About American Independence
American Independence belongs to American Cruise Lines's Coastal Cat series and entered service in 2010. Built to navigate the lock systems and bridge clearances of European waterways, she measures roughly 67 metres in length and accommodates up to 104 guests in 52 staterooms across 4 passenger decks.
American Cruise Lines is the largest US-flagged river-cruise operator, with a fleet of more than fifteen modern paddle-wheelers and Coastal Cats sailing the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Columbia and Snake rivers, plus the New England coast and the Inside Passage. American Independence reflects that brand DNA — from the design of her public spaces to the inclusions in her base fare.
The ship's typical home waters are the Mississippi, where she runs 3 distinct itineraries during the operating season. Repositioning sailings, themed wine cruises and Christmas-market voyages may be added in autumn and early winter.
Cabin categories
The following stateroom and suite categories are offered onboard. Square-foot figures are quoted from the operator's published deck plans and exclude balcony floor space.
| Category | Square feet | Deck | Window / view | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Stateroom | 225 sq ft | Main Deck | Picture window | 2 |
| Single Stateroom | 150 sq ft | Lounge Deck | Picture window | 2 |
| Owner's Suite | 460 sq ft | Lounge Deck | Open-air balcony | 2 |
Deck plan
American Independence is laid out across 4 passenger decks plus the open-air sun deck. Public spaces, cabins and crew areas are arranged in the configuration described below.
Onboard amenities
- Sun deck with shaded lounge area
- Panoramic lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows
- Main restaurant serving open-seating regional cuisine
- Casual bistro for breakfast, lunch and late-night snacks
- Reception with 24-hour staff and concierge service
- Lift between most passenger decks
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Hair salon and small fitness room
Featured itineraries
The voyages below are representative of those American Independence sails during her primary season. Exact ports, departure dates and durations vary by year — consult the operator for current schedules.
| Itinerary | Length | Sample ports | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Mississippi Heritage | 8 nights | New Orleans · Oak Alley · Baton Rouge · St. Francisville · Natchez · Vicksburg | Mississippi |
| Upper Mississippi Cruise | 8 nights | St. Louis · Hannibal · Burlington · Davenport · Dubuque · La Crosse | Mississippi |
| Complete Mississippi | 22 nights | New Orleans · Natchez · Vicksburg · Memphis · St. Louis · Hannibal | Mississippi |
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