american jazz cruise ship san francisco

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American Jazz

Cruise line American Cruise Lines

• Sacramento, California (United States)
• Clarkston WA (Washington)
• Portland OR (Oregon)
• San Francisco (California)

American Jazz current position

American Jazz current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 45.66861 N / -122.77050 W) cruising at speed of 12.4 kn (23 km/h | 14 mph) en route to KALAMA, WA. The AIS position was reported 24 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of American Jazz

American Jazz current cruise is 7 days, one-way from Hayden Island to Clarkston WA . Prices start from USD 5765 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 08 May, 2024 and ends on 15 May, 2024 .

Specifications of American Jazz

•   Itineraries
•   Review
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American Jazz Itineraries

American jazz review, review of american jazz.

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS American Jazz cruise ship is the third newbuild in the American Cruise Lines ' "Modern Riverboat" fleet.

From this class/with the same design are the sisterships American Song (2018), American Harmony (2019), American Melody (2021), American Symphony (2022), American Serenade (2023).

American Jazz is identified by an IMO number 1295690 (initially 9901685) and is USA-flagged (MMSI 368135920).

History - construction and ownership

The shipowner American Cruise Lines (ACL) is the USA's largest river cruise company (headquarters in Guilford Connecticut) operational since 1991. The company specializes in cruise shipping on the USA's largest navigable inland waterways (rivers and lakes) as well as in cruises along the US East Coast, US West Coast and Florida. All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's largest passenger cabins with private balconies, spacious lounges and outdoor deck spaces, gourmet cuisine, top-quality enrichment program with many complimentary land tours and excursions, highly-personalized service by all-American staff and crew.

All ACL cruise ships are US-flagged (Jazz has MMSI number 368135920) and built by the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury (Maryland USA).

Unlike anything seen before along American waterways, the innovative vessel brings a new dimension to river cruising in the USA. American Jazz integrates contemporary design with no sacrificing the comfort that American Cruise Lines is popular for. Quieter, wider, and faster than any other river ship, it is the most environmentally friendly in the industry.

Traditionally for large-sized US riverboats, American Jazz has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any place along the ship's cruise itinerary route. The ramp has an innovative design being constructed as a retractable gangway (passenger bridge). The technology is often implemented on some of the largest ferries and features an opening bow door.

While other small cruise lines repurpose old casino ships, American Cruise Lines decided to build brand new boats to maintain the company's reputation for premium quality and services. Each of the newbuilds features most innovative design, spacious indoor and outdoor areas. Each vessel is a traditional US built (at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury Maryland), as well as American-flagged and crewed.

Decks and Cabins

ACCL's American Jazz ship has 6 passenger decks (accessible via two elevators) and a total of 99 staterooms . The number of cabin categories is 8. All accommodations are Balcony cabins, with floor-ceiling sliding doors opening onto a private step-out veranda. The boat has no connecting rooms.

Smallest staterooms (including the single-occupancy studio cabins) as sizes start at 250 ft2 (23 m2). Other staterooms are sized between 305-330 ft2 (28-31 m2). Veranda Suites are 405 ft2 (38 m2), Owners Suites are 445 ft2 (41 m2). Riverboat's largest staterooms are two Grand Suites with aft location on Deck 3. Each Suite is sized 900 ft2 (84 m2) and features 2 walls of floor-ceiling windows, a wrap-around balcony (accessed via sliding doors), separate bedroom/seating areas, marble bathroom (with double-sink vanity).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

MS American Jazz features innovative interior design concepts - from the 4-story glass-walled Vestibule (Atrium) to spacious indoor and outdoor lounges, large open-deck spaces, floor-ceiling windows throughout the vessel. The 4-decks high Vestibule has floor-ceiling windows (portside and starboard) and SkyLight (transparent glass-roof cover) that allows natural light into the ship's interior.

