Onboard Review: Exploring Coastal Maine on American Eagle

SHIPExploring Coastal Maine on American EagleBy Regina BarabanWhen in Maine! A yummy lobster bake in all its messy glory was a highlight of my recent trip on American Cruise Lines’ (ACL) lovely Coastal Cat small ship, exploring the iconic seaside towns of Downeast Maine. The experience, ACL’s signature free excursion, began at Rockland Harbor’s eclectic Sail Power & Steam Museum, where we were welcomed by retired sea captain Jim Sharp singing a sea shanty. After exploring the collection with Captain Jim and enjoying his salty stories, we headed over to the lobster bake tent to chow down on the sweet, softer-shelled crustaceans of late summer, grilled corn and steamed mussels. So good. And this wasn’t our only opportunity to eat lobster and other ocean-to-table fare on the week-long Bangor to Bangor cruise. Seafood options every night for dinner ranged from cashew-crusted wild-caught Atlantic halibut to a lobster boil, with daily lunch options that ranged from New England blue crab salad to lobster rolls.SKY LOUNGEOnboard ComfortFrom the moment I stepped on board the 100-passenger American Eagle, the vibe felt comfortable and relaxed. It’s one of four identical ACL ships introduced last year that sail coastal itineraries close to land. Like all of ACL’s growing fleet of 21 small ships and river boats, the Coastal Cats visit only U.S. ports of call—including along the New England coast, the Hudson River and the Intracoastal waterway of the Southeast—with an engaging and friendly all-American crew who interact with Southern-style politeness. While some of our youthful crew on the Downeast Maine cruise in August were new on the job, they were unfailingly cheerful and patient.The Coastal Cat’s hybrid design has a catamaran bow whose shallow draft allows sailing along shallow waters close to land and docking at small ports of call. It feels like a cross between a river ship and an expedition ship, although it’s geared to leisurely exploration as opposed to physically active excursions. The clientele on my cruise, many of whom were repeat ACL customers, were primarily retired vacationers from all over the country.I was impressed with the spacious and immaculate balcony stateroom, with plenty of drawer and closet space for two over-packers. The generously sized Coastal Cat rooms start at 300 sq. ft.: 85 percent have balconies and the rest have floor-to-ceiling picture windows that open. This is the standard for all ships and riverboats in ACL’s fleet; there are no inside cabins. ACL’s all-inclusive pricing covers gratuities and Starlink WiFi. The only up-charge is for excursions, but they are reasonably priced.ROOMAlthough the 4-deck ship accommodates only 100 passengers, it has ample public space to relax and enjoy the scenery, with plenty of upholstered seating inside and out. My favorite was the Sky Lounge and Lookout Cafe on deck 3 aft, where I would grab an early morning coffee before heading outside and up to a sun deck chaise lounge. Breakfast items are also available here, but clients might prefer the served breakfast in the restaurant, featuring made-to-order eggs, omelets and daily specials such as Country Pit ham & poached cage-free eggs Benedict. With a neutral color scheme and comfortable upholstered chairs, the restaurant serves up all three meals during designated time slots; no reservations required. There are always three menu choices for dinner and lunch and the kitchen accommodates special requests. The beautifully plated food is often locally sourced. However, heads up for vegetarian clients that there are no veggie selections on the menus, and requests for vegetarian meals yielded limited results on my cruise. Active clients will appreciate the small gym—handy for working off the calories of decadent homemade cookies served daily. There is no spa, pool or hot tub on the ship, but I loved having a guest laundry. Cultural enrichment lectures from an onboard historian gave us interesting intel on Maine history and our ports of call, and nightly entertainment featured local talent on piano or guitar.LOBSTERLocal ImmersionThe ACL Coastal Cat experience is all about living local—on board with food, lectures and scenic views and on land with excursions that explore the towns, cities and local attractions along the way. My walking tours took a deep dive into Maine’s storied age of sail, architectural history, eccentric personalities and local lore. Who knew that Frederick Law Olmstead designed a small park and ingenious hidden road in Camden, Maine—and that Camden is now a popular retirement town for retired spies? In Bar Harbor, it was fascinating to tour the historic LaRochelle Mansion (locals called these summer residences “cottages”), learn about life in the Gilded Age, then hop on a nature-tour boat to view the stunning scenery of Acadia National Park and Maine’s iconic coastline. The city of Bath was a nice surprise, juxtaposing a historic downtown with flourishing modern shipbuilding. As a garden-lover, I was thrilled to visit the 300-acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. There I strolled amongst native woodlands, cultivated gardens and five giant wooden forest trolls known as the “guardians of the seeds.”PEOPLE ON DECKTravel Advisors, Take NoteACL has a dedicated Travel Advisor Portal that is full of helpful resources, guides and tools for its valued travel advisor community. Repeat customers have advantages as well. After their first cruise, clients are eligible for a complimentary membership in ACL’s Eagle Society, with benefits that include an open invitation to visit ships and bring friends for a visit during their cruise. Complimentary shore excursions kick in after three cruises. The ultimate benefit comes after 10 cruises: On my ship, an Eagle Society couple sailing their 10th ACL trip was eagerly anticipating their complimentary 11th cruise. Contact InformationAmerican Cruise Lines: americancruiselines.com/travel-advisor-program

COVERPALLADIUM SPREADTable of ContentsSANDALSSANDALS SPREADEditor's NotesEDU HOUSE ADLuxury Travel Insights and TrendsMGM RESORTSMGM RESORTS SCSEABOURN SCSEABOURNCustom Content: Living the Luxe Life, Vancouver-StyleALASKA RAILROAD SCCruise: These are the Cruise Itineraries to Book for Luxe ClientsSilversea: Immersive ExperiencesAMA WATERWAYS SCAMA WATERWAYSATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES SCATLAS OCEAN VOYAGESEXPLORA JOURNEYS SCEXPLORA JOURNEYSOCEANIA SCOCEANIA CRUISESPRINCESS CRUISES SCPRINCESS CRUISESST. LAWRENCE CRUISE LINES SCST. LAWRENCE CRUISESSCENIC CRUISES SCSCENIC CRUISESOnboard Review: Exploring Coastal Maine on American EagleOnboard Review: Explora II—Luxury Line Expands and ExcelsOnboard Review: Regent Seven Seas Explorer—All-Inclusive Elegance at SeaOnboard Review: The Viking Mississippi—Adventures on Tom Sawyer’s RiverMexico/Caribbean: Exclusive Escapes—Fresh High-End Experiences in Mexico and the CaribbeanOnsite Review: Spotlight on the Brand-new AVA Resort CancunTURKISH AIRLINES