American Cruise Lines
American Independence
- Cruises
- 6
- From
- $4,610
Ship comparison
American Independence vs American West
American Cruise Lines
American West
- Cruises
- 2
- From
- —
The verdict
Which should you choose?
American Independence is an intimate American Cruise Lines ship carrying 92 passengers, in service since 2010. American West is an intimate American Cruise Lines ship carrying 120 passengers, in service since 1994.
Choose American Independence if you want a newer ship, more space per passenger or more cruises to choose from: its maiden voyage was in 2010 (vs 1994), it has 25.0 gross tons per passenger (vs 17.6) and it has 6 cruises on sale (vs 2).
Choose American West if you want better-rated dining: it outscores American Independence for dining (8.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| American Independence | American West | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | American Cruise Lines | American Cruise Lines |
| Ship size | Intimate | Intimate |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2010 (better) | 1994 |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | — | 2022 |
| Gross tonnage | 2,300 | 2,115 |
| Passengers | 92 | 120 |
| Crew | 27 | 37 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 3.4 | 3.2 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 25.0 (better) | 17.6 |
| Decks | 4 | 4 |
| Length | 223 ft | 232 ft |
| Beam | 51 ft | 50 ft |
| Speed | — | 14 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 6 | 2 |
| Upcoming sailings | 73 | 2 |
| Cruise lengths | 8 nights | 6–8 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $4,610 | — |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. American Independence leads on 0 of the ten, American West on 1, with 9 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
American Cruise Lines
American Independence
Maybe it's time to see more of the United States. American Cruise Lines offers a variety of options, including the American Independence, which cruises the Maine coast in summer and the Atlantic coast between South Carolina and Florida in winter. Fall cruisers can cruise the Hudson River for seasonal color and leaf peeping.
Highlights
- New design features including Rolls Royce stabilizers make for a smoother cruise and less seasickness
- Simple but comfortable, these ships were built to nestle into small coves and ports along the East Coast
- Don't miss the crab and lobster served in the Chesapeake Bay and Maine regions!
Sailing now
6 cruises on sale, from $4,610.
About American Independence Plan my cruise on American Independence
American Cruise Lines
American West
A veteran of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, American West from American Cruise Lines, formerly Queen of the West, underwent a major renovation in 2022, with new color palettes, luxurious textiles and linens, new furniture and carpets, artwork and other flourishes.
Sailing now
2 cruises on sale.
Questions
American Independence or American West?
Which is bigger, American Independence or American West?
American Independence is bigger at 2,300 gross tons, against 2,115 gross tons for American West. American Independence carries 92 passengers and American West carries 120.
Which ship is newer, American Independence or American West?
American Independence is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2010 against 1994 for American West.
Which has more space per passenger?
American Independence, with 25.0 gross tons per passenger against 17.6 on American West. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
American West, with one crew member for every 3.2 passengers against one for every 3.4 on American Independence.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 4.0 out of 10.
Still deciding?
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