Two Sun Decks (Lower on Deck 5-aft, and Upper on Deck 6) are fitted with sunbathing and shaded seating areas, putting green, deck-game area (shuffleboard). The ship has 5 lounges (2 with large outdoor terraces), Grand Dining Room (complimentary, glass-enclosed restaurant), Chart Room (Library Lounge), fore-located Main Lounge (deck 4), aft-located Sky Lounge (deck 4), indoor Gym/Exercise Room. The Upper Sun Deck (top-deck) is furnished with comfortable deckchairs and has 3 shaded seating areas plus one SkyLight (glass-roof cover).

The aft-located (on Deck 4) Sky Lounge features premium furniture, floor-ceiling windows, glass-roof cover (SkyLight), direct access to an open-air Terrace (for relaxation and alfresco dining/Back Porch Cafe). Throughout the day, there are served beverages, snacks, freshly-baked cookies, and pastries. Sky Lounge's glass doors open to the Back Porch Cafe (alfresco dining venue) - a spacious Terrace furnished with wicker furniture (armchairs and 4-seat tables). The lounge bar serves water, soda, and light snacks throughout the day. A Complimentary Afternoon Tea service is offered between 3:30-4:30 pm. In the evening, there is a complimentary cocktail hour.

The fore-located (on Deck 4) Magnolia Lounge (aka River Lounge) is the boat's main lounge with floor-ceiling windows and glass-roof cover. It also serves as the ship's show lounge with a central stage, grand piano and ample comfortable seating area full of comfy armchairs and plush sofas. Here are served warm cookies starting at 10 am. The complimentary Afternoon Tea service (with fresh pastries) is at 3:30 pm. The free-drinks cocktail hour is at 5:30 pm. Root beer and ice cream are passed around during the evening show. The evening entertainment includes one show (beginning at 8:15 pm) lasting about 1 hour. The show program could be a live concert, solo performances, music tribute, themed music, movie trivia. The large space for the evening shows is in the room's center. Furniture is daily rearranged (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day) to suit the themed entertainment. This is also the place for the American Cruise Lines' enrichment program, consisting of differently-themed lectures (history, food and wine, literature, etc). Also hosted here are media presentations and the current ACL cruise itinerary and tours-related multimedia presentations and port talks.

The list of the American Jazz ship's main public venues includes:

• (Deck 1) Boarding Ramp/bow, Vestibule/lobby level, Ship's Office, Powder Room, Dining Room Restaurant, Galley/Kitchen & Storage Rooms, Staff & Crew cabins/forward
• (Deck 2) Bow Terrace/observation area with seating, Laundry Room, Lounge/midship-starboard, wellness facilities/aft (Yoga Studio, Fitness Room/indoor Gym)
• (Deck 3) Pilothouse/Wheelhouse, Chart Room Lounge/midship-starboard
• (Deck 4) Magnolia Lounge/forward, with a wraparound terrace, Library Lounge/midship-starboard, Sky Lounge (indoor, aft), Back Porch Cafe (aft, outdoor terrace serving as an alfresco dining venue)
• (Deck 5) Lounge/midship-starboard, Lower Sun Deck/aft
• (Deck 6) Sun Deck with outdoor seating (premium patio furniture) and Mini-Golf Putting Green

Two Lifts (passenger elevators in the Atrium) connect all cabin decks.

Itineraries

American Jazz itinerary program (what is known so far) will be similar to that of the sistership American Harmony. The Mississippi River cruise itineraries leave roundtrip and one-way from homeports New Orleans Louisiana and Memphis Tennessee .

• 7-day "Lower Mississippi River" (Memphis to New Orleans) itinerary's call ports are Memphis (day 1 / embarkation), river cruising (day 2), Vicksburg MS (day 3), Natchez MS (day 4), St Francisville LA (day 5), Baton Rouge LA (day 6), Oak Alley Plantation LA (day 7), New Orleans LA (day 8, disembarkation).
• 7-day "Mississippi River" (roundtrip New Orleans) itinerary's ports are New Orleans LA (day 1 / embarkation), Oak Alley Plantation LA (day 2), Natchez MS (day 3), Vicksburg MS (day 4), St Francisville LA (day 5), Baton Rouge LA (day 6), Houmas House Plantation LA (day 7), New Orleans LA (day 8, disembarkation).

