How Much Do The American Cruise Lines Cost?

Published on October 7, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

American Cruise Lines runs small ship and riverboat itineraries across the United States, from the Lower Mississippi to the Columbia and Snake Rivers, New England, Alaska, and the Intracoastal.

Below you will find current examples, what the fare includes, the add-ons that still apply, and smart ways to buy so your total bill makes sense for the trip you want. American Cruise Lines main site.

American Cruise Lines positions its product as mostly all-inclusive on small ships that carry roughly 90 to 180 guests, so sticker prices look higher than big-ship ocean lines yet cover more on board. All prices in this piece are in USD and tied to published pages or booking engines as of September 2025, with links after paragraphs so you can verify details in a click. See the ACL FAQ and passenger info.

Article Insights

Expect $4,500 to $10,000+ per person depending on route and nights, with per-diems often $600 to $900 on small ships—think “boutique hotel at sea.” Check ACL and agency date pickers like Frontier Airlines Cruises.

ACL includes meals, beer and wine at meals, nightly cocktail hour, gratuities, and port fees, plus many excursions—yes, tips too.

Premium tours $10 to $99 and signature experiences $100+ still add to the bill (budget a little wiggle room).

Real seven-night examples: New England river view $5,870 per person, Lower Mississippi balcony from $4,775, and 16-day Alaska $9,200 on sale. Links above. United Cruises and the ACL Alaska page help verify current promos.

A realistic two-person New England week can total about $13,466 with flights, moderate excursions, and insurance. See the DOT airfare average and Squaremouth cruise insurance.

Best savings levers: shoulder weeks, riverview cabins, ACL promos with free air, onboard rebooking offers, and selective add-ons. Watch ACL Special Offers.

How Much Do The American Cruise Lines Cost?

Typical published “from” costs on American Cruise Lines fall roughly between $4,500 and $10,000+ per person for 7 to 16 nights, depending on itinerary and ship class. New England coastal and Lower Mississippi sailings commonly price above $5,000 for a week in a riverview category, while longer Alaska or repositioning routes post higher totals because of added nights. Examples that follow show real departure dates and current lead-in fares. See New England and Mississippi landing pages.

Small ships, higher fares. Per diem, that often pencils out to $600 to $900 per person per night on ACL once you combine base rates and what is already included, which is well above mainstream ocean lines but consistent with the premium small-ship segment. Industry reporting also notes rising transparency on “all-in” displays due to junk-fee rules in 2024, which changed how cruise sites show totals. See NerdWallet and Skift.

Table: Snapshot of current “from” fares on popular routes

Verification link for the table: the Columbia River Gorge itinerary page.

Typical cruise prices vary by ship, itinerary, and cabin type, with most 7 to 15-day cruises costing between approximately $3,500 and $10,500 per person based on double occupancy. For example, the “American Pride” sailing from Portland, Oregon to Clarkston is priced around $4,485 to $4,787, while longer or more exclusive sailings like the “American Patriot” roundtrip from Boston can exceed $10,500.

American Cruise Lines ships include the American Pride, American West, American Song, and American Symphony, offering itineraries covering regions like the Mississippi River, Columbia and Snake Rivers, and the East Coast. Prices usually include accommodations, meals, complimentary Wi-Fi, and evening cocktail hours. Upgraded cabins such as suites and balconies cost more, with suite fares reaching above $6,000 on select voyages. Booking early or through special deals can sometimes save you 10% or more. Compare on Booking.com’s ACL page and read Cruise Critic reviews.

You might also like our articles about the cost of an Antarctica Cruise, a Disney Cruise, or a cruise in general.

Real-Life Cost Examples

A week on the New England Islands in September 2025 shows a river view lead-in of $5,870 per person on American Star. The same sailing can often price higher at peak foliage or drop in early summer shoulder weeks, and suites or balconies add meaningful increments. Third-party agency pages show similar figures and availability by date, useful for cross-checking the ACL quote.

Lower Mississippi weeklong sailings in October 2025 on American Serenade publicly display balcony categories from $4,775 and up, while certain departures with included hotel programs and longer routings break $9,000 per person. If you prefer a longer Mississippi Explorer itinerary, ACL shows $6,275 discounted for 11 nights on select dates.

For Alaska, a 16-day Inside Passage run currently lists a discounted “from” of $9,200 per person, reflecting the added nights and remote logistics. Shorter Southeast Alaska programs, when available, often start near $6,200 to $7,700 on sale.

Cost Breakdown

American Cruise Lines advertises an all-inclusive fare that covers shipboard meals, beer and wine at lunch and dinner, an evening cocktail hour, snacks, entertainment, onboard gratuities, and port charges and fees. Many shore excursions are included, especially on Mississippi, Columbia & Snake, and Alaska routes.

Not every outing is included. Premium excursions typically run $10 to $99 per person, while Signature experiences for small groups start at $100+, and special hotel programs vary by itinerary. End-of-cruise airport transfers are included, yet beginning-of-trip transfers and pre-cruise hotel stays may be bundled only on specific routes.

Solo travel has a supplement. A single traveler in a double stateroom is quoted at 150% or 175% of the double-occupancy rate unless booking one of the limited solo cabins—check solo inventory early.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Route, ship class, and season drive most differences. New England foliage weeks, peak-summer Alaska, and Mississippi holiday periods sell at a premium, while shoulder months and repositioning trips usually price lower. ACL’s New England pages highlight fall popularity, and Condé Nast Traveler points to spring and September as value windows for Alaska, with fewer crowds and better availability.

