bonus were the day trips, if you did not want to pay the extra for the 'special' excursions the hop-on-hop-off service was extremely well organsied and gave a good insight into the cities/towns visited with many prepaid entries to museums and houses. Many thanks to excursions team for this wonderful service. We did book a couple of extra trips which took you further afield and the highlight was our Blues tour of Helena and Claksdale. The Mississippi between New Orleans and Memphis may not be the most spectacular in the world but it was interesting (especially the barges) and relaxing with some wonderful towns to see on route. Overall a great and memorable trip. Read Less

Never take this cruise. They talk about some great tours and cancel many of them along the way. The food is not good, the service is mostly done by interns that are learning and it is super over priced for receiving close to nothing. Terrible and boring cruise up the Mississippi with almost know good entertainment or activities. The boat even crashed into a sand bar at night - took about 30 minutes of pushing back and forth to get off and woke everyone up- bent the paddle wheel and made them late to arrive in Memphis so they canceled the Memphis tour? If you want a good cruise go on a Viking River cruise. The difference is like a cubic to a diamond. Our only grace was we had planned a few days on our own in the start destination and the end destination so we saw those two locations and had fun there Read Less

Such a relaxing, layed back atmosphere. The crew are so pleasant and ready to help or assist in any way possible. There was an issue with one of the premium excursions and they were quick to listen and respond to feedback. The food is fantastic, the entertainment great. If you want to get away, do at your own pace, be fed and have fun, then this is the trip you should take. The staterooms (with private balcony) are roomy, the cleanliness of the boat is stellar. It would have been nice to have had more time in Hannibal, MIssouri. The premium excursion to the National Eagle Center was worth every penny. It is fascinating to see these birds up close and personal. Our wait staff were wonderful to work with and very willing to work with requests to make sure you are able to eat what is before you and have any enjoyable experience while doing so. I highly recommend this experience. Read Less

Columbia River Clarkston to Portland We don't want to repeat other reviews so just some additional information some may find helpful. Cabin:- All cabins seem to be the same size. Some have a double bed; some have 2 single beds. Ample storage space. In-drawer small combination safe. Try to pick a cabin away from the public rooms. Third level was good. Cabin service excellent. Suggestion to management: some hooks on the wall near the door would be helpful for hats, cameras, etc. There are two elevators that go to the 4 passenger decks. Access and Security::- photo ID card given at the beginning of the trip that works as a cabin key and is scanned leaving and reboarding the ship. At the same time, a credit card imprint is taken for all on-board charges. When in port, a crew man always sits at the entrance door. Everyone is scanned before boarding. Free Shore excursions: try for the first in the morning hop-on; hop-off bus. Gives more time before lunch for the port stops. Paid excursions: These are clearly a profit center. Lots and lots of pressure to sign up. They are good trips but the cost his high and the value may not be there for many. Drinks: Expensive. $12.00 (including service charge) for cocktails. They have a a "cocktail of the day" at about half price. There is an "all you can drink" package at the start of the trip but you need to be a heavy drinker to make it pay. Good (included) wines at dinner. Food: Two seatings -- too early and too late! We rate the main dining room as 4* out of 5*. Good but not gourmet. Large portions. Reasonable choices and small steak/chicken always available at dinner. We rate the grill as 4* for dinner (limited menu - reservations required.) We give it 3* for breakfast and lunch. Food here suffers from pre preparation at the buffet. Hectic badly laid out environment. Always available 24/7 - coffee machine with cappuccino, etc. Juice machine. Cookies. Keurig machine in each cabin. Small fridge in each cabin. Ample bottled water - in cabin and on all busses. Logistics:- excellent! At the start, luggage goes from hotel to your cabin and at the end, from your cabin to the shore. Hop-on - hop off busses are on time; shore excursions are on time. Local guides are knowable and helpful. Staff:- remarkably friendly and helpful. They have been doing this for a long time and I suspect those with chips on their shoulders have been eliminated. Note: No laundry on board. No gym. Opportunities for walking on shore and at least one hike. We thought this was an excellent, well designed and well run trip. Recommended. Read Less