The Jazz ship could be seasonally deployed on the US West Coast to operate Snake and Columbia river cruises.

American Jazz ship's 2023 schedule (February-March and November-December) included ACL's first-ever California voyage (departure February 24th). The 7-night/8-day "San Francisco Bay Cruise" itinerary (roundtrip from San Francisco ) visits four other Californian ports ( Stockton ,  Sacramento ,  Napa , Vallejo ) and ends with an overnight in San Francisco. A pre-cruise hotel package (inclusive of San Francisco Four Season Hotel overnight stay) is optional. The itinerary features scenic cruising in San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay (an evening stop in Vallejo), as well as cruising on the Napa River and San Joaquin River.

ACL cruise deals are inclusive of a pre-cruise hotel package, all shore excursions (organized daily), cocktail hour (each evening), cruise accommodation, gourmet meals, Afternoon Tea service, room service (Breakfast only), onboard enrichment and entertainment programs, Wi-Fi (shipwide coverage).

American Jazz - user reviews and comments

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Other American Cruise Lines cruise ships

• ACL American Eagle
• ACL American Glory
• ACL American Legend
• ACL American Liberty
• American Constellation
• American Constitution
• American Countess
• American Duchess
• American Empress
• American Harmony
• American Heritage
• American Independence
• American Melody
• American Pride
• American Queen
• American Serenade
• American Song
• American Spirit
• American Splendor
• American Star
• American Symphony
• American West

American Jazz Wiki

The improved ship design allows "bow landings" via a retractable and rotating gangway (passenger bridge) that extends from Main Deck (deck 1) to the dock or directly onto the river bank. This feature is available on all traditional-design US paddlewheel riverboats and provides expanded options for river cruise itineraries unmatched by most newbuild river cruise ships .

The ship has a modern propulsion system consisting of 2x azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives") manufactured by Veth (Holland). These 360-degree rotating propellers (1x forward, 1x aft) provide the boat with greater maneuverability and berthing flexibility.

The ship is powered by 2x Caterpillar marine engines running on low-sulfur diesel. These modern engines require less fuel and produce fewer emissions (COx, NOx, SOx) and soot particles in comparison to other boats on the US river cruising market.

On October 11, 2018, vessel's lower bow (hull section) was moved out of drydock (wheeled out from Fabrication Building No 4) to shipyard's Assembly Launchways. The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on October 13, 2019 (5 weeks ahead of schedule). After the float-out, the boat was berthed in shipyard’s East Outfitting Basin to receive its upper deck blocks and final outfitting.

Sea trials were successfully completed and on September 1, 2020, the ship was officially delivered to ACL-American Cruise Lines from Chesapeake Shipbuilding. The delivery ceremony was attended by Charles B. Robertson (ACL's CEO and President).

On May 3, 2023, ACL officially announced a dual naming ceremonies - of American Jazz (on Snake River) and American Serenade (on Mississippi River). American Jazz was christened by godmother Stacia L. Morfin (Nez Perce Tourism's CEO) in Clarkston WA , while the 2023-built American Serenade was named by Julia Letlow (Representative for Louisiana State’s 5th Congressional District) in Vidalia Louisiana. Both events were attended by the passengers and crew, as well as ACL executives and VIP guests (state and local officials).

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American Cruise Lines Moves Riverboat to California

American Cruise Lines announced that their new American Jazz , one of the company’s 10 new riverboats, is repositioning from the Mississippi River to the West Coast. The ship will begin new California river cruises in February 2023. 

If you follow U.S. maritime history, this will be the first of this type of river cruise since the 1940s. Overnight river cruising between San Francisco and Sacramento became popular during the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Passenger and cargo steamboats sailed the San Joaquin, Napa, and Petaluma River deltas throughout the Bay for decades. Eventually, a highway was built that linked San Francisco and Sacramento and river cruising came to an end. American Jazz is bringing it back! 

