American Cruise Lines Reviews & Awards

Year after year, American Cruise Lines is the most awarded U.S. River and Small Ship cruise line, winning awards for Best Mississippi River Cruises, Best River Cruise Line, Best Small Ships, Best Alaska Cruises, Best for Solo Travelers, Best Food & Dining, Best Service, Best Shore Excursions, and Best Activities & Entertainment.

Read why our guests choose to "Cruise Close to Home."

We love hearing from our guests. After each cruise, we invite our travelers to share their experience and leave a review.

Insights from our guests help fellow travelers choose the perfect cruise while giving them a glimpse into our onshore excursions, onboard entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and the personalized service that makes sailing with us so special.

Check out our Trustpilot reviews and see what guests are saying—we hope to welcome you aboard soon.
 

Awards and Accolades

We are proud to be America’s #1 River and Small Ship cruise line.

USA Today’s 10Best:
Readers’ Choice Awards
2025
Best River Cruise Line, Best Alaska Cruise, Best Boutique Cruise Line, Best Cruise Line for Shore Excursions
2024
Best River Cruise Line, Best Boutique Cruise Line
2023
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; Best Small Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2022
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2021
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2020
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2019
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2018
Best River Cruise Line; Best River Cruise Ship; and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2017
Best River Cruise Line and Best Boutique Cruise Line
2016
Best River Cruise Line
Condé Nast Traveler:
Readers’ Choice Awards
2024
Best Small Ships & Best River Ships
2023
Best Small Ships & Best River Ships
2022
Best Small Ships & Best River Ships
2021
Best Small Ships
2020
Best Small Ships
2018
Best Small Ships
2017
Best Small Ships
2016
Best Small Ships
2015
Best Small Ships
2014
Best Small Ships
Cruise Critic:
Best in Cruise Awards
2024
Best for Solo Travelers (River Category)
2023
Editors’ Picks Award, Best New River Ship of the Year, American Serenade
2018
Cruisers’ Choice Award, Best River Line in the U.S. & Canada
2018
Editors’ Picks Award, Best for Solo Travelers (River Cruise)
2017
Editors’ Picks Award, Best for Solo Travelers (River Cruise)
2016
Editors’ Picks Award, Best Enrichment (River Cruise)
World Travel Awards:
2024
North America's Leading River Cruise Company; World's Leading River Cruise Company; and World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2023
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2022
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2021
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2020
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2019
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2018
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2017
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2016
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2015
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2014
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
2013
North America’s Leading River Cruise Company; World’s Leading River Cruise Company; and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line
Travel Weekly:
Magellan Awards
2024
Best Mississippi River Cruises; Best for Solo Cruisers; and Best Contemporary Small Ships
2023
Best River Cruise Ship - American Serenade
2022
Best River Cruise Ship/Line; and Best Small Ship under 500 - American Constitution
2021
1 Gold & 1 Silver
2020
1 Gold & 1 Silver
2019
2 Gold & 1 Silver
2018
2 Gold & 3 Silver
2017
1 Gold & 1 Silver
2016
1 Gold & 1 Silver
2015
Gold Magellan
2014
Gold Magellan
Cruiseline.com:
Member Choice Awards
2024
Best River Cruise Line; Best Cruise Line; and Best Food & Dining
2023
Best River Cruise Line; Best Staterooms; Best Service & Staff; Best Food & Dining; and Best Onboard Activities & Entertainment
Recommend Magazine:
Readers' Choice Awards
2024
Readers’ Choice Award
2023
Readers’ Choice Award
2022
Readers’ Choice Award
2021
Readers’ Choice Award
2020
Readers’ Choice Award
2019
Readers’ Choice Award
2017
Readers’ Choice Award
TravelAge West:
Wave Awards Editors' Picks
2024
Editors Picks: Best New River Cruise Ship - American Serenade; Best River Cruise Line for U.S. Sailings
2023
Editors Picks
2022
Editors Picks
2021
Editors Picks
2020
Editors Picks
2019
Editors Picks
2018
Editors Picks
World Cruise Awards:
2024
North America's Best River Cruise Line; North America's Best River Cruise Ship: American Jazz; and North America's Best River Cruise Suite: Grand Suite - American Jazz
U.S. News & World Report:
World's Top River Cruise Lines
2024
World’s Top River Cruise Lines – The 10 Best Mississippi River Cruises
2023
World’s Top River Cruise Lines – The 10 Best Mississippi River Cruises
2022
World’s Top River Cruise Lines – The 10 Best Mississippi River Cruises
Agent@Home Magazine & Travelpulse.com:
Travvy Awards
2023
Best River Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways; and Best Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways
2022
Best River Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways; and Best Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways
2021
4 total awards, including Best River Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways; and Best Cruise Line - U.S. Waterways
2020
Best River Cruise Line
2019
Silver Travvy Award
2018
Silver Travvy Award
Travel Awaits:
Best of Travel Awards
2023
7 Best River Cruise Lines from Around the World
2022
6 Best River Cruise Lines from Around the World
2019
7 Best River Cruise Lines from Around the World
Global Traveler Magazine:
Leisure Lifestyle Awards
2023
Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 River Cruise Lines
2020
Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Best River Cruise Lines
2019
Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Best River Cruise Lines
2018
Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Best River Cruise Lines
Travel + Leisure Magazine:
World’s Best Awards
2022
10 Best River Cruise Lines
Time Magazine:
The World’s 100 Greatest Places 2019
2019
1st Modern Riverboat in the U.S.A. - American Song