American Cruise Lines to Debut New Ships, New Itineraries in 2026

American Cruise Lines is sailing into 2026 with some big new developments, including three new ships and 11 new itineraries. The company will also help celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, visiting nearly 200 domestic ports across the nation.

The brand’s new itineraries range from 15-day “Northwest National Parks Cruises” to 11-day “Great Smoky Mountains Cruises.” Travelers can also enjoy new routes in the Mississippi River and its tributaries, like the 9-day “Arkansas River Cruise”between Memphis and Tulsa. Three new itineraries are also available on the Great Lakes.

“American has been planning Great Lakes cruises since we started our affiliate, Pearl Seas," says Charles B. Robertson, president and chief executive officer of American Cruise Lines. "Pearl offers a fantastic experience there, but our guests would often ask us why we can’t just put an American ship on the Lakes. In the past several years American’s growth was prioritized in other regions of the country, but now that we have at least five ships in every major U.S. cruise region, it’s time to surge into the Great Lakes with some new domestic options.”

The company will also debut three new ships in 2026: a new riverboat called American Encore and two new small coastal ships called American Maverick and American Ranger.

Last month, American Cruise Lines christened its newest ship, American Pioneer, at a ceremony in Key West.

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