American Jazz Moves from Mississippi to California 

Already underway along the journey from the Mississippi River to San Francisco Bay, American Jazz should transit the Panama Canal in the next few days.

American Jazz’s repositioning voyage is following a similar route to the historic U.S. mail ships of the Gold Rush era that carried passengers, mail, and gold between the East and West coasts.

The expert nautical team aboard is supported each day of the voyage by the company’s shoreside operations team. Throughout the journey, American’s crew and the shoreside team closely monitor vessel systems, weather forecasts, and voyage progress.

READ MORE:  American Jazz Shore Tours on California River Cruises

American Jazz in San Francisco Bay

American Jazz’s arrival to San Francisco Bay begins a historic development in U.S. River cruising. It is the first U.S.-built riverboat to offer overnight cruises throughout the Bay and California Delta in over 80 years.

American Jazz will embark on the first 8-day San Francisco Bay cruise on February 24, 2023. The new river cruises will sail San Francisco Bay and Wine Country while cruising the Napa River, Sacramento River, and San Joaquin River.

“Exploring San Francisco Bay and the California Delta by U.S. riverboat is a momentous occasion for domestic river cruising and another first for American Cruise Lines. We are proud to provide this new opportunity for our guests to experience the joys of cruising close to home, as they discover yet another beautiful area of the country by riverboat,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small ship cruises by introducing brand new U.S. flagged riverboats and small cruise ships each year.”

California Cruising

American Cruise Lines’ American Jazz offers an 8-Day San Francisco Bay itinerary that’s roundtrip from San Francisco. Departures are in February and March, and return in November and December 2023.

Passengers aboard American Jazz will explore San Francisco and Wine Country, visit vineyards and enjoy regional experiences from special wine tastings to becoming a winemaker for a day.

Cruises highlight the region’s historical, cultural, and geographical influences that gave rise to the city of San Francisco. Guests will learn and explore the lush vineyards and flourishing agricultural communities present throughout the Bay area and its surrounding valleys today.

RELATED:  Best Things to Do in San Francisco

American Jazz California River Cruise Itineraries

American’s new 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruise itineraries include:

• San Francisco
• Sail San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the San Joaquin River.

Departures in 2023 for the California river cruises aboard American Jazz are: 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, 12/22, and 12/29.

American Cruise Lines is offering a special Wave Season deal that includes Complimentary Domestic Airfare for select San Francisco Bay cruise dates on March 10, 17 and 24.

American’s California river cruises further represent the rapid growth of the domestic river cruise market and the extensive possibilities for exceptional 100% U.S. small ship itineraries.

In just the past few years, the company’s portfolio of domestic itineraries and their fleet of U.S. built small ships has experienced record growth; more than doubling in size since 2016, with many more new builds announced through 2027. Notably, all of American’s new ships remain small—with every boat in the fleet accommodating 180 guests or fewer, offering private balconies and over 350 square feet of space per passenger.

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Starting next year, you will be able to cruise through the Delta in luxurious style.

American Cruise Lines has announced its first-ever California cruise through the Delta, which will be launching in February.

The cruise, on a ship called American Jazz, will be eight days long. It will begin and end in San Francisco, but the route includes planned stops in Napa, Vallejo, Sacramento and Stockton.

According to American Cruise Lines, the Northern California cruise will offer a guided tour of Old Sacramento and a visit to the California State Railroad Museum. Scott Ford, director of Economic Development with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said he expects the round-trip excursion to bring more tourists to the city.

"There hasn't been overnight cruise service on this scale since the Delta King,” Ford said. "Sacramento really has a lot to offer and having the opportunity to showcasing this area to visitors who truthfully probably aren't making their way up here right now."

In Stockton, the cruise will offer “a NASCAR-style driving experience at the Stockton 99 Speedway,” according to the American Cruise Lines website.

Amy Alpers, the director of Marketing and Communications for Visit Stockton, said they are working with American Cruise Lines to highlight other areas near the San Joaquin River, as well.

