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The Sundeck has all 3x large-sized shaded seating areas (covered by retractable canopies) and 2x SkyLights (glass roof covers) over the Sky Lounge (aft) and the Atrium/Vestibule (midship-portside). Yet every step of the way, I've seen gracious crewmembers help them up the stairs, off the ship's bow ramp, and into the motorcoach. There's even a little golf cart that travels in the ship (in the retractable bow) to help get passengers up the often steep boat ramps and to the motorcoaches, where drivers are willing to help them onboard. American Cruise Lines makes exploring these places easy, thanks to its fleet of three branded motorcoaches that travel with the ship on its route. ACL offers a complimentary local bus loop in most ports of call, along with premium shore excursions that can be purchased for a reasonable price -- between $20 and $195 on our particular itinerary, with most coming in well under $100 per person.
Other American Cruise Lines cabins
Air conditioning is strong enough to handle the excessive Tennessee heat and humidity, and the upper Sun Deck is among the nicest we've seen afloat on a river ship of this size. But with American Serenade and sisters American Symphony and American Melody, the line seems to have hit the design jackpot. Staterooms are spacious and wonderfully decorated, and the ship has a fabulous flow to it. The aft-situated Sky Lounge on Deck 4 helps take some of the pressure off of the main River Lounge on Deck 3, which on our sailing became so busy during cocktail hour that the event was offered in the Sky Lounge as well. If you live near one of American Cruise Lines' ports of call, the line will even invite you aboard for a complimentary lunch or dinner and tour -- even without a current reservation. If you're sailing, you can invite friends aboard in a port of call for lunch or dinner, gratis.
American Serenade cabins review
Featured are floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a private balcony where you can sit and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. Ft., these staterooms also offer a sitting area, desk, and full-size bathrooms. Through sliding glass doors visit your private balcony complete with a sitting area, the perfect place to enjoy breakfast room service or watch the sun set. Each Grand Suite features a lavish bedroom and a separate living room ideal for gathering with family and friends after an invigorating day of exploration. All Grand suites include double sinks in the bathroom complete with plush robes for your comfort. Your in-suite mini-refrigerator will be fully stocked and replenished throughout the week with juices, waters, white and red wine.
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The ship has only one wheelchair-accessible cabin (AAR-category room #124) located forward-starboard on Deck 1 (Lobby Deck). The stateroom is designed specifically for disabled passengers and has wider doors and an ADA-compliant bathroom. Free of charge Wi-Fi Internet access (shipwide coverage) and several Internet computers are located around the cruise ship.
Considered one of the finest staterooms on any cruise ship, guests will enjoy full-size bathrooms and a large living area complete with sliding glass door. Your in-suite mini-refrigerator will be fully stocked and replenished throughout your cruise with juices, waters, white and red wine. All suites include a private walk-out balcony where you can enjoy “suite treats” delivered to you each evening and take in the breathtaking views. After boarding, we were greeted by glasses of champagne and went directly to our staterooms, where our luggage had already been delivered. Not only does the smaller size make for a more personal experience, but also provides more interaction with both guests and crew.
It's the kind of charming perks cruise lines used to offer, that are still alive and well aboard American Cruise Lines. In fact, the onboard lectures American Cruise Lines put together were as good, if not better, than their European counterparts. In speaking with other passengers, the quality of their resident and guest speakers and entertainers is one reason they keep booking with the line, time after time -- a process that nets them some pretty sweet past-passenger perks.
Guests are pampered and given the staff’s full attention from the time you board to when you leave. We have never cruised on ships where the managers and crew, including the captain, make such a special effort to mingle and interact with the guests. There was a seating area at the foot of our king-size bed, a desk and plenty of storage for our week’s worth of clothing and gear. With a little extra maneuvering, we managed to get our suitcases under the bed. Like most newer ships, it offers a good number of electrical outlets and USB ports, which is always welcome. But its greatest strength lies in its more obscure itineraries -- a journey up the Hudson from New York to Albany.
ACL-American Cruise Lines starts Upper Mississippi 2023 season with 11 itineraries and 5 new...
For those who like to be in the heart of the action, forward-facing observation decks are located on Deck 2 (the Bow Terrace) and on Deck 3 in front of the River Lounge. Passengers can also admire the ship's wake from a series of open decks all the way aft on Decks 2, 3 and 4. American Serenade has two small Fitness Centers located on Deck 2 aft that seemed lonely and neglected on our voyage, though passengers did make use of the Jogging Track on Deck 4. There is no spa onboard, and American Serenade does not have either pools nor hot tubs -- so leave the bathing suit at home. Itineraries aboard American Serenade typically include a complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay in the port of embarkation. American Cruise Line's "Modern Riverboats" are all constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding (shipyard in Salisbury MA).
Can American Serenade Compare to European River Cruising? Yes.
