American Constellation Review

4.0 / 5.0
92 reviews
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Editor Rating
4.0
Very Good
Overall
Jayne Clark
Contributor

American Cruise Lines' fast-growing fleet of made-in-the-USA small ships highlights the expanding market for domestic river and coastal cruising. American Constellation, the eighth in the company's fleet, and the first of two coastal cruisers, launched in May 2017. (A sister ship, American Constitution, is due out in 2018. Five modern riverboats also are in the pipeline.) The ship is spending its debut season plying the coastal waters of New England before heading west to Washington's Puget Sound and Alaska.

ACL engenders fierce passenger loyalty, so it's clearly doing a lot of things right. On our cruise, 31 of the 145 passengers -- 21 percent -- were repeat ACL cruisers. They included a couple that was sailing for the 15th time, and a solo woman on her 12th cruise. Not bad for a line that launched its first ship in 2000.

The 175-passenger Constellation's decor lacks flashiness. But who needs glitz when dazzling shoreline is never far from view? Interiors are both attractive in decor and sensible in design. Its six public rooms and 90 staterooms on five decks exude a classic beach-house vibe without going overboard on the nautical themes. Interior spaces are roomy and decorated in soothing, seashore hues of blue, green and coral. Furnishings range from cushioned, white wicker-look chairs and sofas in the fourth-floor Sky Lounge, to more formal groupings comprised of blue and white upholstered sofas and chairs, and blonde wood tables in the larger Chesapeake Lounge on Deck 3. Three intimate lounges offer solitude for those seeking a quiet nook. But other than the evening cocktail hour, public spaces never feel crowded. On the whole, the ambiance echoes that of visiting the seaside retreat of a tasteful friend.

Exterior deck space is plentiful in proportion to the size of the ship. Deck 4 has a pleasant covered spot for lounging, eating and drinking. On Deck 5, the aft sun deck is a partially covered area that was rarely occupied on our cruise. The open-air sun deck above it features a putting green and more spots to lounge.

On our cruise, the ship had roughly a 3:1 guest-to-crew ratio. But despite the youthful staff's eager attitude and hustle-it work ethic, it lacked polish. Some are students in hospitality programs and were on one-time short-term contracts before returning to school. They'll likely excel at their craft someday, but a lot of them are still learning.

Pros

A mostly all-inclusive cruise on an intimate, tastefully appointed, well-designed vessel

Cons

The young, American staff is eager to please, but lacks experience

Bottom Line

Ideal for older adults seeking a full-service cruise without crossing a foreign border

About

Passengers: 175
Crew: 60
Passenger to Crew: 2.92:1
Launched: 2017

Fellow Passengers

ACL is an American line with U.S. itineraries, so it's no surprise that it attracts a predominantly North American clientele. Some had chosen our itinerary (New England) simply because they'd never before been to that part of the country and liked the idea of visiting multiple ports in three states (Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island) from a single vessel. Typically, the age range is from 60 and up. A smattering of adult offspring on our cruise were traveling with parents or grandparents. Because all decks are accessible via elevator (except the top sun deck), the Constellation is a good choice for those with mobility issues. However, only two staterooms are wheelchair accessible.

American Constellation Dress Code

Daytime wear is casual, and comfortable walking shoes are vital for going ashore. It's also wise to have rain gear, a hat and an appropriate-weight jacket on hand. ACL suggests "casual resort attire" for both ship and shore. Though there's no prohibition on shorts and sneakers in the dining room, in the evening most passengers change from their daytime garb to dresses and skirts or dressy slacks for women, and collared shirts and dress pants for men, with the occasional sport coat in the crowd.

American Constellation Inclusions

The basic cruise fare includes onboard gratuities, though tips to shore excursion guides are suggested.

Unlimited soft drinks and juices are available in the ship's two main lounges throughout the day.  Beer and wine are served with lunch and dinner. There's a nightly pre-dinner cocktail hour with a full bar in both the Chesapeake and Sky lounges. The bar in the Chesapeake Lounge re-opens after dinner for the evening's entertainment. Among premium labels on our cruise were Maker's Mark bourbon and Tanqueray gin. Brews included Sam Adams, Amstel Light and Heineken. The house wine is Coastal Vines in multiple varietals. But if you don't see your beverage of choice on the bar, the eager-to-please staff will make efforts (within reason) to get it onboard for you. Book a suite and you can get soft drinks, juices and bottled water, plus beer and wine, delivered to the stateroom mini-bar.

ACL offers some "featured" (no-charge) shore excursions. On our sailing, five of the 16 offerings over the course of the 10-night cruise were gratis. Members of the line's loyalty program, the Eagle Society, get premium shore excursions for free on their fourth sailing.

Two washer/dryer pairs on Deck 4 are available for passenger use (detergent included).

Free postcards are available from the main desk. They'll even stamp and mail them for you. A limited number of umbrellas are for loan. Wheelchairs, walkers and shower chairs also are available for loan, by pre-arrangement.

Wi-Fi is free, but on our cruise, it was extremely sluggish. ACL says it's working to correct the issue.

Onboard currency is the U.S. dollar. Accounts can be settled by credit card or cash at the end of the cruise.

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American Constellation Cruiser Reviews

Simply the very best!

I would have been happy to live on the American Constellation forever! The ship was impeccably spotless everywhere and staff were visible each day cleaning, polishing and making us comfortable.Read More
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LucyHoneychurch

couple2-5 Cruises

Age 70s

Small ship cruising, a perfect experience!

We took the ACL American Constellation on a delightful experience around the San Juan islands recently. We saw all kinds of wildlife, and our favorite was whales!Read More
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LizCrimson

few6-10 Cruises

Age 70s

SAILING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IN FALL!

We recently returned from a lovely Fall sailing on the ACL Constellation through the San Juan Islands and along the Puget Sound, near Seattle.Read More
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leftcoasters

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Tulip Cruise

I decided to write a review on my recently completed American Cruise Lines cruise.Read More
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CaribBlueEyes

many10+ Cruises

Age 70s

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