American Cruise Lines Alaska Review (2026) — Why Choose American?

America Cruise Lines Alaska Review

By Tracey Teo

A black bear at Alaska’s Tongass National Forest perched statue-like on a boulder overlooking Anan Creek, and I watched curiously through my binoculars to see what he would do next.

I didn’t have to wait long.

Suddenly, he dove into the freezing water, creating an enormous splash. He emerged triumphantly with a salmon in his mouth, shaking the water from his fur like a golden retriever. The hungry bear tore into his meal with his powerful teeth, using his paws to still the wiggling fish.

Other bears were eyeing his catch, so he retreated to a cave-like recess along the rocky bank. Food is plentiful during the annual pink salmon run in July and August, but he was taking no chances. A bald eagle hovered over the salmon buffet, eager for scraps.

A visit to the Anan Wildlife Observatory was a highlight of my 10-night “Alaskan Explorer” cruise last August on the 170-passenger American Constitution that sailed round-trip from Juneau. The new itinerary includes ports of call in Haines, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell and scenic cruising through the Inside Passage.

Back on board the ship, I showed photos of the excursion to my 80-year-old parents who weren’t up to the one-mile hike to the observatory. Fortunately, American Cruise Lines caters to older travelers and offers excursions for a range of physical ability levels.

In lieu of the bear viewing excursion, mom and dad had a jet boat adventure on the Stikine River that allowed them to photograph wildlife while sitting on the boat. They cruised through ancient glaciers that glowed neon blue, as though illuminated from the inside.

That evening, my parents and I stood at the stern, bathed in a pool of ethereal pink light as the sun slid behind the Wrangell Mountains. To our astonishment, a 35-ton humpback whale sprang from the water, exhaling a geyser of breath through her blowhole, then submerged with a wave of her powerful fluke. Her calf mimicked its mother’s aquatic acrobatics.

We doubted a photo could capture the magic, so we simply enjoyed the fleeting moment.

Life Aboard The American Constitution

One advantage of small ship cruising for this directionally challenged passenger is I didn’t feel like I needed GPS and a compass to locate my stateroom and get around the ship. On big ships, I’ve nearly missed dinner because I couldn’t find the dining room.

My premium balcony state room on Deck 5 was spacious and had a plush bed. Those new to cruising may think a smaller ship means a smaller state room, but, on the contrary, larger ships generally have smaller state rooms than American Cruise Lines.

Take it from this experienced cruiser; with increased space comes increased marital bliss. With 368 square feet, my husband Wesley and I didn’t bicker about whether that tiny counter in front of the mirror was going to serve as his computer desk or my vanity table. We had enough room for both. (Note, the majority of cabins aboard the 2018-built American Constitution are about 350 square feet; and there are six cabins for solo cruisers.)

Had we sailed on Maple Leaf Adventures or Uncruise, small ship adventure expeditions where most cabins are 80 to 90 square feet, I’m sure one of us would have pushed the other overboard.

The shower was small but manageable. I’ve been in cruise ship showers so tiny I risked bruised elbows every time I washed my hair.

The common areas were well-appointed and inviting.

The Sky Lounge on Deck 4 is a cheerful, relaxing space with wicker furniture and décor in a nautical palette of blue and white. Mom and dad played many games of canasta there, enjoying the mountain views and the readily available snacks.

The Sun Deck on Deck 6 is a scenic overlook but can have high winds. In classic lemons-to-lemonade fashion, cruise director Julia arranged a kite flying session. My parents and I watched our brightly colored kites flutter against a cloudless blue sky.

Just as humpback whales migrate to Alaska every summer to feed, passengers migrate to the Chesapeake Lounge on Deck 3 every evening to drink — wine, beer and cocktails are provided at no extra charge. At cocktail hour, I nibbled elevated hors d’oeuvres while getting acquainted with other passengers, many of whom were loyal American cruisers and had sailed other itineraries, including the Mississippi River and the Southeast Sea Islands.

Why Choose Small Ship Cruising in Alaska?

I have cruised through Alaska on a large ship carrying thousands of passengers, and while they offer more entertainment and dining options and a wider range of amenities, this cruise was right for my elderly parents. They had no interest in smoky casinos and swanky spas; they just wanted to immerse themselves in the magic of a faraway place they had always dreamed of visiting.