Lounges soar 40 feet above the water with triple the glass of other riverboats. Founded in 1991, American Cruise Lines specializes in small-ship coastal and river cruises throughout the United States. Each American Cruise Lines vessel is a traditional USA-built (at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland) as well as American-flagged and crewed. Cruise Director Brandon Wind said our weeklong Music Cities Cruise from Memphis to Nashville is fully booked with 172 passengers and 46 crew members.
Just Back from American Cruise Lines American Serenade - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Just Back from American Cruise Lines American Serenade.
Posted: Tue, 27 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
And in that, American Cruise Lines is also modernizing the state of U.S.-based river cruising, which is finally getting away from the replica paddle wheelers that look cool but don't really contribute meaningfully to the overall cruise experience. American Cruise Lines recognizes the historic significance of these waterways, with onboard entertainment and programming that is meant to explore and highlight local culture, from music and song to historically-minded lectures and shore excursions. You can learn about the American Civil War -- in the region you are sailing through -- before you ever set foot on land. The lectures we had aboard prepared me for our visit to the Shiloh National Cemetery and the Tennessee River Museum. All staterooms feature a private, step-out balcony accessible from the living area via a sliding, floor-ceiling glass door. All cabin balconies are furnished with a small table and two deckchairs.
Most of the entertainment on our sailing came from the onboard river experts, Steve and JoAnn. This couple has been lecturing and performing on ACL ships since 2012, and when they weren’t telling us about the river and wildlife, they were singing and playing piano in the River Lounge. Having been on two ACL cruises, I can say confidently that no cruise line does excursions better than ACL, starting with the ship’s excursions director, Mark. He was there at all times to make sure everyone gets on the right bus, handing out umbrellas if it’s raining and insuring everything is running smoothly. Overall, the service on Serenade, just as we found on Constellation, was excellent.
American Cruise Lines builds its ships entirely within the United States at its own shipyard (Chesapeake Shipbuilding), and American Serenade is crewed with entirely American crewmembers, some of whom hail from the big-ship cruising world. The ship has a modern propulsion system consisting of 2x azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives") manufactured by Veth (Holland). These 360-degree rotating propellers (1x forward, 1x aft) provide the boat with greater maneuverability and berthing flexibility.
American Cruise Lines will continue to offer the longest river cruise itinerary in the U.S., its 22-day Complete Mississippi River trip, which traverses 10 states as it travels almost the entire length of the river. Dates for that itinerary kick off in June and August aboard the American Serenade in August 2023. As mentioned, American Serenade is one of the newest ships in the fleet, launched in 2023 from the line’s own shipyard in Salisbury, Maryland.
I normally skip entertainment but find myself attending their lectures and shows each day. Cabins aboard American Serenade are generously sized, with the vast majority onboard measuring at least 315 square feet and going up in size from there. Each cabin offers a generously-sized bathroom, and ample storage space, though curiously beds are too low to allow luggage to be placed underneath them. The first modern riverboats ever in the United States are showcasing several pioneering innovations on America’s waters. With its clean and uncluttered décor, the Serenade looks more like a modern European river cruise ship than one of the old-fashioned paddlewheel boats seen on the mighty Mississippi. Passengers aboard American Serenade tend to be predominantly 70+ and exclusively American.
After the christening cruise, the ship will continue on the company’s eight-day Tennessee rivers itinerary, which travels between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee, including stops in Decatur, Alabama; Florence, Alabama; Savannah, Tennessee; and Paducah, Tennessee. Cruising on American Serenade, enjoy comfortable lounges and large observation decks that provide the perfect place for guests to relax and enjoy the company of fellow travelers who share their interest in American heritage. Glass enclosed dining salons provide panoramic views of the spectacular scenery you will see. The 175-passenger American Serenade is the newest modern riverboat sailing the Mississippi River. She is one of the most sophisticated and elegant riverboats available on U.S. waters and the sixth for American Cruise Lines. Unlike larger, ocean-going ships, you won’t find opulent theaters, casinos, virtual reality game rooms or water parks on ACL.
The ship itself is quite comfortable with ample cabins on 3 decks, 2 lounges, an open-air 5th deck, and a large dining area. We enjoyed the small ship cruising ambience and will certainly consider another river cruise in the future with American Cruise Lines. “Like American Symphony, the 180-passenger American Serenade introduces an updated modern interior design, integrating an elegant and refined aesthetic with our tradition for the spacious comfort found aboard all of our ships,” the company says of the new ship on its website. “Drawing inspiration from the geography across America, the new interior design highlights natural textural elements and serene color palettes.” Rooms range in size from 250 to 650 square feet, and all include full-size baths, closets, and private balconies. Beyond the rooms, the new ship also allows guests to drink in the views from every angle in its four-story glass atrium, located in the middle of the ship. American Serenade cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 91 staterooms for 175 passengers served by 43 crew/staff.
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