American Cruise Lines will debut three new Great Lakes itineraries for the 2026 season, sailing from May through August aboard American Patriot.
“Guests have long asked for our style of cruising on the Great Lakes,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines, in a media statement. “We are now proud to offer these cruises as only American can, aboard a new small ship sailing 100 percent domestically.”
American’s 2026 Great Lakes itineraries include a 9-day cruise visiting the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls, while an additional 9-day itinerary highlights Lake Michigan, Green Bay inlet and the wilderness of The Upper Peninsula. The cruise line’s signature 14-day cruise, dubbed the American Great Lakes, travels 800 miles through three of the Great Lakes (Erie, Huron and Michigan).
All itineraries begin, end and remain in the U.S., making a passport or international flight unnecessary for American travelers. All cruises offer an included pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary domestic airfare.
On the 9-day Great Lakes & Thousand Islands cruise, passengers will visit Boldt Castle along a sailing exploration of the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands; take a glass-bottom boat ride to view a Great Lakes shipwreck and the Rock Island Light House; savor the region’s finest grapes at a Coyote Moon Winery tour and tasting; explore the Susan B. Anthony House & Museum; take an excursion to the Niagara Falls; experience Amish Country and culture, including a visit to an Amish-run cheese co-op and a special luncheon at Bricker’s Amish home; and sightsee in Cleveland with visits to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Art Museum.
On the 9-day Lake Michigan and Upper Peninsula cruise, your clients will head to Milwaukee with time for local exploration during an included pre-cruise hotel stay; tour a 19th-century Company Town at the Fayette Historic Townsite; discover Escanaba’s museums, church steeples and local flavors, including authentic Swedish pastries; visit the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, featuring over 70 historic locomotives and interactive exhibits; take a trolley ride through picturesque Muskegon with stops along Lake Michigan’s stunning beach, visits to historic lighthouse, and an exploration at the USS Silverside Submarine Museum; and enjoy a special docent-led tour of the Harley- Davidson Museum.
Meanwhile, on the 14-day Great American Lakes sailing, travelers will unpack Detroit, visiting the Henry Ford Museum, The Detroit Institute of Art, Greenfield Village and the Motown Museum. They’ll also explore a shipwreck in Alpena; take a narrated tour along St. Mary’s River including a ride through the Soo Locks; step back in time on Mackinac Island and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and visit to the famous Grand Hotel; take a Silver Lake Sand Dunes ride with a visit to a Michigan Winery in Muskegon, enjoy an afternoon of activities beachside on Lake Michigan, including paddleboarding, kayaking and kite surfing; explore Meijer Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park; discover quaint Holland and visit the only authentic working Dutch windmill with lunch at Bowerman’s Blueberry Farms; check out all the classic Hogs at the Harley-Davidson Museum; visit Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; and spend a day in Amish country with special luncheon at Bricker’s Amish home.