"Something we are hoping to include is like the Haggin Museum,” Alpers said. “We have a couple wineries in Stockton that we'd love to show off, maybe some of our diverse farmers markets,” Alpers said.

But the cruise will cost you a pretty penny . According to the American Cruise Lines website, prices start at just over $6,000 per person, and go up to more than $11,000. Due to the high price point, will NorCal residents get on board?

"Definitely,” Sacramento resident Felisa Santos said. “I'm normally up and down those areas anyway, so that would be a cool way to get there."

Others, such as San Francisco resident Dominic Chetcuti, are still on the fence.

“That's something that definitely I would be interested in,” Chetcuti said. “But for $6,000, it's a little steep, but maybe one day, we'll see."

And for some, such as Sacramento resident Kris Hall, it is a definite no.

“I'd have to save for like two years to be able to go on that thing,” Hall said.

But as a barback at Finnegan’s Pub in Old Sacramento, Hall said he is excited for the big business the cruise ship could bring.

"I'm super hyped to get even busier,” Hall said. “It’s going to be like a Saturday here when that's up here."

For economic development officials, that is the goal: to see a steady stream of tourists.

The first Northern California cruise from American Cruise Lines is expected to depart San Francisco on February 17. The company already has cruises in Alaska, Washington, along the New England coast, and along the Mississippi River.

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Crown Cruise Vacations | May 8, 2024

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American Jazz riverboat offers new California river cruises

American Jazz’s arrival to San Francisco Bay heralds a historic development in U.S. river cruising as it is the first U.S. built riverboat to offer overnight cruises through the Bay and California Delta in over 80 years.

American Jazz will embark along the Line’s first 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruise on Feb. 24, 2023. The new river cruises will sail San Francisco Bay and Wine Country – cruising the Napa River, Sacramento River and San Joaquin River.

The 8-Day San Francisco Bay itinerary, roundtrip from San Francisco, will be offered in February and March, and again in November and December 2023. America Cruise Lines guests will explore San Francisco and Wine Country while visiting vineyards and enjoying experiences from special tastings to becoming a winemaker for the day.

Cruises highlight the region’s historical, cultural and geographic influences that gave rise to the stunning seaside city of San Francisco, as well as the lush vineyards and flourishing agricultural communities present throughout the Bay area and its surrounding valleys today.

American Cruise Lines’ new 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruises dock in San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento and Vallejo and sail San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River.

In 2023, American Cruise Lines will operate 17 ships, each accommodating just 100-180 passengers, which cruise more than 50 domestic itineraries in 35 states.

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Lines

Ed. Note:  Please contact us for more information and to book a cruise  Crown Cruise Vacations | Cruise Getaways You Can Afford!

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American Jazz Ready for Historic California River Cruises

• January 26, 2023

American Cruise Lines has announced that the American Jazz is repositioning from the Mississippi River to the West Coast in preparation for the new California river cruises starting in February 2023, according to a press release.

These cruises will be the first of their kind since the 1940s, which makes the arrival of the American Jazz to San Francisco Bay heralds a historic development in U.S. River cruising

“Exploring San Francisco Bay and the California Delta by U.S. riverboat is a momentous occasion for domestic river cruising and another first for American Cruise Lines. We are proud to provide this new opportunity for our guests to experience the joys of cruising close to home, as they discover yet another beautiful area of the country by riverboat,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines.

“American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small ship cruises by introducing brand new U.S. flagged riverboats and small cruise ships each year.”

The American Jazz is expected to transit the Panama Canal in the coming days and the ship will follow a similar route to the historic U.S. mail ships of the Gold Rush era.

The American Jazz will embark on the first eight-day San Francisco Bay cruise on February 24, 2023. The new river cruises will sail San Francisco Bay and Wine Country, cruising the Napa River, Sacramento River, and San Joaquin River. The cruise line will offer this roundtrip from San Francisco in February and March, and again in November and December of 2023.

