American Cruise Lines · All American Cruise Lines ships · Patriot Class coastal ship (Project Blue series)

American Patriot: ship guide

Flagship of the 130-guest Patriot Class, sailing all-American Great Lakes cruises.

Best for: Travelers who want a Great Lakes cruise that stays entirely in the United States on a brand-new 130-guest ship with a balcony on every stateroom and everything included. Sails from Buffalo, NY, Milwaukee, WI, Syracuse, NY, Oswego, NY in 2026 and 2027.

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American Patriot
American Patriot
130guests at double occupancy
5decks
2025entered service
56staterooms

About American Patriot

American Patriot is the first ship of American Cruise Lines’ Patriot Class, a new series of 130-guest coastal ships built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. It began sailing in summer 2025 and was christened in Newport, Rhode Island over the 4th of July. Unlike the catamaran Coastal Cats, the Patriot Class has a traditional bow, a slightly deeper draft and full stabilization for smoother open-water sailing, which is what lets it cross the Great Lakes.

Five decks hold 56 staterooms, every one with a private balcony, from 250-square-foot singles to an all-suite fourth deck topped by the 500-square-foot Grand Suite. The Main Lounge and restaurant on Deck 1 have water views from every seat, Deck 3 adds a Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge, Deck 4 has the fitness center, and the top deck carries the indoor Sky Lounge, a 360-degree Sky Walk track, the sun deck and the Back Porch Café. A chart room, laundry and elevators to every deck complete the ship.

American Patriot is the ship for American’s all-domestic Great Lakes cruises, the only ones that visit US ports only. From May to October in 2026 and 2027 it sails the 14-day American Great Lakes cruise between Buffalo and Milwaukee across Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan, nine-day Great Lakes & Thousand Islands cruises between Syracuse or Oswego and Buffalo, and Lake Michigan & Upper Peninsula round trips from Milwaukee. It suits travelers who want Niagara, Mackinac and the Thousand Islands without a passport.

  • First ship of the Patriot Class, christened in Newport on the 4th of July 2025
  • Traditional bow, deeper draft and full stabilization for the open water of the Great Lakes
  • Just 130 guests in 56 staterooms, every one with a private balcony
  • All-suite Deck 4 with Grand, Sky and Veranda Suites
  • Sky Lounge, 360-degree Sky Walk track, sun deck and Back Porch Café on the top deck
  • Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge on Deck 3, Main Lounge and restaurant with views from every seat on Deck 1
  • The only Great Lakes cruises calling exclusively at US ports: Niagara, Mackinac Island, the Thousand Islands and the Upper Peninsula
  • Hotel night, excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities included in the fare

Staterooms and suites

Grand Suite

500 square feet on Deck 4 with a separate bedroom and living room, king bed, breakfast bar, daily restocked refrigerator, double-vanity bathroom and a 25-foot private balcony with table, chairs and chaise lounge.

Sky Suite

400 square feet on Deck 4 with a triple-panel floor-to-ceiling glass wall, lounge chairs, desk, stocked refrigerator, double-vanity bathroom with large shower and a furnished private balcony.

Veranda Suite

320 square feet on Deck 4 with a seating area, stocked refrigerator, king bed, closet and full-size dresser, and sliding glass doors to a furnished private balcony.

Vista Balcony

300 square feet on the sought-after Deck 3 with full-size furniture, an open floor plan, a spacious bathroom with large shower and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to a private balcony with table and chairs.

Premium Balcony

300 square feet on Deck 2 with full-size furniture, open layout, large shower and sliding glass doors to a furnished private balcony.

Single Balcony

250 square feet on Decks 2, 3 and 4 for solo travelers, with a full-size bed, desk and chair, sitting area and a private balcony with table and chair; offered without a single supplement.

American Patriot deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 5 plan

Deck 5

Sky Lounge, Back Porch Cafe, Sun Deck, Sky Walk.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board American Patriot

Restaurant
Restaurant
Lounge
Lounge
Restaurant
Restaurant
Lounge
Lounge

Dining on American Patriot

The RestaurantIncluded

Deck 1 restaurant with water views from every seat and open seating at every meal; menus are American with a regional twist and change daily, with fresh produce and seafood brought aboard in port.

