American Cruise Lines, Inc.

Founded in 1972 by shipbuilder Charles A. Robertson and his wife, Carol, American Cruise Lines began with a vision to showcase the beauty, history, and waterways of the United States through exceptional small-ship cruising. Over the past five decades, the company has grown from a family-founded operation into a leading force in the American cruise industry, pioneering new routes and introducing innovative ship technologies along the way. As the only American-owned and operated cruise line, American Cruise Lines takes pride in building all of its ships in the United States, flying the U.S. flag, and employing American crews. Today, the company operates a modern fleet of 28 small ships and riverboats, offering more than 50 itineraries across 35 states. Guided by its heritage of craftsmanship, innovation, and personalized service, American Cruise Lines continues to provide immersive journeys that celebrate the rich culture, history, and landscapes of America.

Sharing America’s Story on the Finest Ships
American Cruise Line's goal is to share America’s story on the finest American ships and deliver the best cruise experience across this country.

ACL exclusive fleet of cruise ships, accommodating 90 to 180 passengers, promises a personalized and intimate experience. Each stateroom is a spacious sanctuary in which to relax after a day of discovery.

American Cruise Lines delivers culture, history, and enlightenment enhanced by the knowledge and passion of onboard experts and local guides. Over 50 itineraries across the country provide a unique and inspiring experience.

The dedicated crew goes above and beyond to make your cruise exceptional, taking the time to remember your name and anticipate your needs.

American Cruise Lines’ commitment to environmental stewardship is immediate, rigorous, and tangible. As the largest domestic cruise operator, ACL believes in leadership through clear standards for sustainable tourism. ACL is proud to have the most environmentally friendly fleet of small cruise ships in the United States.

Emissions Control
American Cruise Lines has made a major commitment to emissions reductions by utilizing modern, electronically controlled engines and generators that deliver performance and efficiency. Ships meet or exceed EPA Tier 3 or EPA Tier 4 and Tier 4 Final emissions requirements, depending on vessel parameters. This includes main engines and generators. Tier 3 requirements cut nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions by as much as 80% over pre-tier levels. Tier 4 Final requirements reduce PM and NOx by an additional 90% from Tier 3 levels, bringing the total emissions reductions to about 99%.
Fuel
American Cruise Lines ships use only ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), which contains less than 15 ppm of sulfur (mg/kg). ULSD cuts sulfer content by more than 99.5% over heavy fuel oil (HFO) and marine diesel oil (MDO).
Cold Ironing
Shore power allows vessels to shut down all shipboard carbon emitting equipment during port calls. American Cruise Lines ships are ready to “plug in” to any port with shoreside electrical infrastructure. New ships are built shore power ready and all other ships are retrofit ready as shoreside infrastructure becomes available. 
Wastewater Management
Advanced wastewater treatment systems are integrated into all new ships and across the fleet. These systems treat, store, and discharge liquid waste in a manner that outperforms most land based waste treatment facilities. Systems can be tailored to state requirements as required and are able to store treated wastewater to comply with no discharge zones as required.

Advanced Hull Design
American Cruise Lines, through its affiliate Chesapeake Shipbuilding, designs and builds the ships in its fleet. This close relationship with the shipyard allows advanced hull studies tailored to each ship’s operating requirements and the waterways where it will be deployed. This includes hydrodynamic studies for fuel efficiency, underwater noise transmission, and environmental disturbance, as well as comfort studies for stability, noise, and vibration. 

Route Miles Minimization
The domestic-only itineraries, coupled with a commitment to operate in small towns allows for route miles to be minimized, particularly on coastal itineraries. Where larger, foreign-flagged ships need to make international voyages between large cities, American Cruise Lines can often cut route miles by more than 70% by focusing on small towns in one region of the US. Advanced route planning techniques and rigorous officer training standards ensure that they minimize the impact on wildlife and work with the tides.
Overtourism
American Cruise Lines is committed to keep all ships under 200 passengers. This allows responsible operation in the smallest towns, in harmony with the communities they visit. The 200-passenger limit means that the port calls will not contribute to traffic or congestion in town centers, and because all guests arrive by ship, vehicular traffic is negligible. Low passenger volume allows for more meaningful interactions and higher per capita economic impact. 

Single Use Plastics Elimination
Water bottles and bottle fill stations are provided throughout American Cruise Lines vessels. The line has replaced most single use products with reusable items, and where not possible, is working to provide biodegradable options.
Sustainable Cuisine
Food choices and menus educate about sustainability and prioritize region and seasonally appropriate ingredients, including seafood and produce. Cuisine is sourced locally wherever possible and excursion programs also enhance culinary impact awareness. New agritourism excursions allow guests to understand where and how their food is harvested prior to enjoying it on board.

Modernizing The Fleet
American uses low-energy LED lighting throughout the fleet as well as EPA Energy Star equipment to reduce overall onboard energy consumption. This means less energy consumed and less electricity generated.

A Smooth Journey
Unlike cruising on the open ocean, the riverboat journey is a smooth one, with land never far out of sight and beautiful landscapes nearly close enough to touch. A riverboat is able to dock in the heart of destinations inaccessible to large cruise ships, resulting in an up-close exploration of the small towns and unique cities that define America.