American Cruise Lines Launches All-U.S. Great Lakes Itineraries
by Dori Saltzman
American Patriot. Photo: American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines is expanding its presence on American waterways with three all-U.S. Great Lakes itineraries.
“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 American can, aboard a new small ship sailing 100% domestically.”
The sailing, which will operate May through August 2026, will be onboard American Patriot, the newest ship in the line’s fleet.
between Cleveland, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; exploring Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.
The three sailings on offer are:
- Nine-day Thousand Islands & Niagara Falls (sailing between Syracuse, NY and Cleveland, Ohio, on Lakes Ontario and Erie)
- Nine-day Lake Michigan, Green Bay & The Upper Peninsula (sailing RT from Milwaukee, Wis., on Lake Michigan)
- 14-day American Great Lakes (sailing between Cleveland, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wis. on Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan)
Guests can expect to dock in the heart of each town visited; the ship may even dock at a city park or a private marina for even closer access. As with all American Cruise Lines voyages, fares for the Great Lakes sailings include a pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary domestic airfare.
According to ACL, the announcement marks the first time in decades that the cruise line will be offering domestic cruises on the Great Lakes. Because the itineraries are all-U.S., cruisers do not need a passport to sail.
