Small ship cruise company American Cruise Lines will launch the first all-domestic Great Lakes sailings next year, celebrating America’s small towns and lake cities in time for next summer.
The three new itineraries, which run from May through August 2026 on the cruise line’s newest ship, will sail across Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron, all without crossing into Canada. The 9- and 14-day cruises explore cities like Syracuse, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and mark the first Great Lakes cruises for the company.
Along the way, passengers will be able to go paddleboarding, kayaking, and kite surfing on Lake Michigan, visit historic lighthouses, and more. Other highlights include a visit to the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester, New York; a docent-led tour of the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee; a glass-bottom boat ride to view a shipwreck; and a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
“Guests have long asked for our style of cruising on the Great Lakes,” Charles B. Robertson, the president and CEO of American Cruise Lines, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “We are now proud to offer these cruises as only American can, aboard a new small ship sailing 100% domestically.”
The Great Lakes itineraries will sail on the company’s American Patriot ship, which the cruise line built this year. The 130-guest ship boasts staterooms with their own private balconies, a top deck Sky Walk, a chart room, a fitness center, a laundry room, and more. Each trip will also celebrate American cuisine in the restaurant with locally-sourced ingredients.
On each new voyage, passengers will receive daily guided excursions, Wi-Fi and gratuities included, and complimentary cocktails to toast the trip. Each sailing will also include a complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay and free domestic airfare.
Single travelers are also welcome since American Cruise Lines offers dedicated single staterooms with balconies, without any single supplements.
Beyond these trips, there are several cruises that sail across the Great Lakes with the chance to immerse yourself in marvels like the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. However, these cruises typically visit a port in Canada along the way, including Toronto and Niagara Falls.
For its part, American Cruise Lines operates a fleet of 28 ships and sails exclusively in the United States, including along the Mississippi River, on the Columbia and Snake rivers, across Alaska, and beyond.
