American Cruise Lines · All American Cruise Lines ships · Independence Class

American Spirit: ship guide

A 90-guest coastal ship for Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands from Tacoma.

Best for: Travelers who want the smallest, most casual ship on Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands with everything included and a Tacoma round trip that needs no long flights from the West Coast. Sails from Tacoma, WA in 2026 and 2027.

See every American Spirit sailing Deck plans American Cruise Lines policies

90guests at double occupancy

4decks

2005entered service

220 ftlong

About American Spirit

American Spirit is the original Independence Class coastal ship, built in 2005 by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, and now based in the Pacific Northwest. With just 90 guests and a 220-foot hull it threads the inlets of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, calling at small harbors such as Friday Harbor, Anacortes, Port Townsend and Poulsbo that bigger ships cannot reach. The ship is stabilized and has a traditional bow for coastal travel.

On board are a glass-enclosed Main Deck restaurant with 270-degree views, the Cascade Lounge at the bow for cocktail hour and evening entertainment, a midship reading lounge, a fitness center on deck 3 and a spacious sun deck with a shaded lounge area. Standard staterooms start at 230 square feet, every second and third deck room has a private balcony, and Veranda Suites reach 315 square feet. Elevator access is limited, so call before booking if stairs are a concern.

American Spirit’s 2027 season runs from mid-May through September on the eight-night Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Cruise round trip from Tacoma, with an extended 14-night Northwest National Parks itinerary in late summer that pairs the cruise with Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades. No late-2026 sailings are published; the same route is also offered on the larger American Constellation.

Just 90 guests on a 220-foot ship built for the inlets of Puget Sound
Private balconies on every second and third deck stateroom
Main Deck restaurant with 270-degree views and open seating
Cascade Lounge at the bow for cocktail hour, lectures and live music
Spacious sun deck with a shaded lounge area for island and mountain views
Fitness center on deck 3 and a quiet midship reading lounge
Daily complimentary cocktail hour and at least one included excursion per port
Eight-night Puget Sound and San Juan Islands round trips from Tacoma, May to September 2027

Staterooms and suites

Veranda Suite

315 square feet on the third deck with a seating area, stocked refrigerator, king bed, a large shower and a push door to a private balcony with deck furniture.

Deluxe Balcony

240 square feet on the second deck (Deluxe Balcony 2) and third deck (Deluxe Balcony 1) with full-size furniture, a large shower and a private balcony; the core of the ship.

Deluxe Waterview

240 square feet on the second deck with picture windows and full-size furniture including a desk and chair, for guests who want the space without a balcony.

Standard Waterview

230 square feet on the Main Deck with picture windows, a closet, deep dresser drawers and a desk, the entry grade.

Single Balcony

180 square feet on the third deck sold for solo travelers, with a full-size bed, desk and chair and a private balcony with a table and chair.

American Spirit 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 4

Sun Shade.

Deck 3

Pilothouse, Fitness Center, Suites/Staterooms.

Veranda Veranda SuiteDeluxe 1 Deluxe Balcony StateroomSingle Single Balcony Stateroom

Deck 2

Cascade Lounge, Midship Lounge, Suites/Staterooms.

Deluxe Deluxe Waterview StateroomDeluxe 2 Deluxe Balcony Stateroom

Main Deck

Galley, Restaurant, Suites/Staterooms.

Standard Standard Waterview Stateroom

RestaurantEach menu showcases American specialties crafted from locally sourced ingredients, ensuring a fresh and flavorful dining experience.

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 Spirit

Dining on American Spirit

RestaurantIncluded

Glass-enclosed Main Deck dining room with 270-degree views, open seating and a regional Pacific Northwest menu that changes daily, with local salmon, shellfish and Washington wines.

Cocktail hourIncluded

A complimentary cocktail hour with full bar and hors d’oeuvres is hosted in the Cascade Lounge every evening before dinner.

Lounge snacks and coffeeIncluded

Coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks are available around the clock in the lounges.

Drinks policyIncluded

All meals, snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the fare, with wine and beer poured at lunch and dinner.

Entertainment and activities

Nightly live entertainment in the Cascade Lounge from Northwest musicians
Onboard expert giving daily talks on the San Juan Islands, orcas and Coast Salish history
Sun deck with shaded seating for wildlife watching and Olympic Mountain views
Midship lounge with books, puzzles and card games
At least one complimentary featured excursion in every port, with premium tours available
Fitness center with cardio and resistance equipment
Complimentary pre-cruise hotel night in the Seattle-Tacoma area with transfer to the ship

Families and who it suits

American Cruise Lines has no children’s program or kids’ facilities and does not publish a minimum age; the ship, its lectures and its included excursions are designed for adult travelers, so ask SmartCruiser before booking a child.

Best for: Travelers who want the smallest, most casual ship on Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands with everything included and a Tacoma round trip that needs no long flights from the West Coast.

Sails from: Tacoma, WA · Regions: Puget Sound, San Juan Islands

American Spirit questions we answer every day

How big is American Spirit?

American Spirit is a four-deck, 220-foot coastal ship built in 2005 for 90 guests, the first of the Independence Class. It has a Main Deck restaurant, the Cascade Lounge at the bow, a midship lounge, a fitness center on deck 3 and a sun deck on deck 4. American Cruise Lines does not publish tonnage or crew numbers. Elevator access is limited, so call before booking if stairs are a concern.

Where does American Spirit sail in 2026 and 2027?

American Spirit has no published sailings for the rest of 2026. From May 14, 2027 through September it sails the eight-night Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Cruise round trip from Tacoma, Washington, calling at Anacortes, Friday Harbor, Port Angeles, Victoria, Port Townsend, Bremerton and Poulsbo. Six 14-night Northwest National Parks departures from late July to early September 2027 add Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades national parks.

Which staterooms are best on American Spirit?

All second and third deck rooms have private balconies, so a 240-square-foot Deluxe Balcony is the sensible choice; Deluxe Balcony 1 on deck 3 is closest to the sun deck. The 315-square-foot Veranda Suites on deck 3 add a seating area and stocked refrigerator. Deluxe Waterview rooms give the same 240 square feet without a balcony, and solo travelers have a dedicated Single Balcony on deck 3.

What is included in the fare on American Spirit?

American Cruise Lines is all-inclusive: all meals and snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, the nightly cocktail hour, onboard entertainment and enrichment, at least one featured shore excursion in each port, gratuities, port charges and a pre-cruise hotel night with transfer to the ship. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where American Cruise Lines allows it, not available when you book direct.

Should I choose American Spirit or American Constellation for Puget Sound?

Both sail the same eight-night Tacoma round trip. American Spirit is the smaller, older ship with 90 guests, 220 feet, rooms from 230 square feet and limited elevator access, which suits travelers who want the most intimate experience. American Constellation (2017) carries 170 guests, has elevators to every deck, larger rooms from 275 square feet, Sky Suites and a putting green, and it also runs Alaska in summer.

Does the Puget Sound cruise visit Canada?

Yes. Day 6 of the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Cruise is a call at Victoria, British Columbia, from Port Angeles, so guests need a valid passport or other approved travel document for the crossing. The remaining ports, including Anacortes, Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, Port Townsend, Bremerton and Poulsbo, are all in Washington State.

Facts checked against American Cruise Lines: American Spirit, American Cruise Lines: dates and fares for American Spirit, American Cruise Lines: Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Cruise, American Cruise Lines: all-inclusive 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 Spirit sailing, priced all-in

Every American Spirit 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 Spirit 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.