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American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that brand new riverboat American Encore was christened in Lewiston, Idaho on May 12th. The boat’s inaugural 9-Day Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise departed from Stevenson, Washington on May 6th with guests also enjoying an included hotel stay in Portland, Oregon on May 5th.

May will be a monumental month for American Cruise Lines, ushering in many exciting “firsts” for U.S. river cruising around the country. Next month, American Encore launches on the Columbia and Snake Rivers and becomes the first ship ever to be christened in the state of Idaho. May will also mark the first 2026 departures for two of the longest domestic cruises ever, the 52-Day Great United States Cruise and the 36-Day Civil War Battlefields Cruise. Each was specifically designed to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday while exploring up to 18 states in a single journey. Finally, the month of May will introduce American’s first season on the Great Lakes, featuring the only domestic cruises on the Great Lakes, all operated by American Patriot, the newest small ship in the region.

American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that brand new riverboat, American Encore, passed Sea Trials with flying colors and is already underway along its journey to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. American Encore is the finest new riverboat in the world and the latest gem in the company’s groundbreaking series of modern American Riverboats. It showcases top-notch amenities, a refined elegant onboard aesthetic, and state-of-the-art engineering. It is simply the best riverboat ever built—more akin to a luxury yacht with more space-per-passenger than any other riverboat globally.

American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce a new 16-Day Grand Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. This incredible exploration will begin operating roundtrip from Portland, Oregon in May 2027 and will be exclusively sailed by American Anthem, one of the company’s three newest riverboats in their rapidly expanding fleet.

American Cruise Lines has been a proud sponsor of U.S. Figure Skating since 2019 and would like to congratulate all the members of the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, competing and representing the United States of America this year at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy.

American Cruise Lines is proud to announce its Celebrating 250 Years of America campaign. This year, the company will honor America’s Semiquincentennial on all 2026 sailings exploring the nation’s iconic rivers and domestic waterways in 35 states from Alaska to Florida. The campaign includes commemorative 250th recognition on board ships, enhanced enrichment programming, and special guest experiences, including celebratory events throughout the year.