The eight-day San Francisco Bay cruises dock in San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento, and Vallejo, and sail San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River and the San Joaquin River.

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American Cruise Lines: Now Sailing the San Francisco Bay!

Introducing California Cruising in 2023

Be among the first to get on board this brand new 8-day adventure round-trip from the vibrant city of San Francisco. Travel in the sublime comfort of American Jazz , one of our modern American Riverboats. Explore the city’s many treasures, from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the notorious Alcatraz Island. Immerse yourself in the Gold Rush history of Sacramento Valley, and savor the finest varietals of Napa Valley.

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Cruise ship American Jazz brings luxury travel to Sacramento River

By James Taylor

March 9, 2023 / 12:13 AM PST / CBS Sacramento

SACRAMENTO - A new cruise ship, the "American Jazz," has just completed its maiden voyage between Sacramento and the Bay Area. 

CBS13 went aboard to find out why so many are choosing to cruise, right in our own backyard.

Passengers aboard the ship, including Randolph and Patti Perkins, were thrilled with their experience. "It's been gorgeous, beyond fabulous, it is really fun," said Randolph Perkins.

The ship, operated by American Cruise Lines, offers an eight-day trip between Sacramento and San Francisco, with stops in Stockton, Vallejo, and Napa. This is the first time in decades that a ship of this size has offered such cruises in the area.

According to Kodi Du Preez of American Cruise Lines, the trip went smoothly. "It was actually really smooth sailing, there were no issues that came up, everything went really, really well," she said.

The ship's captain, Andy Howes, said that the waterway is narrow and tight, but fun to run through. 

"The delta is absolutely gorgeous up here," he added.

Passengers gather in the main lounge for cocktails, music, and trivia night. They also get to check out the state railroad museum and other sights in Old Sac.

Despite ticket prices starting at $6,600, passengers say that the accommodations are worth it. 

"Everything is included, and you're treated like royalty," said one passenger. 

"We get to go into a lot of places the big ships can't go," added another.

American Cruise Lines has three more trips planned this month, all of which are sold out. The company plans on coming back again in the fall, with Howes saying that he hopes they'll be here for years to come.

The cruise was originally supposed to begin and end in San Francisco, but they've now switched to making Sacramento their California home port. Passengers like Dave and Krista Graham, who came all the way from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to take the trip, are glad they made the choice to go cruising in their own backyard. 

"It's beautiful down here," said Dave Graham. "The people here are so welcoming, it's amazing," added Krista Graham.

On Thursday, passengers will get to check out the State Railroad Museum and other sights in Old Sac.

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AMERICAN JAZZ HEADS WEST FOR 2023 CALIFORNIA RIVER CRUISES

Today, American Cruise Lines announced that one of its ten brand-new riverboats, American Jazz , is leaving the Mississippi River and heading to the West Coast for new California river cruises scheduled to begin in February 2023. The new ship is currently on its way to San Francisco Bay and is anticipated to cross the Panama Canal in the upcoming days. 

American Jazz ’s Historic Journey

American Jazz’ s trip closely resembles the route of the U.S. mail ships that traveled during the Gold Rush era. These ships transported passengers, gold, and mail between the East and West coasts. Aboard the new vessel is an expert nautical team supporting the crew and shoreside team to monitor weather trends, observe vessel systems and follow the overall progression of the voyage. 

For the first time in more than 80 years, American Jazz will offer travelers overnight cruises through the Bay and California Delta onboard an American-made riverboat. She will sail American Cruise Lines’ first 8-Day San Francisco Bay itinerary on February 24, 2023. The newly designed river cruises will sail along the San Francisco Bay and Wine Country, the Sacramento River, the Napa River, and the San Joaquin River. 

“Exploring San Francisco Bay and the California Delta by U.S. riverboat is a momentous occasion for domestic river cruising and another first for American Cruise Lines. We are proud to provide this new opportunity for our guests to experience the joys of cruising close to home, as they discover yet another beautiful area of the country by riverboat,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small ship cruises by introducing brand new U.S. flagged riverboats and small cruise ships each year.” 

