American Cruise Lines marks month of ‘firsts’ with Idaho christening, Great Lakes debut
American Cruise Lines announced that May 2026 will serve as a milestone month for the company, featuring the first ship christening in Idaho history and the launch of its inaugural Great Lakes season.
The expansion comes as the company prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States with a series of long-distance domestic itineraries.
On May 5, the company will launch its newest riverboat, American Encore, on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The vessel is scheduled to be christened on May 12 at a new dock in Lewiston, Idaho, marking the first time a ship has been christened in the state.
“What, where, when, and how you can cruise throughout the United States today is a tremendous accomplishment that has been decades in the making,” said Alexa Paolella, spokeswoman for American Cruise Lines.
The month also marks the departure of two of the longest domestic cruises in the industry’s history. The 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise is set to depart New Orleans on May 5, concluding in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On May 29, the 52-day Great United States Cruise will depart Portland, Oregon, traversing 18 states before ending in Boston on July 19.
Additionally, the company will enter the Great Lakes market for the first time. The American Patriot, the newest small ship in the region, is scheduled to depart Oswego, New York, on May 22 for a nine-day Great Lakes and Thousand Islands itinerary.
The Guilford-based company, which has operated for over 50 years, currently maintains the largest fleet of U.S.-flagged cruise ships, allowing for itineraries that remain entirely within domestic waterways.
Virtual tours of the company’s small ships and further itinerary details are available on the American Cruise Lines website.
