A new luxury cruise experience will soon put Upstate New York on the map for Great Lakes travel.
American Cruise Lines has announced its brand-new Great Lakes and Thousand Islands Cruise for 2026, part of a slate of all-American itineraries launching next year. The journey will take travelers through Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, two of the Great Lakes bordering Upstate New York. Lake Ontario was ranked as the bluest lake in the world, while Lake Erie was once named the best lake in the United States.
The nine-day cruise begins in Syracuse for a day. Guests are encouraged to visit the Erie Canal Museum and take in dinner downtown. Guests will then travel to Oswego to board the American Patriot, a 243-foot, five-deck ship built in Maryland earlier this year. The vessel can accommodate up to 130 passengers and offers an array of suites, lounges and viewing decks.
Cruises are currently scheduled to depart on May 22, May 29, June 5, and August 27, 2026, with additional dates expected for 2027. Prices, which include airfare, range from $8,675 per person to $14,025 for the Grand Suite. According to American Cruise Lines’ website, many 2026 spots have already sold out.
The cruise’s Upstate New York portion features several scenic and historical highlights.
Passengers will disembark in Clayton, one of the best small town cultural scenes in the Thousand Islands region, where excursions include sailing the St. Lawrence River, touring Boldt Castle, taking a glass-bottom boat ride to view a shipwreck near Rock Island Lighthouse, and visiting Coyote Moon Winery.
The itinerary continues to Rochester, with optional visits to the Susan B. Anthony House & Museum, the George Eastman Museum, the mansion of Kodak’s founder surrounded by landscaped gardens, and High Falls, a dramatic 96-foot waterfall in the city’s downtown.
From there, the ship will sail through Canada’s Welland Canal, stop in Niagara Falls, and continue on to Buffalo. Excursions include sweeping views from the Niagara Falls Observation Tower, a Maid of the Mist boat ride into the heart of Horseshoe Falls, and a walk along the Cave of the Winds, where wooden walkways bring visitors just feet from Bridal Veil Falls.
In Buffalo, passengers can explore the city’s acclaimed architecture, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House, or stroll along the redeveloped Outer Harbor waterfront.
According to Buffalo News, it remains unclear where the ship will dock in Buffalo. Construction on a planned cruise terminal at Slip 2 on the Outer Harbor has not yet begun and is not expected to be completed until 2027.
Victory Cruise Lines has also announced plans to include Buffalo on its Great Lakes itineraries starting that same year.
The Great Lakes and Thousand Islands Cruise will conclude in Cleveland, with visits to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Museum of Art. A reverse itinerary is available for folks wanting to start in Ohio and ending in Oswego.
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