American Cruise Lines Announces 2015 Independence Day Celebrations

FireworksFor the Independence Day holiday, American Cruise Lines will be offering festive activities for travelers that showcase the U.S. destinations being visited during their trip.

The five cruises include:

Heartland Celebration Cruise 

Guests on the 15-day journey on the Mississippi enjoy a complimentary night on the Queen of the Mississippi on the 4th of July while they experience the Dueling Barges Firework Display that lights up the New Orleans skyline. The cruise will also offer excursions to Elvis Presley's home in Graceland and the Frogmore Plantation in Natchez.

Lower Mississippi 

A complimentary pre-night hotel stay begins this July Fourth Memphis to New Orleans cruise aboard the brand-new American Eagle. Independence Day in Memphis includes a stroll along Beal Street to enjoy jazz performances and the city’s world-famous barbeque. Other highlights include live music and shore excursions to sites like Oak Alley Plantation and the Civil War battlefields in Vicksburg.

Columbia and Snake Rivers 

This Independence Day celebration on the Columbia River begins with a lunch picnic at Fort Vancouver, followed by the largest firework display in the region, which guests can view from the decks of the Queen of the West. A complimentary pre-night stay that allows guests to take in the sights of Portland, Oregon, prior to departure is available. The cruise also includes guided shore excursions to Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge and the 620-foot waterfall at Multnomah Falls.

New England Islands 

The trip begins with a complimentary pre-cruise night in Providence, Rhode Island, and the option to board the American Star early in order to maximize time at the Independence Day folk festival, where more than 150 musicians and artists will participate in a show at the heart of the historic district. Stops throughout the New England Islands will include activities such as a narrated tour of historic Nantucket Island and a visit to the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol.

Maine Coast and Harbors 

Guests sailing aboard the Independence will enjoy a July Fourth barbecue lunch banquet and a fireworks show over the Frenchman Bay. The cruise features guided shore excursions, including a tour through Acadia National Park, free tastings at the Atlantic Brewing Company and a tour of the famous Maine Coast Botanical Gardens.

Visit www.americancruiselines.com