by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:25 AM ET, Tue April 28, 2026
American Cruise Lines is gearing up for a busy May, with numerous “firsts” happening next month.
American Encore is launching on the Columbia and Snake rivers on May 5 and will become the first ship ever to be christened in Idaho on May 12, with the festivities taking place at the line’s new dock in Lewiston.
May will also mark the first 2026 departures for two of the longest domestic cruises ever, the 36-day “Civil War Battlefields Cruise” on May 5 and the 52-day “Great United States Cruise” on May 29, which were both designed to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
Additionally, American Cruise Lines will kick off its first season on the Great Lakes on May 22, featuring cruises aboard American Patriot.
“What, where, when, and how you can cruise throughout the United States today is a tremendous accomplishment that has been decades in the making,” says Alexa Paolella, spokeswoman for American Cruise Lines.
She adds: “Our U.S.-flagged fleet and array of small ship itineraries honor American ingenuity, grit and perseverance. This year, we are cruising more domestic waterways than at any other time in our company’s history, and we are looking forward to celebrating the country’s 250th birthday on board with our guests cruising from Alaska to the Florida Keys.”
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