American Cruise Lines

Everything about American Cruise Lines is domestic. The ships are built in the United States, sail under the American flag with American crews, and never leave the country's waters. That makes the line an easy way to see parts of the United States that are awkward to reach by road: the lower Mississippi and its river towns, the Columbia and Snake rivers through the Pacific Northwest, the islands of New England, the Chesapeake, the Inside Passage of Alaska.

The fleet is a mix of modern riverboats, traditional paddlewheelers and small coastal ships, all carrying far fewer guests than an ocean liner. Cabins are generous by river standards and many have private balconies. Days tend to be spent in small ports, with local historians and guest speakers on board, and evenings are quiet.