American Cruise ships to visit the QC this summer

American Cruise Lines has announced its cruising lineup on the Mississippi River this year including many that will visit the Quad Cities.

This year, the cruise line is operating five riverboats sailing 12 itineraries on the Mississippi and tributaries year-round. The company’s Mississippi River offerings range from eight to 51 days and include an array of authentic American experiences in 10 states from New Orleans, Louisiana, to St. Paul, Minnesota.

American Cruise Lines’ Mississippi season officially opens Friday, Feb. 21, aboard the award-winning American Serenade. It will sail American’s classic nine-day Lower Mississippi River Cruise from New Orleans to Memphis, Tennessee.

New 2025 itineraries feature a 12-day Mississippi Explorer Cruise (Memphis to New Orleans), and several exclusive itineraries on the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio rivers, including a new 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise (Pittsburgh to St. Louis). 

The river cruises that will travel through the Quad Cities include:

• Nine-day upper Mississippi cruises from St. Louis, Missouri, to St. Paul. Those cruises will go through Muscatine and Davenport. They are scheduled to begin July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29. Go here for more information and ticket prices. Many of the cruises start at $5,100 per ticket.
• There will be 16-day cruises from St. Paul to New Orleans. Go here for more information. Many of those cruises start at $12,000 per ticket.
• There will be 23-day cruises from New Orleans to St. Paul. Go here for more information. Many of those cruises start at about $15,000 per ticket.

American Cruise Lines is the only river cruise line offering U.S. river cruises aboard both classic paddlewheelers and new modern riverboats. The company’s riverboats are less than half the size of other riverboats but claim to deliver the most personalized river cruise experiences along the nation’s most iconic waterway. 

Highlights include visits to Elvis Presley’s Graceland and Mark Twain’s boyhood home; off-the-beaten path adventures from Cajun Swamp safaris to ATV treks; explorations of classic American landmarks such as the St. Louis Arch and Vicksburg National Military Park; and deep cultural dives into music, cuisine, and history. The 2025 cruises exploring the Mississippi also include holiday and themed cruises, from Mark Twain to Culinary to Civil War and Christmas cruises, and even a National Parks cruise visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park.