American Queen Voyages: The Complete Guide

American Queen Voyages is a cruise line catering mainly to a previously untapped market: river cruises in North America. With three types of vessels available — including riverboats — American Queen guests can enjoy sailing down the Mississippi as easily as in the Caribbean.

At American Queen, historical riverboats have been transformed into full-service, all-inclusive cruise ships capable of sailing the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as excursions in the Great Lakes. The traditional routes are on the roster also, including sailings to Alaska, Costa Rica, the Gulf of Mexico and New England.

Here's a look at how American Queen Voyages is breathing new life into a part of the U.S. that features natural beauty and history.

About American Queen cruises

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect on an American Queen cruise.

• Cabin types: Depending on the type of cruise you book, you can choose from a variety of room types. These include interior rooms, single rooms, rooms with a veranda and suites. 

• Main U.S. routes: American Queen operates most of its routes on rivers in the U.S., with its main voyages cruising down the lower portion of the Mississippi. 

American Queen Voyages cruise destinations

American Queen cruise line operates almost exclusively in North America, but that doesn’t mean that its destinations are limited.

The majority of the departures it operates are American Queen river cruises and take place on the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers. You’ll also find ships on the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, though that’s less common.

If you’re not aboard one of its riverboats, you’ll also be able to explore destinations such as Canada, New England, Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico and Costa Rica. Sailings generally last from seven to 16 days.

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

American Queen Voyages cruise prices

Journeys on American Queen Voyages are all-inclusive and tend to be more expensive than other cruises. For example, the cheapest option we found rang in at $2,049 per person for a last-minute cruise from Portland, Oregon, to Spokane, Washington.

In contrast, rates for this same cruise in summer 2024 run as high as $5,369 per person.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

What is the best American Queen Voyages ship?

American Queen Voyages has seven ships in its fleet — four of these ships are riverboats, two are coastal vessels and one is purpose-built for expeditions.

What is the newest American Queen Voyages ship?

The newest American Queen Voyages ship is the American Duchess. As a riverboat, this ship will sail on American Queen Mississippi River cruises. With four guest decks and a capacity for 166 guests, the American Duchess features a boutique experience while still offering the amenities you’d expect from a cruise ship.

What’s included

American Queen Voyages bills itself as an all-inclusive experience, and that appears to hold up to scrutiny. While most cruises include food with your package, American Queen Voyages goes beyond that.

(Top photo courtesy of American Queen Voyages)