American Cruise Lines’ New Golden State Itineraries 

The cruise line is now offering the 8-Day San Francisco Bay itinerary in February, March, November, and December of 2023 roundtrip from San Francisco. Guests will travel through Wine Country and San Francisco and enjoy onshore excursions like wine tastings and vineyard visits. The itineraries shine a spotlight on the geographical, cultural, and historical influences that contributed to the creation of San Francisco. The cruises will also highlight the unique agricultural communities and expansive vineyards in San Francisco and its surrounding areas. 

The new 8-Day San Francisco Bay cruises will dock in San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento, and Vallejo, and sail San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the San Joaquin River. American Jazz’s 2023 California river cruises departure dates are 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 11/03, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/01, 12/08, 12/15, 12/22, and 12/29.  

Currently, American Cruise Lines’ Special Wave Season deals include complimentary domestic airfare for designated San Francisco Bay cruise dates for March 10, 17, and 24. 

These river cruises reflect the broadening of the domestic river cruise industry. Recently, American Cruise Lines’ list of domestic itineraries and American-made small ships has almost doubled in growth since 2016. The company has also announced a few more new builds through 2027. American Cruise Lines’ boats accommodate a small number of approximately 180 guests and guarantee a private balcony and 350 square feet of space per passenger.  

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'Zillow Gone Wild' brings wacky real estate listings to HGTV

Chloe Veltman

The Golden Saxophone House, featured on HGTV's new series Zillow Gone Wild . HGTV hide caption

The Golden Saxophone House, featured on HGTV's new series Zillow Gone Wild .

The real estate social media space is packed with influencers focusing on specific niches like luxury mansions , mid-century moderns or inexpensive yet promising fixer-uppers .

Within this crowded universe , Zillow Gone Wild is a place to go if you're in the market for, say, a home in Kansas City, Mo., shaped like a UFO ; a striking, angular residence in Kalamazoo, Mich., designed in the late 1940s by Frank Lloyd Wright; or a recently built cruise ship with close to 3,000 bedrooms. (Yes, there is an actual Zillow listing for this property.)

"Waking up to an ocean view in the actual ocean is the new best way to wake up," says Samir Mezrahi, Zillow Gone Wild 's creator, in his deadpan TikTok commentary on this particularly mind-boggling property listing.

@zillowgonewild Frank Lloyd Wright house for sale in Kalamazoo,MI for under $1 million!! #franklloydwright #zillowgonewild #realestate #foryou ♬ Epic Music(863502)-Draganov89

Mezrahi's prominent account, which has several million followers across platforms, has now been spun off into an equally wild reality TV show . The nine-episode series premiered on HGTV Friday, and is out now on Max.

As on social media, the Zillow Gone Wild TV show is aimed at a general audience and focuses on homes that defy everyday expectations in some way — whether visible from the outside in the architecture, or hidden inside as part of the home decor.

"It has to be something we've pretty much never seen before," says Mezrahi, a former social media director at Buzzfeed , in an interview with NPR.

Setting a "wild" tone

The first segment of the first episode sets the tone: Homeowner Andrew Flair shows off the converted U.S. military missile launch facility in York, Neb. The unusual property has very thick steel doors and no windows.

The exterior of a home converted from a disused missile solo in York, Neb. HGTV hide caption

The exterior of a home converted from a disused missile solo in York, Neb.

"It's all underground, covered in concrete, and if, for some reason, a bomb goes off, you'll be safe," Flair says on the show.

And in episode three, homeowner Kitty Reign tours viewers around the Pirates of the Caribbean -themed residence in Las Vegas she's selling. This swashbuckler's paradise comes with a decorative wooden helm ("Everybody plays with it!") and a tavern ("Kind of our own little secret pirate nightclub!")

Hosted by comedian Jack McBrayer, who played Kenneth in 30 Rock , the show features 24 homes from around the country either up for sale or recently sold. But only one of them will be crowned the country's "wildest" at the end of the series, as assessed by HGTV executives. Viewers who correctly guess the winning home can enter a pool for the chance to win $25,000.

