American Serenade Riverboat Cruise Ship Tour

Table Of Content

• American Cruise Lines Makes the History of America Come Alive
• ACL-American Cruise Lines opens summer season with new Tennessee River voyages
• ACL-American Cruise Lines unveils 3 new small ships for the 2023-2024 season
• ACL-American Cruise Lines begins its biggest season ever on the Mississippi
• Other American Cruise Lines cabins
• American Serenade cabins review
• American Serenade Itineraries Sail the Tennessee, Ohio, Cumberland and Mississippi Rivers

AAR cabins on Deck 1 have a steel door that opens to a private balcony and are slightly smaller, at 275 square feet. AAM and AAC categories are located on Decks 3 and 2, respectively, and include floor-to-ceiling glass sliding balcony doors. AAM rooms are 350 square feet, with AAC rooms coming in just a bit smaller at 315 square feet -- still plenty spacious for a couple travelling together.

American Cruise Lines Makes the History of America Come Alive

Considered one of the finest staterooms on any cruise ship, guests will enjoy full-size bathrooms and a large living area complete with sliding glass door. Your in-suite mini-refrigerator will be fully stocked and replenished throughout your cruise with juices, waters, white and red wine. All suites include a private walk-out balcony where you can enjoy “suite treats” delivered to you each evening and take in the breathtaking views. After boarding, we were greeted by glasses of champagne and went directly to our staterooms, where our luggage had already been delivered. Not only does the smaller size make for a more personal experience, but also provides more interaction with both guests and crew.

ACL-American Cruise Lines opens summer season with new Tennessee River voyages

Most of the entertainment on our sailing came from the onboard river experts, Steve and JoAnn. This couple has been lecturing and performing on ACL ships since 2012, and when they weren’t telling us about the river and wildlife, they were singing and playing piano in the River Lounge. Having been on two ACL cruises, I can say confidently that no cruise line does excursions better than ACL, starting with the ship’s excursions director, Mark. He was there at all times to make sure everyone gets on the right bus, handing out umbrellas if it’s raining and insuring everything is running smoothly. Overall, the service on Serenade, just as we found on Constellation, was excellent.

ACL-American Cruise Lines unveils 3 new small ships for the 2023-2024 season

These staterooms have all the comforts of a fine hotel and feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a private balcony where you can sit back, relax and watch the rolling river views. All staterooms include individual climate control systems, in-room Keurig coffee brewers, ample storage, an array of toiletries, complimentary WiFi, Satellite TV, and a DVD player. Ft. of relaxing space, each Veranda suite provides the perfect balance of comfort and luxury. Be treated to a fruit and cheese plate when you arrive and cheers with a complimentary bottle of premium champagne as you begin your adventure.

During the launch ceremonies, the vessel's hull (yard number 144) is floated out from drydock into Wicomico River, then positioned in the shipyard's East Outfitting Basin to receive the superstructure (upper decks) and final outfitting. The 2023-built MS American Serenade cruise ship is the sixth/last newbuild in the American Cruise Lines' "Modern Riverboat" fleet. Ditto Paducah, Kentucky -- a quiet town that has an unusual proliferation of cool shops, unique bars and lounges, and events. During our visit, posters promoted the "Cars and Cigars" event happening that Saturday evening, and some shops proudly displayed Pride flags. American Serenade, launched this past spring, is the sixth of American Cruise Line's modern riverboats, following the debut of American Harmony, American Jazz, American Melody and American Symphony. Cruise Critic hopped onboard American Serenade for a weeklong voyage from Nashville to Chattanooga, sailing the Cumberland, Ohio, and Tennessee rivers to find out what makes the largest U.S.-flagged cruise line in the nation tick.

New American Serenade riverboat docks in Fort Madison - WGEM

New American Serenade riverboat docks in Fort Madison.

Posted: Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The line's itineraries appeal to Americans who want to see more of their own country with ease, and thus, appeal to folks with mobility issues who may not be able to travel in comfort any other way. The ship has two elevators that traverse all decks but the uppermost Sun Deck, and one wheelchair-accessible motorcoach is available to passengers who require it for shore excursions. Two Sun Deck is fitted with sunbathing and shaded seating areas, but unlike the bigger sisterships, it lacks the deck-games area (with Putting Green and Shuffleboard). Located on the third deck, these spacious staterooms feature commanding views of the passing river landscapes. Ft., there is plenty of room to enjoy the tasteful comfort of your surroundings.

American Serenade cabins review

It's the kind of charming perks cruise lines used to offer, that are still alive and well aboard American Cruise Lines. In fact, the onboard lectures American Cruise Lines put together were as good, if not better, than their European counterparts. In speaking with other passengers, the quality of their resident and guest speakers and entertainers is one reason they keep booking with the line, time after time -- a process that nets them some pretty sweet past-passenger perks.