A second driver is the shift to transparent pricing in the United States. After California’s honest-pricing law kicked in during 2024, lines have been moving to show taxes, fees, and port charges upfront, which makes today’s lead prices look higher than pre-2024 banners while reducing checkout surprises later. See Business Insider’s explainer here.

Length matters too, and Alaska or inland passages with flights and hotel packages naturally tack on days. When ships are new or refurbished, when a route is exclusive, or when demand is spiking, fares rise because small-ship capacity is tight and inventory sells quickly across a short season. That’s before you factor in included alcohol and excursions that shift spend from onboard tabs to the base fare. See the CLIA 2025 industry report.

Alternative Products or Services

Competitors give a benchmark. Viking’s programs often market 7–8 day lead fares that start lower than ACL’s coastal cats but charge separately for some items that ACL includes—so the gap narrows once you compare inclusions. As a reference point, see Viking’s Alaska page.

In adventure Alaska, UnCruise typically posts shorter, more active itineraries that can run $4,000 to $8,000+ per person for a week, depending on cabin class and timing, with a very different shore program. For a land-based alternative, Amtrak Vacations sells rail packages through the South that can keep per-person trip totals far below small-ship fares—especially on shorter city getaways. If you only need transport to or from the Lower Mississippi corridor, some regional rail segments like the new Mardi Gras Service between Mobile and New Orleans can be as low as $15 one way (route news).

Ways to Spend Less

Book early or book odd weeks. Shoulder dates in May or early June on New England or late summer on the Columbia & Snake often show lower “from” prices than peak foliage or peak harvest. Watch ACL’s Special Offers page for free-air promos and markdowns tied to specific departures.

Pick river view over balcony, skip some add-ons, and use loyalty if you have it. Single supplements are steep, so a companion changes the math. If you’re comfortable with independent time ashore, limit premium or signature excursion spend and let included tours carry the day. Frequent cruisers also report decent onboard rebooking incentives, and deal threads like this Cruise Critic forum can surface discounts when capacity opens.

Expert Insights & Tips

Travel Market Report’s 2025 outlook says cost, itinerary, and inclusions top cruiser priorities—so weigh ACL’s bundled gratuities, drinks, and port fees against lower base fares elsewhere. For context, Cruise Market Watch models ocean-cruise daily revenue near $286 per passenger (ticket + onboard spend), a reminder that ACL’s higher ticket can offset what would otherwise be bar tabs and tips. (Translation: fewer surprise bills.)

Total Cost of Ownership

Here’s a realistic seven-night New England Islands example for two adults in a riverview. Base fare $5,870 per person from a late-September date picker equals $11,740 for the cabin. Add one premium excursion each at $79, one signature experience at $150 each, and travel insurance near $250 per person from a marketplace average. Flight to Providence round trip uses the 2024 national average $384. Worked total for two: cabin $11,740, excursions $158, signature experiences $300, insurance $500, flights $768—trip total near $13,466 before souvenirs or extra nights. Because gratuities, beer and wine at meals, evening cocktail hour, and port charges are included on ACL, onboard extras stay limited unless you pile on premium tours.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Three items still surprise many travelers, even on an all-inclusive small ship: (1) premium and signature excursions that aren’t part of the included roster, often in the $10–$99 and $100+ bands; (2) travel insurance that can range $100–$860 per person depending on coverage and trip cost; and (3) rare fuel supplements lines may add when oil spikes—more common on ocean lines but still noted in many ticket contracts (see fuel surcharge explainers). If you tour with independent guides ashore, local tipping and transport are out of pocket; some ACL communities suggest small cash for bus drivers and local guides (community thread).

Financing & Payment Options

Cancellation policies matter because deposits and penalties escalate as sail dates approach. ACL notes a non-refundable $250 per person administrative charge on cancellations after the 24-hour grace period, with refunds or credits handled on a schedule by days out. See ACL cancellation terms. Want broader flexibility? Research Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) add-ons, which typically reimburse 50–75% and must be purchased soon after deposit.

Seasonal & Market-Timing Factors

Peak pricing spans late June through August for Alaska and September through early October for New England foliage, with early-May or late-September dates showing more availability and softer rates. Shoppers in 2025 also see clearer “all-in” prices across many sites due to junk-fee rules that took effect in 2024—if a banner looks higher than a pre-2024 ad you saved, check what’s inside the number rather than the number alone. For background, here’s why prices may appear higher: Cruise Fever.

Answers to Common Questions

What is the cheapest American Cruise Lines itinerary right now?

Shorter river segments in shoulder weeks usually show the lowest “from” rates, for example selected Ohio River or Columbia & Snake weeks in spring posting down to the low $4,000s per person on sale.

Are tips included in the fare?

Yes. Onboard gratuities are included, along with beer and wine at meals, an evening cocktail hour, and port charges and fees. Many shore excursions are included as well.

Do prices drop last-minute?

Inventory is limited and routes are seasonal, so last-minute deals are less common than on big ships—though targeted promotions and onboard rebooking perks do pop up for specific dates (watch ACL’s Special Offers and deal forums).

What does “all-inclusive” cover?

Meals, snacks, beer and wine at lunch and dinner, an evening cocktail hour, entertainment, onboard gratuities, and port fees—plus many (but not all) shore excursions.