Best of all, sweeping panoramic views can be enjoyed from the comfort of the ship. Some large vessels can’t get through the narrow waterways, so passengers must take a tender, a small boat, to get close to prime nature and wildlife spots. Climbing into these shuttles can be tricky for older passengers with arthritic joints and mobility issues. When a tender was necessary, American crew were very safety conscious, providing assistance as needed.

Getting on and off the ship for shore excursions was quick and easy. Just scan your room key card as you disembark and meet your tour guide near the dock. Scan back on when you return.

On large ships, there’s a lot of waiting around. In my experience, hundreds of passengers are herded into a central location, such as an auditorium, and assigned a group number. They must wait for their number to be called to exit the ship. When passengers re-board, there can be long, airport-style security lines.

Speaking of long lines, passengers on mega-ships may have to stand in one to change shore excursions. On the American Constitution, the shore excursion manager was always around and willing to help.

Food & Service Onboard

Dinner in the Grand Dining Room is a three-course, white tablecloth experience, but dress is casual, so leave your evening gown or tuxedo at home. There are no formal nights.

As expected, seafood was bountiful. My favorite meal was pan-seared Alaskan halibut served with tomato tarragon butter that melted over the hot fish, creating a pool of rich, aromatic sauce.

But the chef didn’t forget the carnivores onboard. Hearty meat dishes, such as apple and cranberry stuffed pork loin and prime rib with scalloped potatoes, hit the spot after a long day of sightseeing.

Vegetarian options are always available.

Staff are well trained. A personal pet peeve is having a dish served without the proper utensils. I know what it’s like to stare longingly into a bowl of hot soup while trying to flag down a server to bring a spoon. By the time the spoon arrives, the soup is at the perfect temperature — for a glass of white wine.

That would never happen on the American Constitution. The waitstaff provided the necessary utensils and promptly cleared those that were unused.

Service could be on the slow side, but what’s the rush? We learned to embrace the easygoing pace.

One small thing. For coffee service in a fine dining setting, I prefer a sugar bowl and a small pitcher of cream to sugar packets and plastic cream containers that litter the table and detract from the elegance.

The Back Porch Café at the aft of the ship on Deck 4 offers a laid-back, al-fresco alternative for breakfast and lunch. I bundled up and ate a two-fisted burger while watching the ship’s wake unfurl behind me. Pizza, salads and soups are also on the menu. Passengers can opt to have their meal served indoors in the Sky Lounge.

Additional Cruise Highlights

As we cruised through Glacier National Park and Preserve, a park ranger who had come aboard for the day pointed toward a herd of white mountain goats sure-footedly navigating the steep, rocky terrain, an oasis from predators like wolves and bears. They almost seemed to defy gravity as they used their cloven hooves to climb up sheer cliffs.

For many passengers, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most anticipated portions of the cruise. It can only be reached by boat or plane, and American has special access (as do other small-ship cruise lines like UnCruise), which allows their ships to remain there overnight.

Since I was traveling with my parents, I was grateful for a park visit that didn’t require hiking boots or backpacks. We all appreciated the natural beauty of Glacier Bay from the ship deck, marveling at how the verdant islands popped against the snow-capped mountains.

The park ranger explained that the free-floating ice chunks surrounding the ship are categorized by size from smallest to largest: brash, growlers, bergy bits and icebergs.

It’s fun to say bergy bits. Bergy bits.

Later that week, I was pleasantly surprised at how close the ship came to the Dawes Glacier at the head of Endicott Arm, a 30-mile fjord that winds through the wilderness. Such proximity would have been impossible on a mega-ship.

Hey, what’s that? I spotted movement in front of the massive tidewater glacier and peered through binoculars provided by the ship. Harbor seals! I passed the binoculars to Dad. The region is a major breeding ground for the blubbery, wide-eyed marine creatures that are easily recognized by their distinctive spotted coats. They sunned themselves contentedly on rafts of floating ice.

As we were admiring them, the deep blue glacier behind them came to life. Age-old ice broke away and thundered dramatically into the sea, a process called glacial calving. Dad and I were impressed, but the seals had seen it before. They barely stirred.

