Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
American Glory
★★ +
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 267 out of 500
Accommodation: 112 out of 200
Food: 235 out of 400
Service: 181 out of 400
Entertainment: 40 out of 100
Cruise: 143 out of 400
Overall Score: 978 out of 2000
American Glory Statistics
Size: Boutique Ship
Tonnage: 1,287
Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: American Cruise Lines
Former Names: none
IMO Number: 8972338
Builder: Chesapeake Shipbuilding (USA)
Original Cost: n/a
Entered Service: Jul 2002
Registry: USA
Length (ft/m): 174.0/53.0
Beam (ft/m): 40.5/12.3
Draft (ft/m): 6.5/1.9
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel/2
Passenger Decks: 4
Total Crew: 22
Passengers (lower beds): 49
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 26.2
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 2.2
Cabins (total): 27
Size Range (sq ft/m): 176.0-382.0/16.3-35.4
Cabins (for one person): 5
Cabins (with private balcony): 14
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 3
Wheelchair accessibility: Fair
Cabin Current: 110 volts
Elevators: 1
Casino (gaming tables): No
Slot Machines: No
Swimming Pools: 0
Hot Tubs (on deck): 0
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: No
Onboard currency: US$
A US coastal ship with limited facilities, for retirees
Overview. American Glory is best suited to mature couples and single travelers sharing a cabin who want to cruise in an all-American environment where the itineraries and destinations are more important than food, service, or entertainment.
The Ship. American Cruise Lines is the resurrection of a company with the same name that existed between 1974 and 1989. It features intra-coastal waterway cruising, as well as sailings in New England and the Hudson River Valley. American Glory was built specifically for coastal cruising and cannot venture far from the coastline. The ship’s uppermost deck is open (good for views), and there are tables and chairs, a few sunloungers, and a small putting green.
There are two public lounges. The observation lounge is located forward, with windows on three sides, and an open bar is set up each afternoon. A second, smaller lounge is sandwiched between cabins on the same deck.
The point is to get close to the inland areas, cities, and towns of America’s intra-coastal waterways and coastline. There’s no waiting in line - you can board whenever you want. The ship docks in town centers, or within walking distance of most towns on the itineraries. The dress code is ‘no ties casual.’ But it really is extremely expensive for what you get, compared even to similar ships, although this is a new ship and the cabins are of a better size and are better equipped. There is an elevator, which goes to all decks.
Accommodation. There are cabins for couples and singles, seven suites, and five wheelchair-accessible cabins. All cabins have twin beds that convert to a king-size bed, color TV, a small desk with chair, and clothes hanging space. The seven most expensive cabins also have a VCR and CD player. Accommodation designated as suites also have a private balcony; although narrow, it does have two chairs and a small drinks table.
Dining. The dining salon, located in the latter third of the vessel, has large, panoramic picture windows on three of its sides. There’s open seating (no assigned tables). There are no tables for two, and the chairs do not have armrests.
A program of sourcing food from local markets, equates to a better quality food product. There is no wine list, although basic white and red table wines are included. On the last morning of each cruise, only Continental breakfast is available.
Entertainment. There is no formal entertainment, although dinner and after-dinner conversation with fellow passengers in the ship’s lounge/bar really becomes the entertainment each evening. Otherwise, take a good book.
Spa/Fitness. There are no health spa facilities or medical facilities - but then the vessel is always close to land.