AAM Private Balcony

The first one, American Eagle (named after their first ship in 1972) has launched, and the second, American Glory, is coming later this year. If you’re looking for a more intimate, personalized cruise experience, ACL fits the bill. With a motto of “small ship cruising done perfectly,” they provide guests with the closest thing to a turnkey, all-inclusive vacation. Their ships can be found on every major U.S. waterway and along the coastlines all the way to Alaska, showcasing the best America has to offer. We are taking their Upper Mississippi, fall foliage cruise, which starts in Alton, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, and ends in Red Wing, Minnesota.

This is where the river is the most scenic, flowing by tall bluffs and through habitats populated by bald eagles. And if the gorgeous new American Serenade is any indication, the company is only just getting started. Our weeklong voyage aboard the brand-new American Serenade was just one of many interesting itineraries the company offers that explore the far reaches of America's coastlines and waterways. Sure, ACL has a large presence on the Upper and Lower Mississippi and Columbia and Snake rivers, as one would expect.

American Cruise Lines builds its ships entirely within the United States at its own shipyard (Chesapeake Shipbuilding), and American Serenade is crewed with entirely American crewmembers, some of whom hail from the big-ship cruising world. The ship has a modern propulsion system consisting of 2x azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives") manufactured by Veth (Holland). These 360-degree rotating propellers (1x forward, 1x aft) provide the boat with greater maneuverability and berthing flexibility.

The American Serenade introduces an updated modern interior design, integrating an elegant and refined aesthetic with a tradition for the spacious comfort found aboard all of American Cruise Lines ships. Drawing inspiration from the geography across America, the new interior design highlights natural textural elements and serene color palettes. She also showcases panoramic views throughout, including an impressive four-story glass atrium in the center of the ship. American Serenade also features an on board fitness center and many spacious lounges where you can relax after the day’s adventures. To that end, passengers will find cabins that all feature full private balconies and plenty of living space, with passenger corridors anchored by a four-story atrium topped by a skylight that lets in plenty of natural light.

The service from American crewmembers is extolled in the company's brochures, but service was a weak point aboard American Serenade, particularly when it came to the Main Dining Room. While there are crew who are stellar and personable in doing their jobs, they are let down by more junior members who have experience that can be measured in days, not years. The ship is whisper-quiet, and noise is really only noticeable when docking and undocking.

Traditionally for large-sized USA riverboats, American Serenade has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any place along the ACL's cruisetour itinerary. The ramp has an innovative design being constructed as a retractable gangway (passenger bridge). The technology is often implemented on some of the largest ferries and features an opening bow door. It all adds up to an enriching experience on the waterways of America -- one American Cruise Lines is uniquely poised to deliver.

After the christening cruise, the ship will continue on the company’s eight-day Tennessee rivers itinerary, which travels between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, including stops in Decatur, Alabama; Florence, Alabama;  Savannah, Tennessee; and Paducah, Tennessee. Cruising on American Serenade, enjoy comfortable lounges and large observation decks that provide the perfect place for guests to relax and enjoy the company of fellow travelers who share their interest in American heritage. Glass enclosed dining salons provide panoramic views of the spectacular scenery you will see. The 175-passenger American Serenade is the newest modern riverboat sailing the Mississippi River. She is one of the most sophisticated and elegant riverboats available on U.S. waters and the sixth for American Cruise Lines. Unlike larger, ocean-going ships, you won’t find opulent theaters, casinos, virtual reality game rooms or water parks on ACL.

The shipowner American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the USA's largest river cruise company (headquarters in Guilford Connecticut) operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruise shipping on the USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes) as well as in cruises along the US East Coast, US West Coast and Florida. American Cruise Lines offers a very interesting cruise following the path of Lewis and Clark on the Snake and Columbia rivers. Each day is filled with excursions and entertaining presentations of this historic adventure. There are a multitude of daily excursions to choose from some are complementary others are fee based. You also had time to peruse each historic port along the way including The Dalles and Astoria.

Air conditioning is strong enough to handle the excessive Tennessee heat and humidity, and the upper Sun Deck is among the nicest we've seen afloat on a river ship of this size. But with American Serenade and sisters American Symphony and American Melody, the line seems to have hit the design jackpot. Staterooms are spacious and wonderfully decorated, and the ship has a fabulous flow to it. The aft-situated Sky Lounge on Deck 4 helps take some of the pressure off of the main River Lounge on Deck 3, which on our sailing became so busy during cocktail hour that the event was offered in the Sky Lounge as well. If you live near one of American Cruise Lines' ports of call, the line will even invite you aboard for a complimentary lunch or dinner and tour -- even without a current reservation. If you're sailing, you can invite friends aboard in a port of call for lunch or dinner, gratis.