After nature’s show, we warmed up at the outdoor hot chocolate bar. I like mine alcohol-free, but some passengers had it jazzed up with decadent liqueurs, like Kalua and Frangelico, and topped with a fluffy cloud of whipped cream.

READ MORE ABOUT ALASKA: Here's Heidi's review of her UnCruise Alaska adventure.

LEARN MORE: Enjoy Peter Knego's review of his Alaska cruise aboard the 86-pax Legacy.

Fightseeing — Wow!

In Petersburg, the day Wesley and I had been waiting for finally arrived. We eagerly boarded a floatplane for a flightseeing tour over LeConte, the 21-mile icefield that is Alaska’s southernmost tidewater glacier. Again, I was struck by how nature’s colors are so amplified in Alaska, one almost needs new language to describe them. Hues of blue and green were so vivid, I felt like I had landed on a different planet. The pilot chatted through the headset, providing facts about the flora and fauna, but I was so captivated by the ineffable beauty of what was outside my window, most of it was lost on me.

Alaskan Explorer Cruise Itinerary

The following is the day-by-day itinerary of the American's Alaskan Explorer cruise.

Note, at least one featured shore excursion is included in every port at no extra charge. Premium excursions cost extra but are under $100, while “signature” excursions are bucket-list experiences that can cost hundreds of dollars. For instance, the “LeConte Flightseeing” was $325 per person and “Wild Bears of Anan” cost $375 per person.

Day 1 — Juneau

The entire group departed the hotel by coach for the included Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure tour, to a botanical garden in Tongass National Forest. A guided trolley tour showcased unique flora, such as “upside down trees” that serve as elevated planters blooming with seasonal flowers. Afterwards, we boarded the American Constitution and sailed away for our adventure.

Day 2 — Cruised Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

A forest ranger came aboard and gave a talk about the indigenous people whose ancestral lands cover the area, and the abundant marine life.

Day 3 — Haines

I set out on my own and perused the Haines Sheldon Museum that preserves the history of the diverse cultures of the Chilkat Valley region, then visited the quirky Hammer Museum that has more than 2,000 hammers on exhibit.

Day 4 — More Glacier Bay Cruising

When the mist lifted, passengers enjoyed a short, sunny hike through Bartlett Cove, the only developed part of Glacier Bay National Park. Flora and fauna now thrive on a landscape once covered in ice.

Day 5 — Inside Passage Cruising.

A pod of orcas (killer whales) was spotted near the ship.

Day 6 — Sitka

My bunch went on an included shore excursion to the Alaska Raptor Center, a rehabilitation facility that treats more than 200 sick or injured birds each year.

Later, I went into town on my own to learn about Sitka’s history as the capital of Russian America. I visited St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral (donations requested) and snacked on Russian beef dumplings at Pel’Meni restaurant.

Day 7 — Cruising The Inside Passage & Frederick Sound

A naturalist gave an interesting talk about Alaska's marine life, including various whale species.

Day 8 — Petersburg

Here, I signed up for the “Fightseeing Over LeConte Glacier,” a signature shore excursion, that was worth the $325 cost.

Day 9 — Wrangell

From Wrangell, the “Wild Bears of Anan” signature shore excursion allows viewing of bears from a platform in Tongass National Forest.

Day 10 — Cruising The Wrangell Narrows

This 22-mile, winding waterway is known for abundant wildlife.

Day 11 — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier

I had a fun day watching harbor seals frolic among the ice rafts.

Day 12 — Juneau

We disembarked in the capital Juneau, a small city stretched along the foot of Mt Juneau. It teems with tourists when the giant cruise ships are in port.

A Good Fit For My Family

For my first American Cruise Lines’ voyage, I chose the “Alaskan Explorer” itinerary because it’s new and most activities were suitable for my parents. The length of the cruise was a good fit for my family’s schedule. Fares start at $8,400 per person and include wine, beer and drinks; onboard gratuities; a pre-cruise hotel night; and at least one excursion in every port.

While my parents are less active these days, they didn’t miss a thing. Those who aren’t up for walking tours have the option of sightseeing by bus, boat or trolley. Or from the decks of the ship itself.

Dad said one of the things he liked best about the cruise was meeting other travelers, “enjoying their golden years, like us.”

Interested In This American Cruise Lines Alaska Cruise?

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