American Cruise Lines Reviews 

9,745
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 3,177 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their exceptional friendliness, helpfulness, and knowledge, often highlighting their positive attitudes and willingness to go above and beyond. The service provided is frequently described as excellent, with many appreciating the personalized attention and efficient care received throughout their holidays. Reviewers also rave about the outstanding quality of the food, noting its deliciousness, variety, and the attentive service from the waitstaff. However, some customers also noted occasional issues with long waits for entrees and limited menu choices for certain meals. A few other people also felt that housekeeping could have been better in terms of cleanliness, and some experienced disappointing transportation arrangements or issues with mites in their rooms.

What people talk about most

Staff

Consumers find staff to be positive, with many reviewers highlighting the wonderful, friendly, and helpful... See more

Service

Customers had positive experiences with service, often highlighting the exceptional crew and overall... See more

Holidays

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of holidays, with many expressing great enjoyment and satisfaction with... See more

Quality

Customers consistently note positive experiences with quality, particularly regarding the food, which many... See more

Product

Reviewers mention positive feedback about product, particularly praising the delicious food with a variety of... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Just completed our 2nd cruise on ACL. First was Florida Gulf Coast & Keys, the 2nd was the Cape Codder. A truly excellent experience on both. Top notch customer service, excursions, dining and enterta... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We took an overland/cruise combination trip, and easily, the best part of the overland portion was Yellowstone National Park. We could have spent another week there. The cruise segment was most intere... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The National Parks and Legendary Rivers was in two parts. The tour of Teaton, Yellowstone and Glacier was beyond good and well led by Miranda Gould from ACL. She gathered 40 odd souls in Jackson and l... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good staff, we had Fredia Thornton most meals in the dining room and she was delightful. She just had something special about her, easy smile and laughted with us. So much fun. Your staff, al... See more


Company details

  1. Cruise Line Company

About American Cruise Lines

Written by the company

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About Us

American Cruise Lines offers river cruising and small ship coastal cruising in the U.S.A. Year after year, American continues to launch the newest U.S. built ships and uniquely curated itineraries for exploring and Cruising Close To Home®.

On all cruises, guests discover the history, and spirit of the United States aboard the most sophisticated small ship fleet in the industry. Onboard, guests enjoy a complete all-inclusive experience including daily entertainment, spacious amenities, exquisite cuisine and cocktails, and gracious hospitality. Most staterooms come with private balconies offering panoramic river views from every angle. Onshore, American Cruise Lines partners with local communities for captivating excursions which reflect the unique, fascinating cultures of the every port we visit.

Choose from cruises that explore the Mississippi River, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Alaska, New England, the Puget Sound, and the Southeast region of the country. Each destination has a story to tell, with adventure waiting at every stop.

American operates 15 ships, all accommodating just 100-190 passengers, which cruise more than 35 domestic itineraries in 34 states. American now offers domestic Flat Rate airfare for all its U.S. cruises.



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Contact info

4.8

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

10K reviews

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4.8

All reviews

(9,745)

2,878 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service

Excellent service, fabulous staff, terrific food, great Enrichment Speaker, interesting excursions. Everything was absolutely superb!!!

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the exceptional service, delicious dining, engaging enrichment, and memorable excursions. Creating a well-rounded and enjoyable experience from start to finish is what we strive for, and we truly appreciate you sharing your feedback. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

An exceptional vacation

We took an overland/cruise combination trip, and easily, the best part of the overland portion was Yellowstone National Park. We could have spent another week there. The cruise segment was most interesting during the beginning, on the Snake River. In addition, going through the locks on the Snake and Columbia Rivers was fascinating. On the ship, the staff were unfailingly friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The service was excellent, and the food was outstanding. This was our first cruise of any kind, and we booked a second one right away.

June 17, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're thrilled to hear your overland and cruise experience was so memorable, from exploring Yellowstone National Park to navigating the scenic Snake and Columbia Rivers. It’s wonderful to know the friendly service, delicious dining, and knowledgeable crew helped make your first cruise experience such a success. We truly appreciate your support and are excited to welcome you aboard for your next adventure!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Your employees are what makes the…

Your employees are what makes the cruise special. From the people on the telephone when you call to learn about ACL, to the upper management on the ship to the food servers and the housekeeping workers and the deck hands, these are the people who make the cruise wonderful.
The educators play an important role in learning the history of the towns you are going to visit as well as the history of the rivers.

July 5, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're honored to hear that our crew helped make your cruise experience so special. From the team members who assist before the journey begins to those who create memorable moments onboard, every member of our team plays an important role in delivering exceptional service. We're also glad you enjoyed the enrichment and opportunities to learn more about the history and destinations along the rivers. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience,service & staff

Great experience,service & staff. Everyone on the ship was great.