Kitty Reign and her wife, Jennifer, show host Jack McBrayer around their Pirates of the Caribbean -themed house, as seen on HGTV's new series Zillow Gone Wild . HGTV hide caption

Kitty Reign and her wife, Jennifer, show host Jack McBrayer around their Pirates of the Caribbean -themed house, as seen on HGTV's new series Zillow Gone Wild .

The judging criteria include creativity, commitment to a concept or theme and a quality McBrayer describes as "wackadoo."

"That special thing that sets this property apart," says McBrayer on the show. "We reward impracticality."

The growth of an American pastime

Ogling real estate listings on social media has become an enormously popular American pastime in recent years. Saturday Night Live even did a skit about the trend in 2021. ("The pleasure you once got from sex now comes from looking at other people's houses.")

Saturday Night Live produced a skit lampooning the trend for browsing real estate listings on social media in 2021.

Mezrahi, who's based in New York, says he has long made a hobby of idly browsing Zillow. He started Zillow Gone Wild as a side project in the fall of 2020, knowing it would probably catch on. Mezrahi initially launched it only on Instagram, but soon expanded his offering to Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and a newsletter.

"It was, like, prime pandemic. Everyone's working from home. Companies are saying you can live wherever you want," Mezrahi says. "So people are moving, thinking about moving, or browsing Zillow just as a bored-on-your-phone thing. So I kind of felt like there was an audience of people out there that are also doing this."

The rise of TV and online channels devoted to home buying and home improvement, together with the increasingly elaborate social media presence of individual real estate brokers promoting their listings, have further fed the trend.

"This is a time when a lot of people are thinking about where and how we want to live," says Zillow's home trends expert, Amanda Pendleton, in an interview with NPR. "And these social media accounts captured our imagination and redefined what a home can be."

"Wild" listings can be challenging for real estate brokers

That "imagination capturing" quality is what makes Zillow Gone Wild so compelling on TikTok and TV.

But when it comes to actually selling a property, eccentric architecture and festive home decor aren't necessarily virtues.

"As a real estate broker, you kind of get nervous about that, because the resale value is not the greatest when you're making it your own," says San Francisco Bay Area-based realtor Ria Cotton in an interview with NPR. "It may not be liked by other people."

Host Jack McBrayer taking in the sights of the "Golden Saxophone House." HGTV hide caption

Host Jack McBrayer taking in the sights of the "Golden Saxophone House."

While having a marketable property is preferable, Cotton admits the popularity of social media accounts like Zillow Gone Wild shows there's a growing appetite among homebuyers and potential homebuyers for the "wackadoo."

"I think more and more people are kind of bored of the cookie-cutter way of doing things," Cotton says.

Pop Culture

After months on the market, 'the brady bunch' house sells for $3.2 million.

Case in point: An unusual music-themed home in Berkeley, Calif., that Cotton recently brokered, featured in Zillow Gone Wild.

The facade of the "Saxophone House" is dominated by two massive, gold saxophone-shaped columns. On the TV show, new homeowner Adanté Pointer proudly shows off the gold treble clef ornaments on the balcony railings indoors.

"The gold accents really make it stand out," Pointer says appreciatively.

The smooth jazz vibes and bling of the Saxophone House might not be for everyone. But Pointer says it's perfect for him.

"I am an attorney, and oftentimes, people come to me to make a statement on their behalf," he says on the show. "And when you look at the outside of this home, it's definitely a statement piece."

Your Dilapidated Barn Is Super Trendy. Just Ask HGTV

In an interview with NPR, TV show host McBrayer says if visiting all of the homes featured in the Zillow Gone Wild TV series taught him anything, it's that even the wildest of homes won't sit empty forever.

"For every house out there that is just head-to-toe rainbow-colored, there is going to be a buyer. For every home that is attached to the underside of a bridge, there's going to be a buyer," McBrayer says. "There's a lid for every pot."

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