Back Porch CaféIncluded

Casual café on the sun deck for a relaxed breakfast or lunch outdoors, next to the Sky Lounge.

Daily Cocktail HourIncluded

A complimentary evening cocktail hour every day with hors d’oeuvres and top-shelf spirits before dinner.

Drinks PolicyIncluded

All meals, snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included and available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment and activities

  • Onboard expert giving daily talks on Great Lakes shipping, lighthouses, the War of 1812 and the natural history of the lakes
  • Live music every evening in the Main Lounge, with local musicians joining in port
  • Sky Lounge and 360-degree Sky Walk walking track on the top deck
  • Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge on Deck 3 for open-air and indoor viewing
  • At least one included excursion in every port, with optional Premium and Signature tours
  • Fitness center on Deck 4
  • Chart room, library, art classes, cooking demonstrations and trivia depending on the itinerary
  • Starlink Wi-Fi throughout the ship

Families and who it suits

American Cruise Lines runs no children’s program and its ships are designed for adult travelers; there are no kids clubs or family cabins, and the line does not publish a minimum age on its site, so ask before booking with anyone under 18.

Best for: Travelers who want a Great Lakes cruise that stays entirely in the United States on a brand-new 130-guest ship with a balcony on every stateroom and everything included.

Sails from: Buffalo, NY, Milwaukee, WI, Syracuse, NY, Oswego, NY · Regions: Great Lakes

American Patriot questions we answer every day

How big is American Patriot?
American Patriot is a 130-guest coastal ship with five decks and 56 staterooms, built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland and launched in 2025 as the first of the Patriot Class. American Cruise Lines does not publish tonnage, length or crew figures. Every stateroom has a private balcony, sizes run from 250 to 500 square feet, and elevators serve every deck.
Where does American Patriot sail in 2026 and 2027?
The Great Lakes, from May through October. It sails the 14-day American Great Lakes cruise between Buffalo and Milwaukee through Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan, nine-day Great Lakes & Thousand Islands cruises between Syracuse or Oswego and Buffalo via Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands, and nine-day Lake Michigan & Upper Peninsula round trips from Milwaukee. These are American’s all-domestic Great Lakes itineraries, visiting only US ports.
How is the Patriot Class different from the Coastal Cats?
The Coastal Cats are 100-guest catamarans with four decks built for shallow rivers and inland passages. The Patriot Class is larger at 130 guests and five decks, with a traditional bow, a slightly deeper draft and full stabilization for smoother sailing on open water such as the Great Lakes. It also adds an all-suite fourth deck, a Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge, and a top deck with Sky Lounge, Sky Walk track and café.
What is included in the fare on American Patriot?
American Cruise Lines is all-inclusive. The fare covers all meals and snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks around the clock, the daily cocktail hour, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with luggage service and transfer to the ship, at least one Featured excursion in every port, enrichment talks and nightly entertainment, Starlink Wi-Fi, gratuities, port charges and fees. Premium and Signature excursions cost extra.
Which staterooms are best on American Patriot?
Every stateroom has a balcony. The 300-square-foot Vista Balcony rooms on Deck 3 and Premium Balcony rooms on Deck 2 suit most couples. Deck 4 is all suites: the 500-square-foot Grand Suite with a separate living room and 25-foot balcony, the 400-square-foot Sky Suite with a triple-panel glass wall, and 320-square-foot Veranda Suites. Solo travelers have 250-square-foot Single Balcony rooms on Decks 2 to 4 without a supplement.
Is American Patriot good for families with children?
Not really. American Cruise Lines runs no children’s program, there are no kids clubs or connecting family cabins, and the onboard program of history talks, cocktail hours and evening music is built for adult travelers. Most guests are retired couples and solo travelers. If you are considering bringing a teenager, ask about the line’s age policy before booking.

Facts checked against American Cruise Lines: American Patriot, American Cruise Lines: dates and fares for American Patriot, American Cruise Lines press release: American Patriot christened in Newport, American Cruise Lines press release: American Patriot and American Pioneer announced on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every American Patriot sailing, priced all-in

Every American Patriot departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every American Patriot sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.