July 5, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're so glad to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed the exceptional service provided by our crew. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have been on four American cruises so…

I have been on four American cruises so far and every single one gets this rating. The ships are immaculately clean, the staff is very attentive to each passenger helping and serving in any way they can. Everything looks new and fresh and there are a multitude of things to choose from to do and if you choose to do nothing that’s OK too. The last cruise I went on was a brand new ship and I think a lot of the staff was new. If I had any complaint, it’s only constructive criticism. The dining room staff was not quite up to par with previous trips. They were as friendly as they could be, but they just didn’t seem to have the experience to know how to do things efficiently. And also being a new excursion I think the kinks need to be worked out with the itinerary. This cruise was the New England island. I think one reason people chose this cruise was to see Martha’s Island and Nantucket. We were docked at Martha’s island, but there were no excursions. No way to get around except if you wanted to walk. The first stop was Bristol where there was basically nothing to do and we were there almost 2 days. And then we spent a full day on our own in Nantucket. But never on any other trip, has it been like that. So I am still planning numerous more trips and I am sure that they are going to be fabulous like my previous trips.

July 5, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We’re delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your cruises with us and appreciate your kind words about the cleanliness of our ships, attentive service, and the many ways to enjoy each journey.

We also appreciate your constructive comments regarding your recent New England Island cruise. Feedback like yours is incredibly valuable as we continue to refine our itineraries and onboard experiences. We’re grateful for your understanding as we continue to grow, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard for many more memorable cruises in the future!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We're coming back!

Perfectly balanced itinerary...not too much nor too little. All areas of ship extremely clean & always inviting. Staff worked tirelessly & always smiling, welcoming, engaging. We're coming back!

June 28, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the thoughtfully planned itinerary, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional cleanliness throughout the ship. It’s wonderful to know our crew helped make your journey so memorable with their dedication and friendly service. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

staff was friendly and accommodating

staff was friendly and accommodating
the only staff names I remember are Ben, Brody,Savanah,jennifer,and Emma who did a great job

June 22, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear that our crew provided friendly and accommodating service throughout your cruise. Creating a welcoming and memorable experience is what we strive for, and we truly appreciate you recognizing the dedication of our team. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, personal care !

Excellent personal care from every crew member we encountered! Clean, modern facilities. The excursions are well organized and stay on schedule. The food is very good, served promptly. Modest portions, but I never left the table hungry!

July 1, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the attentive service from our crew, the comfortable facilities, well-organized excursions, and delicious dining throughout your cruise. Creating a seamless and enjoyable experience from start to finish is what we strive for, and we truly appreciate you sharing your feedback. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The cruise felt like a family vacation…

The cruise felt like a family vacation with friends and a crew that became friends. Wonderful food and drink, great ports, and excellent accommodations. This was our 31st cruise and first on AMC and already booked our next one - no kids, no shops hawking junk or very expensive jewelry, no photo gallery, no picture auction, no lines for anything, etc. etc. etc.!!

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're thrilled to hear your cruise felt like a special gathering with friends and that the welcoming atmosphere, exceptional dining, memorable ports, and comfortable accommodations made such an impression. We truly appreciate your continued support and are excited to welcome you aboard for your next journey!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

ACL took good care of us

ACL took good care of us. The staff was plentiful and very accommodating, and pleasant. The trip itself was interesting, and the lectures on board were a highlight, since we took the cruise specifically because of the Lewis and Clark history. We chose excursions, for the most part, that were connected to Lewis and Clark rather than general interest. But there were some interesting excursions that we missed, so I think we could take the cruise again and have a completely different experience. They had fun with America's 250th birthday, and told us ahead to bring red white and blue clothes for one night. The excursions were very well organized, and there were many choices, but it was a bit of a learning curve to figure out how to get into the portal to read about the excursions and figure out what to choose. (The link I was sent did not always work and the opportunity to sign up for excursions closed down about a week ahead of the cruise, just when I was finally had time to figure it out). Most excursions were still open when we were on board. The food was good, maybe not the most gourmet, but good. We LOVED having two options for dining, and took advantage of the small cafe for breakfast and lunch every day. The menu was deliberately limited, which was fine--that was the point. Almost grab and go. The bar was not important to us, but it seemed to be open almost all the time. I loved the layout of the ship. There were the usual big public areas but a lot of little "living room" areas tucked away-one on each floor- where it would be easy to gather with a small group for a game or quiet conversation away from the large group. People spread out all over and it never felt crowded. Good attention to cleanliness--I observed the railings and frequently touched areas being cleaned regularly. A lot of older people with mobility issues on the ship, but the staff seemed to take good care of them. Accessibility of excursions was very clear, and the buses to take you were right at the ship, without extra walking. The river itself has some beautiful scenery and the territory changes dramatically in the few days of traveling. The captain was expert in navvigating the locks--always an interesting process.

June 27, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear that your Lewis and Clark journey was such a memorable experience, from the engaging onboard enrichment and fascinating excursions to the beautiful scenery along the river. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the comfortable ship layout, dining options, attentive service, and the care our crew provides throughout the journey.

