(12:55 p.m. EDT) — American Cruise Line debuted its longest U.S. river cruise itinerary last 7 days: a 22-day journey together the famed Mississippi River.

Travellers embarked American Melody in Natchez, Mississippi on Friday, which served as a substitute beginning level for New Orleans simply because of the impact from Hurricane Ida, for American Cruise Line’s 22-day “Comprehensive Mississippi River Cruise”.

People sailing aboard the 175-passenger ship are remaining taken care of to to a variety of inaugural situations and distinctive surprises, together with Mississippi-impressed meals and drinks onboard. It’s a substantial itinerary on a scale not commonly observed on U.S. rivers, which tend to be overshadowed by the likes of Europe’s Danube, Rhine and Main — the blockbuster players on the river cruising circuit.

But in launching this extended Mississippi River cruise itinerary, American Cruise Line is betting that extra People in america will want to journey nearer to household, with COVID-19 nevertheless complicating travel for Us citizens searching to go to Europe and looming uncertainty all over entry necessities and, of training course, the emergence and distribute of the delta variant.

“Longer itineraries have develop into significantly well-known, so we plan to supply additional of them in different U.S. locations,” American Cruise Line President and CEO Charles B. Robertson told Cruise Critic in an email. “This extended itinerary offers our friends a rare, exclusive opportunity to check out the Mississippi and in excess of 10 states in a single journey.”

“We are also growing the possibilities for our company to join seamlessly in between our present cruises in diverse U.S. areas — from Alaska to Florida or from the Mississippi to the Columbia and Snake” rivers, he included.

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The dining room aboard American Melody (Photo: American Cruise Lines)

American Melody is the next newbuild to debut this yr from American Cruise Line, subsequent the start of American Jazz in April. The line is also including potential next yr with the start of two modern day, equally styled riverboats: American Symphony and American Serenade.

“American’s layout target has expanded the choices for river and smaller ship cruising close to dwelling immensely,” Robertson claimed of American Melody and its fleetmates, which were being amongst the 1st non-paddlewheel-styled newbuild riverboats to debut on American waterways.

“American Melody raises that regular once again and compares very well to any riverboat in the earth.”

The River Lounge aboard American Melody. (Photo: American Cruise Lines)

American Cruise Line operates 13 specific cruise ships carrying involving 100 and 190 passengers, functioning 35 itineraries to above 30 U.S. states.

With vacationers demonstrating a choice to keep close to home and engage cruises from domestic homeports, the U.S. river cruise industry has its chance to increase exponentially.

Other traces, including American Queen Steamboat Business, Pearl Seas Cruises, UnCruise Adventures, and Victory Cruises, also concentrate on America’s waterways and coastal locations. Future 12 months, an additional mammoth player — Viking — will enter the Mississippi River market for the to start with time as it inaugurates its first-ever U.S.-centered river cruises.

With vacation constraints increasing for Us residents, Europe’s reduction could very well be America’s acquire in this formerly area of interest region of cruising that is quickly starting to be more mainstream, many thanks in significant portion to unique itineraries like this 22-day voyage that set off previous 7 days aboard American Melody.