A group from Lawrence has taken an American Canadian Caribbean Lines cruise every year for the last 10 years. We enjoy the intimacy of 80 to 100 passengers, the open seating, family style dining and attentiveness of the small staff. One of ACCL's innovations is the BYOB policy which ensures there is never a bar bill. All mixes, soft drinks, fruit juices, fruit and cookies are available 24 hours a day, at no charge.
This year ACCL is experimenting with a few one-week Caribbean cruises. Most of its cruises run 12 to 16 days.
The 183-foot ships with a 6-foot draft rarely cruise in open ocean. The ships are always boarded in a destination port. Instead, the ships stop at out of the way places that do not welcome larger vessels.
There are no casinos or shows on this ship. However, the passengers did enjoy sing-alongs at the piano, played by Gladys Abbe, and games and crafts in our free sailing time organized by Iza, our totally delightful Spanish cruise director. Time on board was also spent enjoying the captain's cocktail party and lobster dinner, prepared by the ship's outstanding chef.
I had been reluctant to take this cruise, but was glad I did. We visited remote, wild, beautiful, interesting areas, learned a great deal of history and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the cruise. The remote coastline of Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland is beautiful and difficult to reach by car or Canadian ferry. ACCL made this an easy, highly enjoyable, affordable way to visit this area of the Canadian coast. I especially want to return to Newfoundland, Tadoussac and the Saguenay River.
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