We also appreciate your helpful feedback regarding the excursion planning process and will continue working to make every part of the experience as seamless as possible. Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful suggestions. We hope to welcome you aboard again for another unforgettable adventure!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Loved Our Columbia River Cruise

We feel that we were very well taken care of, from arriving at the airport to returning to the airport at the end of the cruise. The room was comfortable and nicely appointed. Food was excellent, although we had a couple of instances of long waits for entrees to arrive. Our favorite waitstaff people were Isaac, Ani, Goddess, and Asia. All were friendly, personable, and efficient. Izzy and Grace were wonderful directors. The entertainment was outstanding, especially Richard. We were generally well pleased with the whole cruise.

July 2, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear you felt well cared for from the beginning of your journey through the end of your cruise. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the comfortable accommodations, excellent dining, engaging entertainment, and the welcoming service provided by our crew.

We also appreciate your feedback regarding meal service timing, as comments like yours help us continue to improve the onboard experience. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you aboard again for another memorable journey!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The cruise to and around the Great…

The cruise to and around the Great Lakes was amazing. The food was superb, the crew were wonderful and friendly. Cannot wait to take another cruise with American Cruise Line.

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your Great Lakes cruise and that the dining, scenery, and friendly service from our crew made your journey so memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and are excited to welcome you aboard for another unforgettable adventure soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The very best cruise we have ever…

The very best cruise we have ever taken. The accommodations, food, and ship staff were excellent. Would recommend this cruise company to everyone.

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're honored to hear that your cruise was your best yet and that you enjoyed the accommodations, dining, and exceptional service from our crew. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you aboard again for another memorable journey!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We recently enjoyed a wonderful river…

We recently enjoyed a wonderful river cruise with American Cruise Lines, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations. The ship was beautiful, comfortable, and well organized, but what truly made the trip memorable was the outstanding crew and staff.

A very special thank you goes to Excursion Director JJ, who did an exceptional job coordinating activities and excursions throughout the cruise. JJ’s energy, organization, and attention to detail made every outing enjoyable and stress-free.

We also want to recognize Polly for the fascinating historical information she shared during the trip. Her knowledge, storytelling, and passion for history added so much depth and meaning to each destination we visited.

Another heartfelt thank you goes to our dining room server, Bee, whose kindness, professionalism, and friendly personality made every meal a pleasure. Bee consistently provided excellent service and always made us feel welcomed and appreciated.

From beginning to end, this cruise was relaxing, informative, and enjoyable. We highly recommend American Cruise Lines to anyone looking for a first-class river cruise experience with exceptional customer service and unforgettable memories.

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear that your river cruise exceeded expectations and that the ship, onboard experience, and service from our crew helped create such memorable moments. We’re especially glad you enjoyed the enriching excursions, fascinating history, and welcoming dining experience throughout your journey.

We truly appreciate your recommendation and kind words about the dedication of our team. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again for another unforgettable adventure!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

People were…

People were excellent,foodwasalsogood,maybewiththeexceptionofthesnackswithdriks.

July 4, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the service from our crew and the dining experience throughout your journey. We also appreciate your comments regarding the snacks and will share your feedback with our team as we continue to enhance the onboard experience. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Our cruise was wonderful

Our cruise was wonderful. Exactly what we were looking for when we signed up. Relaxing, informative, beautiful scenery. The crew were incredible. Very friendly and very helpful. Boat was so clean and stateroom was very comfortable. Excursions were plentiful, and very informative. Food was very good and plenty of variety. Would highly recommend this cruise.

July 3, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're thrilled to hear your cruise was exactly what you were hoping for, from the relaxing atmosphere and beautiful scenery to the informative excursions and exceptional service from our crew. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the comfortable accommodations, delicious dining, and variety throughout your journey. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

FYI-I replied yesterday (7-2-26) to…

FYI-I replied yesterday (7-2-26) to your survey. - JPB

July 3, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We successfully received your completed questionnaire and appreciate you taking the time to submit your feedback. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again in the future!

Sincerely,

American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Most everyone on staff was friendly and…

Most everyone on staff was friendly and would go out of their way to help you. The small number of passengers is great.

July 3, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

Our crew takes pride in delivering friendly and helpful service, and we are so delighted you enjoyed your cruise aboard American Legend! We look forward to setting sail with you again soon.

Sincerely,

American Cruise Lines

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Until our boat was hit- the crew and…

Until our boat was hit- the crew and experience was outstanding. I look forward to booking American in the future. Alanna was an excellent entertainer!

July 3, 2026
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Reply from American Cruise Lines

We're delighted to hear that you had an outstanding experience and enjoyed the exceptional service from our crew. We appreciate your kind words and are thrilled to know you’re looking forward to cruising with us again. We hope to welcome you aboard for another memorable journey soon!

Sincerely,
American Cruise Lines

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