American Cruise Lines has announced an expanded fleet and three new itineraries. The company is adding capacity and itineraries on the Mississippi River and tributaries, by introducing the first-ever 9-Day Arkansas River Cruise between Tulsa, Okla. and Memphis, Tenn.; a new 11-Day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise between Knoxville and Huntsville, Tenn.; and a brand-new 8-Day Gulf Coast Cruise between Pensacola, Fla. and New Orleans, La. All three itineraries include sections of the Mississippi River, where American Cruise Lines now offers 14 itineraries, plus additional themed and holiday cruises. Following a decade of rapid growth, introducing 16 new ships, American continues to innovate, exclusively developing unique itineraries for the domestic cruise market. Many more riverboats are on the way in the next three years and will be well positioned to handle the increase in demand for Mississippi River cruising.
New Itineraries
8-Day Gulf Coast Cruise, between New Orleans, La. and Pensacola, Fla., also visiting: Mobile, AL; Biloxi, MS; Ocean Springs, MS; and Gulfport/Ship Island, MS.
Highlights: Guests can enjoy Pensacola’s beaches, seafood, and vibrant downtown. They can experience a wild adventure at a Gator Ranch in Mobile, take a genuine Biloxi Shrimp Boat excursion, or explore Ocean Springs on an E-bike tour. Guests may also go fishing on a Gulfport expedition, visit the world’s largest model train museum, or discover Civil War–era Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island. In New Orleans, they can tour the National WWII Museum and take in the famous French Quarter.
Cruises are offered in March and December 2026, and again in March and December 2027, operating aboard American Symphony, one of American Cruise Lines’ modern Mississippi riverboats. Note: On the company’s website, this cruise is listed among American’s Southeast U.S. cruises, as it primarily sails along the Gulf’s Intracoastal Waterway but also navigates the Mississippi River to and from New Orleans.
9-Day Arkansas River Cruise, between Memphis, Tenn. and Tulsa, Okla., also visiting: Catoosa, Okla.; Muskogee, Okla.; Fort Smith/Van Buren, Ark.; Russellville, Ark.; Little Rock, Ark.; Pendelton, Ark.
Highlights: Guests will explore Tulsa’s vibrant Art Deco architecture and celebrated music scenes at the Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Center. They will discover Muskogee’s Native American/Five Civilized Tribes history; American musical heritage at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame; and Fort Smith, a military outpost since 1817. Guests can board a vintage-style passenger car on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad and take in the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. They will visit Little Rock, Ark., the picturesque state capital, situated along the banks of the Arkansas River; uncover the first European settlement in the Mississippi River Valley and be awed by the Delta’s wetland landscapes in Pendelton. In Memphis, guests will take guided tours of the city’s many sites including iconic Graceland.
Cruises are offered in November 2026 and will sail aboard the riverboat American Serenade. On the company’s website this cruise is listed among American’s Mississippi River Cruises.
11-Day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise, between Knoxville, Tenn. and Huntsville, Ala., also visiting: Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Fort Southwest Point, Tenn.; Cruising along the Appalachian Mountains; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Cruising the Tennessee River; and Decatur, Ala.
Highlights: Guests can experience Knoxville’s southern charm and vibrant arts scene. They will spend two days exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park, including a visit to scenic Gatlinburg, and attend Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. Guests can uncover Fort Southwest Point and step inside the top-secret world of the Manhattan Project at the K-25 History Center in Oak Ridge. They will cruise through the Appalachian Mountains, marveling at the forested peaks and misty vistas, and enjoy culinary delights in Chattanooga with a West Village Culinary experience. Guests can also explore Space Camp at Decatur’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Cruises are offered in July and August, and September and October 2027, sailing aboard the classic paddlewheeler American Heritage. American Cruise Lines’ fleet of small riverboats are the only vessels able to access this stretch of the Tennessee River, which winds along the region’s famed Blue Ridge Mountains. On the company’s website, this cruise is listed among American’s Mississippi River cruises.
To learn more, visit www.AmericanCruiseLines.com
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