Embarkation Day Aboard American Ranger in New York

I’ve done six river cruises in Europe, but somehow I had never taken a river cruise here in the United States. That finally changed when I boarded American Ranger, the brand-new river cruise ship from American Cruise Lines, in New York City.

I was so excited for this trip that I barely slept the night before. By 8:30 a.m., I was running on very little energy, so finding coffee before embarkation became a priority.

I’m sailing with my colleagues Harry and Mike, and all three of us are experiencing American Ranger together. Our embarkation started at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan before we boarded a coach for the short ride to Pier 81.

Seeing the ship in person for the first time surprised me. Compared with the European river ships I’ve sailed on, American Ranger feels huge.

Once on board, my bag was already waiting in my single-occupancy stateroom, so I could get settled almost immediately. The room has USB-C, USB and North American outlets everywhere, which is a huge plus for me. It also has a surprisingly spacious bathroom and its own balcony.

I spent the afternoon checking out the ship, including the Chart Room, one of three lounges on board. There are binoculars by the windows, books to borrow, places to play chess and some really good vantage points.

After the safety briefing, it was time for champagne and sailaway. We left New York with the Statue of Liberty ahead of us before heading into our first evening on board.

In the video, I take you through the full embarkation experience, my first look around American Ranger, lunch, my stateroom and our departure from New York.