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American Encore: ship guide
The 2026 riverboat with a 1,500-square-foot Signature Suite on the Columbia and Snake.
Best for: River cruisers who want the newest and most spacious riverboat on the Columbia and Snake, especially suite buyers drawn to the Signature Suite and anyone pairing the cruise with Yellowstone and Glacier. Sails from Portland, Oregon, Clarkston, Washington, Jackson, Wyoming in 2026 and 2027.
About American Encore
American Encore is the seventh ship in American Cruise Lines’ modern American Riverboat series and the company’s flagship on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland, it passed sea trials in March 2026, sailed down the East Coast and through the Panama Canal, and began its inaugural nine-day Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise from Stevenson, Washington, on May 6, 2026. On May 12 it became the first ship ever christened in Idaho, at the new Lewiston dock, with former Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers as godmother.
The 180-guest riverboat introduces a reconfigured layout around a four-story glass atrium and the Signature Suite, which at 1,500 square feet the line calls the largest stateroom on any riverboat, with three walls of glass and a wraparound balcony above the pilothouse. All 94 staterooms have private balconies and every double is at least 300 square feet. Guests spread out between the aft Sky Lounge with its skylight, the River Lounge at the bow, the Storyteller Lounge, The Study, The Game Room, the Chart Room and Bow Terrace, with the Back Porch Café, Sun Deck and Sky Walk on top.
American Encore sails nine-day Columbia & Snake Rivers cruises between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington, following the Lewis and Clark route through eight locks, the Columbia River Gorge and Hells Canyon country, from spring to mid-November in 2026 and again from April 2027. From June 2027 it also operates 16-day National Parks & Legendary Rivers itineraries that pair the cruise with seven guided days in Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. It suits travelers who want the newest riverboat in the country with the most space per guest.
- Signature Suite of 1,500 square feet, which American calls the largest stateroom on any riverboat, with a wraparound balcony and soaking tub
- First ship ever christened in Idaho, at the new Port of Lewiston dock, May 12, 2026
- Four-story glass atrium at the center of the ship and an elevator to all passenger decks
- All 94 staterooms have private balconies, with every double at least 300 square feet and eight singles
- Seven lounges and social spaces including the aft Sky Lounge with skylight, River Lounge, Storyteller Lounge, The Study and The Game Room
- Open seating Restaurant with Pacific Northwest menus: coastal seafood, grass-fed beef, huckleberries and regional wines
- Daily cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and all drinks included around the clock
- Columbia & Snake Rivers cruises between Portland and Clarkston, plus 16-day National Parks itineraries from 2027
Staterooms and suites
Single Balcony
250 square feet on deck 4 with a full-size bed, desk and chair, sitting area, large shower and a private balcony with table and chair; eight on board, priced for one guest.
Deluxe Balcony
300 square feet on deck 2 with an open layout, full-size furniture, a large shower and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors onto a furnished private balcony; 32 on board.
Premium Balcony
300 square feet on deck 3, the deck with the Chart Room and The Study, with full-size furniture and a private balcony; the largest block of staterooms with 35.
Vista Balcony
300 square feet on the sought-after deck 4 among the suites, with an open floor plan, large shower and a private balcony with table and chairs; 12 on board.
Sky Suite
350 square feet on deck 4 behind a triple-panel floor-to-ceiling glass wall, with distinct sitting and sleeping areas, lounge chairs, desk, stocked refrigerator and a bathroom with double vanity; four on board.
Grand Suite and Signature Suite
Two 600-square-foot Grand Suites on deck 4 with a separate bedroom and living room, dining area, breakfast bar, daily-restocked refrigerator and a 25-foot balcony, and the single 1,500-square-foot Signature Suite above the pilothouse with three walls of glass, a wraparound balcony with dining area and loungers, separate living and sleeping rooms, and a hotel-size bathroom with soaking tub and heated floors.
American Encore 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
Sky Walk, Sun Deck.
- Sky WalkOffering a unique perspective high above the water, this walking track allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of the landscapes that unfold before you.
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 Encore
Dining on American Encore
RestaurantIncluded
Glass-enclosed main dining room on deck 1 with open seating, so you dine when and with whom you like; Columbia and Snake menus feature coastal seafood, grass-fed beef, lavender, asparagus, mushrooms, huckleberries and hazelnuts from area farms.
Back Porch CaféIncluded
Casual outdoor café on deck 4 for sandwiches, burgers and salads eaten al fresco as the gorge slides by.
Daily cocktail hourIncluded
A complimentary evening cocktail hour every day with hors d’oeuvres and top-shelf liquor, typically in the River Lounge before dinner.
Drinks policyIncluded
All beverages are included 24 hours a day, from Pacific Northwest wines, beer and spirits to soft drinks, water, coffee and tea, with no package to buy and no bar bill.
Entertainment and activities
- River Lounge at the bow, a daytime gathering place that becomes the nightly entertainment venue
- Aft Sky Lounge with a large skylight for cocktails and scenery, plus the Sun Deck and Sky Walk track above
- Storyteller Lounge, The Study and The Game Room, three quiet mid-ship spaces for reading, cards and puzzles
- Onboard expert sharing Lewis and Clark, Mount St. Helens and lock-and-dam history, with regional musicians in the evenings
- Guided shore excursions with at least one included in every port, from Fort Clatsop to Multnomah Falls and Hells Canyon options
- Chart Room and Bow Terrace for morning coffee as the ship transits the Columbia and Snake locks
- Fitness Center on deck 2, Starlink Wi-Fi and a self-service guest laundry
Families and who it suits
American Cruise Lines publishes no minimum age and runs no children’s program; there are no kids’ facilities on board, and the enrichment talks, excursions and cocktail hour are built for adults, so families with young children should ask before booking.
Best for: River cruisers who want the newest and most spacious riverboat on the Columbia and Snake, especially suite buyers drawn to the Signature Suite and anyone pairing the cruise with Yellowstone and Glacier.
Sails from: Portland, Oregon, Clarkston, Washington, Jackson, Wyoming · Regions: Columbia and Snake Rivers, Pacific Northwest
American Encore questions we answer every day
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Facts checked against American Cruise Lines: American Encore, American Cruise Lines press release: American Encore first riverboat ever christened in Idaho, American Cruise Lines press release: American Encore passes sea trials, American Cruise Lines: all-inclusive fares on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.
Every American Encore sailing, priced all-in
Every American Encore 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.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery American Encore sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices 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.