By American Cruise Lines
Photographs courtesy of American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Line’s small ship cruises explore from sea to shining sea in over 30 states along 100% domestic itineraries. With 13 new, small ships and so many sailing regions, guests can customize their travel according to their interests, as the options for cruising the U.S. are more exciting than ever before. And the best part for many travelers, especially now, is that they can enjoy so much while leaving their passport at home. Guests aboard American’s river and coastal cruises sail aboard spacious new small ships which offer amenities on par with the finest European river cruises.
American Cruise Lines offers a wide variety of small ship domestic cruises which celebrate the music, history, art, cuisine, and natural beauty of the regions they explore, and always cruise within sight of land. American also specializes in building new small ships, and every ship in their fleet accommodates just 100-190 guests, ensuring a personalized small group setting. All ships have an all-American crew, offer 100% outward facing staterooms, private furnished balconies, and three times the space per passenger on board as other cruise ships. Every stateroom and interior space on American’s ships also offer independent HVAC air systems with no shared ductwork. The company has implemented extensive safety protocols to address the added concerns for COVID-19, in addition to all the inherent benefits already provided by their unparalleled space on board.
Many domestic cruise guests can drive directly to these ships, not only avoiding international travel hassles and concerns, but in some cases, flights. With more than 35 different itineraries in over 30 states, along rivers and coastlines, American offers something fun for everyone.
For gardening lovers, American offers an exceptional Tulip theme cruise which explores Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. Each spring, guests aboard can enjoy the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, one of the country’s most magnificent floral displays, at the height of bloom season. The cruise includes special demonstrations and lectures both on board and on shore all while cruising through one of the country’s most scenic and magnificent coastal regions.
Bookworms might relish one of the Line’s Mark Twain theme cruises, where guests can explore the mighty river that served as Samuel Clemens’s inspiration, complete with a true-to-life Mark Twain impersonator and a stop in Hannibal, MO, the writer’s boyhood home.
History buffs have lots to choose from, including a marvelous Lewis & Clark theme cruise along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, where guests can follow the route of the courageous explorers and their unforgettable pioneering journey into the West. There are also Civil War theme cruises along the lower Mississippi River or the Southeast coast. Along both, travelers can delve deep into the history of the Civil War as they visit battlefields, monuments, and museums that echo the stories of a defining time in American history.
There are also American Revolution cruises, which explore the quaint towns and historic cities throughout Chesapeake Bay that have shaped our nation, including Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. The cruises also include a remarkable stop in Washington D.C., where one of American’s small ships docks inside the Capital and remains the only cruise ship to do so in over 60 years.
Foodies will love American’s Food & Wine cruises exploring the Columbia River Valley, an area which produces many of the country’s best wines. American’s Culinary cruises along the lower Mississippi River are perfect for those who enjoy a gourmet cuisine that blends American, French, and Deep South influences. On all these theme cruises, onboard experts offer their expertise on wine, regional cuisine, and pairings, while they accompany guests to local wineries and distilleries and visit small artisan food producers.
And for a summer culinary highlight, American offers Lobsterbake theme cruises which explore New England’s coastal towns, islands, and the picturesque shores of Maine. Summer cruises feature a variety of lobster dishes, as well as a traditional lobster bake prepared fireside on the beach, featuring Maine lobsters, steamed clams, mussels, and more.
Music lovers can enjoy America’s many musical traditions and styles as they are celebrated and explored along the Line’s melodious Music Cruises on the Lower Mississippi, between Memphis to New Orleans, and along Music Cities Cruises between Memphis and Nashville. Guests enjoy special onboard performances each night and guided shore excursions each day to the destinations that inspired a variety of American musical genres, from Bluegrass and Country to Rock ‘n Roll and Jazz.
Holiday time …and if you want to relax with family and friends over the holidays: book, don’t cook! American Cruise Lines offers Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve theme cruises along the Chesapeake Bay, lower Mississippi River, and the Southeast coast between Charleston, SC and Amelia Island, FL. American’s cruise guests can sail though the holiday season, delighting in festive décor on board the ships, indulging in holiday-inspired cocktails, and dining on traditional favorites with a regional flair. Guests can even take part in a holiday gift exchange with fellow travelers. Special events, entertainment, and festive seasonally-inspired excursions make this a journey and holiday experience to remember.
By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
To learn more, click here for an interesting article.
Click here to sign up for our monthly NEWSLETTER packed with great articles and helpful tips for your home, garden and pets!
