American Cruise Lines Expanding on the Mississippi River

 American Cruise Lines Expanding on the Mississippi River

American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce an expanded fleet and three new itineraries that exemplify what is now possible for world-class river cruising in the U.S. 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, Oklahoma and Memphis, Tennessee; a new 11-Day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise between Knoxville and Huntsville, Tennessee; and a brand-new 8-Day Gulf Coast Cruise between Pensacola, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

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 exceptional and 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.

Three Brand New Itineraries:

* 8-Day Gulf Coast Cruise, between New Orleans, Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida, also visiting: Mobile, AL; Biloxi, MS; Ocean Springs, MS; and Gulfport/Ship Island, MS.

Highlights: Enjoy Pensacola’s pristine beaches, famous seafood, and vibrant downtown. Have a wild time at a Gator Ranch in Mobile. Try a genuine Biloxi Shrimp Boat adventure. Take an E-bike tour of Ocean Springs. Drop a line along a Gulfport Fishing expedition. Visit the world’s largest model train museum. Discover Civil War-era Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island. Tour the National WWII Museum and take in the famous French Quarter in New Orleans.

Cruises are offered in March and December 2026 (and again in March & December 2027). They will operate aboard American Symphony, one of American’s 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 sails the Mississippi to and from New Orleans.

* 9-Day Arkansas River Cruise, between Memphis, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, also visiting: Catoosa, OK; Muskogee, OK; Fort Smith/Van Buren, AR; Russellville, AR; Little Rock, AR; Pendleton, AR.

Highlights: Explore Tulsa’s vibrant Art Deco architecture and celebrated music scenes at the Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Center. Discover Muskogee’s Native American/Five Civilized Tribes history, plus American musical heritage at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Discover Fort Smith, a military outpost since 1817. Board a vintage-style passenger car on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad and take in the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. Visit Little Rock, Arkansas, 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 Pendleton. In Memphis, take guided tours of the city’s many sites including iconic Graceland.

Cruises are offered in November 2026 and will sail aboard the award-winning 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, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama, also visiting: Pigeon Forge, TN; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Gatlinburg, TN; Fort Southwest Point, TN; Cruising along the Appalachian Mountains; Chattanooga, TN; Cruising the Tennessee River; and Decatur, AL.

Highlights: Enjoy Knoxville’s southern charm and vibrant arts scene. Spend two days exploring sites throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park including a visit to beautiful Gatlinburg. Visit Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. Uncover Fort Southwest Point and step inside the top-secret world of the Manhattan Project at the K-25 History Center in Oak Ridge. Cruise through the Appalachian Mountains and be awed by their forested peaks and majestic mist. Enjoy culinary delights in Chattanooga at a West Village Culinary experience. Have a ball exploring Space Camp at Decatur’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

 

Cruises are offered in July & August, and September & October 2027, and will sail aboard classic paddlewheeler, American Heritage. American Cruise Lines fleet of small riverboats are the only ones able to access this picturesque stretch of the Tennessee River, which ambles along the region’s famed Blue Ridge Mountains. On the company’s website this cruise is listed among American’s Mississippi River Cruises.

 

Each of these unique itineraries is only possible because of American’s incomparable fleet, which remains the only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small ships in the world. As a company, American’s commitment to introducing innovative small ships and developing new domestic itineraries year-after-year has led to a welcome increase in tourism for smaller communities around the country. This is especially important for many hidden gems along the Mississippi River and tributaries, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, and now the Arkansas River. From new dock projects in Natchez, MS, and Kenner, LA, to projects along other U.S. rivers, like the Columbia and Snake, where this August American opened Idaho’s first cruise dock, the positive impacts of American’s local partnerships are meaningful, especially in smaller communities; wonderful towns that might otherwise be missed. Each new project expands the potential for extraordinary river cruise experiences, while improving waterfront access for local residents and delivering ongoing economic benefits for years to come.

 

Information provided by American Cruise Lines.