We took this Pacific Northwest river cruise for our 30th wedding anniversary. I really wanted a more intimate experience than a large ship/liner and this 220+ passenger boat was a perfect fit. From arrival to the hotel, to transportation to the airport, to the daily newsletter delivered to our room, the cruise line had every detail covered. We are in our 50's and although we were definitely among the younger couples on board, that didn't stop others from joining us on some of the great premium excursions like zip-lining (which I highly recommend) or kayaking. Our room was spacious and the bed was remarkably comfortable. I do recommend bringing a small night light for the bathroom, as the room can be quite dark and the light switch was outside the bathroom. The halls are all covered in artwork and a self-guided brochure is provided. This was a nice way to get to 'know' the boat. Dining was wonderful, leave your diets at home and treat yourself. The more casual River Grill & Bar was noisier but worked well for breakfast and lunch when time was an issue. One of our favorite on-board experiences was listening to the Riverlorian presentations; Laurence was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic. We had a wonderful time and I still find myself saying, "I miss my boat." This cruise may have spoiled me for all other cruises and I would definitely go again. Read Less

Cruised from Cincinnati, OH to Alton, IL. There are various types of cabins to choose from. Our cabin had an outside door an inside door to the hall ( 2 entrances). Nightly entertainment, two dining times for main dining, but there is another casual dining option elsewhere on the boat. Wine included in main dining. Pop, water, coffee, tea, lemonade, ice cream, cookies, and popcorn included all day long. Pool an exercise room, movie theater. Daily river talks, rooms to read or play games and gift store. Shore excursions included along with pay for premium shore excursions. EVERYONE working on this boat is friendly and ready to help you. All ages welcomed. Every night you receive the River News with the next days activities listed. You decide how relaxed or busy you want to be during your cruise. Free wifi. Boat computers are all set up with various airlines to just click your airline and print your boarding pass. Robes and slippers in each room. Elevators and stairs to choose from. Buses for shore excursions run every 15-20 minutes with hop on/hop off option an are included. Step on guides from the local area on the buses to give information about the city you are in. The American Queen is a steamboat paddle wheel. Read Less

We were looking for a cruise departing near our home, and were also interested in American Cruise Line since we thought we should see some of the USA now, having cruised in the Caribbean and Europe, and we wanted to experience small ship cruising. This cruise fit perfectly in our plans and we were fortunate that long time friends of our also joined this cruise. Throughout the cruise the staff were very helpful, willing to stop and chat, and were friendly (smiled a lot -- obviously enjoyed their work). They loaded and off loaded our luggage, our cabin was ready when we arrived, and had no flaws of any kind. The air conditioning worked superbly for the muggy days (very few). Meals were varied and delicious. Lobster was served a lot -- from whole lobsters, to lobster mac and cheese, lobster salad, lobster stew; wonderful. Also served were beef, pork, lamb. Lots of excellent salads and desserts, too. The wait staff - stewards - were college youngsters who also cleaned the rooms and made the beds. All of these young people were delightful and attentive. All had some connection to the hospitality industry and many were interns. They had been well trained and were well supervised and very pleasant and hard working. Besides breakfast, lunch and dinner warm cookies were served mid morning, cocktails before dinner and ice cream sundaes and root beer floats in the evening. All were gratis. Our captain was sharp, knowledgeable, informative and a terrific ship handler. We always knew ahead of time what he planned to do ship wise. A few downsides: a wonderful lobster bake occurred ashore as part of the cruise, and the food was wonderful. However, insufficient transportation was provided to the bake so a long delay occurred. And seating was unnecessarily crowded. The music provided was excellent. As a separate matter, the man on board who conducted lectures and pointed out geographical interests was a bit glib and somewhat opinionated inappropriately. Could be better. Read Less

New Destinations,New Bedford, Nantucket Island, Block Island, Bristol. The narrated bus tour was fantastic. Good accommodations- The housekeeping staff were top notch. Outstanding foods- The cocktails hours brought socializing and the development of new friends. Plus, took all edges off the day. However, one couple was upset that paper napkins were used at breakfast and cocktail hour. OK with me! Educational activities were exceptional- The scallop fisherman's talk was great!! Service was excellent. It showed great training of staff. All the staff was happy and willing to meet any request of the customer with a SMILE. Many of the ports of call were new to me. The return visits enabled me to see the ports with new interest, Martha's Vineyard- The guided tour of Oak Bluffs including visiting one home will remain as one of the highlights of the trip. A return cruise seems inevitable. We are saving our money and hope to be on another cruise soon. Read Less