American Cruise Lines · Coastal Cat

American Spirit

American Spirit is a 100-passenger Coastal Cat river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines. Launched in 2005, she measures approximately 67 metres in length and offers 50 staterooms and suites across 4 passenger decks. American Spirit primarily sails the Mississippi, with seasonal repositioning to additional waterways.

Launched2005
Guests100
Cabins50
Decks4
Length67 m

About American Spirit

American Spirit belongs to American Cruise Lines's Coastal Cat series and entered service in 2005. Built to navigate the lock systems and bridge clearances of European waterways, she measures roughly 67 metres in length and accommodates up to 100 guests in 50 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 Spirit 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.

Background reading: our long-form explainer of the American Cruise Lines fleet philosophy covers the design choices that distinguish Coastal Cat ships from the rest of the European fleet.

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.

CategorySquare feetDeckWindow / viewMax 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 Spirit 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.

Sun Deck
Open-air sun deck with putting green, walking track, herb garden and shaded lounge.
Upper Deck
Most premium staterooms and suites, plus the panorama lounge and library.
Middle Deck
Mid-tier staterooms with French balconies and the main restaurant.
Main Deck
Standard staterooms with fixed windows, the reception, the gift shop and the spa.
For cabin-selection strategy across this class, see our deck-by-deck guide to choosing a cabin on a Coastal Cat-style vessel.

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 Spirit sails during her primary season. Exact ports, departure dates and durations vary by year — consult the operator for current schedules.

ItineraryLengthSample portsRegion
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
Planning notes: our pre-departure logistics guide for Mississippi river cruises covers visa requirements, port-of-embarkation transfers and pre-cruise hotel options.

Sister ships in the American Cruise Lines fleet