American Cruise Line is getting ready for several “firsts” set to happen on U.S. inland waterways in May.

In a press release, American said May would be a monumental month for the company and for river cruising around the country.

“What, where, when, and how you can cruise throughout The United States today is a tremendous accomplishment that has been decades in the making,” said Alexa Paolella, spokeswoman for American Cruise Lines.

“Our U.S.-flagged fleet and array of small ship itineraries honor American ingenuity, grit, and perseverance. This year, we are cruising more domestic waterways than at any other time in our company’s history, and we are looking forward to celebrating the country’s 250th birthday on board with our guests cruising from Alaska to the Florida Keys.”

In May, the American Encore launches on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, becoming the first ship ever to be christened in the state of Idaho. 

The christening ceremony and festivities will take place at American’s new dock in Lewiston on May 12. 

May will also mark the first 2026 departures for what the company says are two of the longest domestic cruises ever. 

The first is the 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise, starting on May 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and concluding on June 9 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

The second is the 52-day Great United States Cruise. It begins on May 29 in Portland, Oregon, and concludes on July 19 in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Each was specifically designed to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday while exploring up to 18 states in a single journey. 

Finally, the company’s Inaugural Great Lakes season opens on May 22 with the American Patriot departing from Oswego, New York, and concluding in Buffalo, New York along with the nine-day Great Lakes & Thousand Islands Cruise, which includes a hotel stay in Syracuse, NY.