American Cruise Lines has announced expanded fleet capacity and three new itineraries on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The additions include the nine-day Arkansas River Cruise between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Memphis, Tennessee; an 11-Day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise between Knoxville and Huntsville, Tennessee; and an eight-day Gulf Coast Cruise between Pensacola, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana.
All three itineraries incorporate sections of the Mississippi River, bringing American Cruise Lines' total Mississippi River offerings to 14 itineraries, plus additional themed and holiday voyages. The company has introduced 16 new ships over the past decade and plans additional riverboats in the next three years to meet increasing demand for Mississippi River cruise travel.
The eight-day Gulf Coast Cruise operates between New Orleans, Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida, with stops in Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi; Ocean Springs, Mississippi; and Gulfport/Ship Island, Mississippi. Departures are scheduled for March and December 2026, with additional sailings in March and December 2027 onboard American Symphony. The itinerary is classified among the company's Southeast U.S. Cruises as it predominately uses the Gulf's Intracoastal Waterway while connecting to the Mississippi River at New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the nine-day Arkansas River Cruise travels between Memphis, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, visiting Catoosa, Oklahoma; Muskogee, Oklahoma; Fort Smith/Van Buren, Arkansas; Russellville, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Pendleton, Arkansas. Cruises launch in November 2026 onboard American Serenade and are listed under the company's Mississippi River Cruises.
The 11-day Great Smoky Mountains Cruise operates between Knoxville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama, including stops at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Fort Southwest Point, Tennessee; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Decatur, Alabama. The itinerary features cruising along the Appalachian Mountains and Tennessee River. Departures are scheduled for July, August, September and October 2027 onboard American Heritage. American Cruise Lines notes that its fleet includes "the only ones able to access this picturesque stretch of the Tennessee River, which ambles along the region's famed Blue Ridge Mountains."
The company maintains "the only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small ships in the world." American Cruise Lines states its expansion has increased tourism for smaller communities, particularly along the Mississippi River and tributaries, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Arkansas rivers.
Recent infrastructure projects include new dock facilities in Natchez, Mississippi, and Kenner, Louisiana, as well as Idaho's first cruise dock, which opened in August on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The company describes these partnerships as delivering "ongoing economic benefits for years to come" while improving waterfront access for local residents and expanding river cruise opportunities.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by American Cruise Lines. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
