American Launches First All-U.S. Cruises on Great Lakes
American Cruise Lines is launching a series of all-U.S. cruises on the Great Lakes starting in 2026, the company announced in a press release.
The sailings will be operated by the American Patriot and are being introduced in response to guest demand, the company said.
Three new itineraries are set to be offered between May and August 2026, with additional departures planned for 2027.
“Guests have long asked for our style of cruising on the Great Lakes,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines.
“We are now proud to offer these cruises as only Americans can, aboard a new small ship sailing 100 per cent domestically,” he added.
The company said that this announcement marks the first time in decades that an American ship will offer domestic cruises in the growing Great Lakes cruise market.
“Without the need to cross borders, the new cruises are a completely unique experience apart from all other cruise lines currently on the lakes,” American added.
While other ships dock at ports intended for foreign ships and international entry, the American Patriot can dock in the heart of small towns, city parks and private marinas, the company continued.
American’s 2026 Great Lakes itineraries include a nine-day cruise visiting the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls, while an additional nine-day itinerary highlights Lake Michigan, Green Bay Inlet and the Upper Peninsula.
The line’s signature 14-day cruise, dubbed the American Great Lakes, travels 800 miles through three of the Great Lakes: Erie, Huron and Michigan.
All sailings offer an included pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary domestic airfare, American explained.
“Each itinerary is comprised of days filled with excursions in small towns and time spent cruising the magnificent Lakes,” the company added.
As all itineraries begin, end and remain in the U.S., passports or international flights are unnecessary for U.S. travellers.
American Cruise Lines has installed SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet to its 2023 fleet of riverboats and small cruise ships.
The new service – which will be complimentary on all 2023 cruises – will ensure “seamless connectivity and faster upload speeds” nearly everywhere the company’s small ships operate.
Starlink is powered by a constellation of lower earth (LEO) satellites, that provide a connection to American ships and riverboats.
In 2023, the line will introduce three more new ships, bringing its total fleet to 17 small vessels and riverboats to sail across 35 states.
While secondhand sales dominated the cruise industry headlines over the past few months, the shipbuilding business has also been busy during the pandemic.
In addition to the vessels that were already set to be built in 2020, a total of 13 extra ships were also ordered in March 2020.
Here’s the complete list:
SH Diana Cruise Line: Swen Hellenic Order Date: October 2020 Shipyard: Helsinki Shipyard (Finland) Capacity: 192 guests Tonnage: 12,500 Expected Delivery: Q1 2023
Swan Hellenic was among the first cruise lines to order a cruise ship after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to its operator, the LNG-powered ship will feature private residences, in addition to features that include a microbrewery, a hydroponic garden and an art studio.
Emerald Cruises ordered a second cruise ship for its fleet in September 2021. The new Emerald Sakara is set to be delivered in 2023 and will have the capacity of 100 guests.
A sister to the 2021-built Emerald Azzurra, the super yacht is being built by the Halong shipyard in Vietnam.
The 152-guest vessel is set to enter service in 2025 and did not have its buyer revealed at the time of the order.
American Eagle and American Glory Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines Order Date: January 2022 Shipyard: Chesapeake (United States) Capacity: 109 guests each Tonnage: 3,000 each Expected Delivery: 2023
Named Project Blue, the class will include a total of 12 vessels – of which the first two are already in construction at the Chesapeake shipyard.
Ilma and Luminara Cruise Line: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Order Date: March 2022 Shipyard: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France) Capacity: 456 guests each Tonnage: 37,000 each Expected Delivery: 2024 and 2025
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection ordered two additional cruise ships in March 2022, the Ilma and the Luminara. Following the Evrima, which is set to enter service soon, the vessels will be built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France.
Designed as mega yachts, the 37,000-ton ships are set to be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Explora V and Explora IV Cruise Line: Explora Journeys Order Date: July 2022 Shipyard: Fincantieri (Italy) Capacity: 922 guests each Tonnage: 70,000 each Expected Delivery: 2027 and 2028
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