How do you celebrate a country’s 250th birthday? If you’re American Cruise Lines, you mark the occasion with a series of once-in-a-lifetime cruises stretching up to nearly two months long, exploring everything from Gettysburg to Yellowstone.
In 2026, the small-ship cruise line will launch five Extended Cruises designed to show off the country’s most historic sites, national parks and iconic waterways. The itineraries range from 32 to 55 days, with prices starting at $27,200 per person—and they’re not just about sailing. Each trip blends river cruising with overland exploration, flights and even stays in luxury hotels.
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The lineup kicks off with Spring Across America (April 3–May 23), a Charleston-to-Juneau journey that cuts across the continent. History buffs might prefer the Civil War Battlefields sailing (May 5–June 9), winding from New Orleans to Gettysburg with stops at Fort Sumter, Antietam and other pivotal sites.
The crown jewel is The Great United States (May 29–July 19), a 51-night odyssey from Portland, Oregon to Boston. Expect glacier-studded national parks out west, plus a July 4th stop in Boston complete with fireworks viewed from the Four Seasons Hotel.
Fall travelers can book the Great American Fall Foliage itinerary (September 5–October 29), a sweeping Juneau-to-DC adventure timed with autumn’s fiery colors. And for a Revolutionary War deep dive, there’s the Albany-to-Washington, D.C. sailing (October 8–November 8). That voyage highlights the Hudson River in peak foliage, stops at West Point and Valley Forge and ends in Yorktown, where America’s independence was sealed.
Beyond the destinations, the cruises pack in all-inclusive perks: onboard dining and drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, flights between segments and hotel stays. Onboard experts add historical depth, whether walking you through Civil War strategy or recounting the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
With all ships U.S.-built, crewed and registered, American Cruise Lines is leaning hard into its patriotic roots. And what better way to toast America’s semi-quincentennial than by tracing the waterways, battlefields and landscapes that shaped it?
Full details, including day-by-day itineraries, are available now on the cruise line’s website.