American Cruise Lines Launches 15-Day Northwest Parks Cruise-Tour
The itinerary signals how small-ship lines are chasing premium, fly-to domestic adventures by bundling national parks with coastal cruising in the Pacific Northwest.
American Cruise Lines has announced a new 15-day Northwest National Parks itinerary that will debut in September 2026, pairing a week of guided land touring in Washington state with an eight-day small-ship cruise through Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
The cruise line said the first sailing is scheduled to begin in Tacoma on Sept. 20, 2026, with fares currently starting at $12,875 per person based on double occupancy. In a news release, the company said guests will “seamlessly experience the best of the Pacific Northwest by land and by sea.”
What the 15-day Northwest National Parks cruise-tour covers
The itinerary is structured as a seven-day land program through three Washington national parks, followed by an eight-day, round-trip cruise that returns to Tacoma. American Cruise Lines said the land portion will be led by Adventure Guides, who provide context on the parks’ ecosystems and geology.
The land route combines major park stops with time in communities along the way, including Port Angeles and La Conner, before guests return to Tacoma to board their ship for the cruise segment.
Seven days on land across three Washington national parks
The land tour is built around Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park, with the itinerary calling at signature viewpoints and landscapes in each.
At Mount Rainier, scheduled stops include Paradise, Inspiration Point, and Reflection Lake. In Olympic National Park, guests are slated to visit the Hoh Rain Forest. The trip then moves to North Cascades National Park, a region noted for having more than 300 glaciers, with the itinerary also calling at Diablo Lake.
Eight days cruising Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands
After the land portion, guests return to Tacoma to begin an eight-day cruise through Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. American Cruise Lines described the sailing as a round-trip itinerary, with ports of call that include Friday Harbor, Port Townsend, and Poulsbo, along with other scenic towns in the Puget Sound area.
Shore activities listed for the cruise portion include whale watching, kayaking, and hiking, with optional experiences such as seaplane rides also noted.
Ships, onboard capacity, and the onboard experience
American Cruise Lines said the cruise segment will operate aboard American Constitution or American Constellation. The company describes both as private-balcony ships accommodating 170 guests, positioning the sailing as a smaller-ship alternative in the region.
Onboard, the line also highlighted premium dining with locally sourced ingredients and onboard drinks, including cocktails.
Pricing and what the fare includes
For September 2026 departures, American Cruise Lines listed starting prices at $12,875 per person (double occupancy). The line said pricing includes elements across both the land and cruise portions of the trip.
- Hotel stays during the land tour: Overnight accommodations during the seven-day touring portion are included as part of the cruise-tour package.
- Transportation within the national parks: The fare includes transportation needed to move through the parks and between scheduled stops during the land program.
- Guided touring with Adventure Guides: American Cruise Lines said the land portion will be led by Adventure Guides throughout the national parks and surrounding communities.
- Onboard meals: Dining is included during the cruise segment, which the company also described as featuring locally sourced ingredients.
- Onboard drinks, including cocktails: The line said onboard drinks are included, including cocktails.
The company has not detailed all departure dates in the available information, but has said the itinerary will operate in September 2026, beginning with the Sept. 20 sailing from Tacoma.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the Northwest National Parks itinerary debut?
American Cruise Lines said the 15-day Northwest National Parks itinerary will debut in September 2026. The first sailing is scheduled to begin in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 20, 2026.
How many days are spent touring by land versus cruising?
The itinerary is 15 days total, structured as seven days of guided land touring followed by an eight-day, round-trip cruise from Tacoma.
Which national parks are included on the land portion?
The land portion focuses on three Washington national parks: Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park. Highlights mentioned include Inspiration Point and Reflection Lake (Mount Rainier), the Hoh Rain Forest (Olympic), and Diablo Lake (North Cascades), a region the company noted has more than 300 glaciers.
Which ships will be used for the cruise portion, and how many guests do they carry?
The cruise segment will operate on American Constitution or American Constellation. American Cruise Lines said each ship accommodates 170 guests and offers private-balcony staterooms.
What is included in the starting fare?
American Cruise Lines said the starting fare of $12,875 per person (double occupancy) includes hotel stays during the land tour, transportation within the national parks, guided touring led by Adventure Guides, onboard meals, and onboard drinks, including cocktails.
