American Cruise Lines announced that their small ship cruises will continue to explore throughout Southeast Alaska all summer. On June 12, American Constellation was the first cruise ship to dock in Haines in 622 days (since September 29, 2019). To celebrate the town’s 1st docking in almost 2 years, American’s guests were welcomed on shore by Mayor Douglass Olerud, the Chilkat Dancers, and members of the Haines community.
“We are thrilled to be back in Haines and appreciate the wonderful reception we received from the community. We have worked diligently throughout Southeast Alaska to coordinate with each port to ensure the safe resumption of domestic cruising,” said Charles Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “We look forward to 12 dockings in Haines this year and many more in the coming years, as the popularity of experiencing Alaska’s majesty aboard small, new U.S. ships continues to grow.”
Once the welcome festivities concluded, American’s guests took off on several guided small-group tours of Haines. Shore excursions included kayaking on Chilkoot Lake and rafting in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, historical walking tours of Haines, an exploration of the Haines Sheldon Museum, as well as visits to local shops, restaurants, and other cultural sites.
American Cruise Lines has been exploring Alaska since 2010 aboard small U.S. built ships, which follow 100 percent domestic itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days in length. This year, the cruise line also added a brand new 11-Day Alaskan Explorer cruise to their offerings in Alaska. Each summer, June through September, America’s small ships operate between Seattle and Juneau, roundtrip from Juneau, and between Ketchikan and Juneau. American’s new 11-Day Alaskan Explorer cruise sails the Inside Passage, Clarence Straight, Tracy Arm, and Glacier Bay, and includes visits to Mendenhall Glacier, LeConte Glacier, and Chilkoot Lake.
Throughout the summer, American’s cruises will continue to discover Southeast Alaska’s cultures, scenic glaciers, fjords, and abundant wildlife. Specializing in personalized experiences, American’s uniquely curated cruises explore the Inside Passage, Frederick Sound, Glacier Bay, and Tracy Arm and visit Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Haines, and Wrangell among other sites throughout the Southeast region. All cruises include a complimentary pre-cruise hotel night in Juneau, and the newest Alaskan Explorer itinerary offers a complimentary hotel stay at the iconic Cape Fox Lodge for departures from Ketchikan.
Guided shore excursions are offered at every port in Alaska and include: private fishing charters, Tlingit cultural experiences, wildlife kayaking excursions, glacier flight-seeing adventures, active hikes, and casual walking tours.
2021 cruises are aboard American Constellation, a 175-passenger coastal ship, offering spacious staterooms with a private balcony.
For more information, visit americancruiselines.com.
For more cruise news, click here. And don’t miss, “6 Cruise Lines: New Ships & Itineraries.”
