American Canadian Caribbean Line, Inc., (ACCL, Warren, RI) was founded in 1966 after Captain Luther H. Blount discovered the potential and demand for small ship cruising in North American waters, as well as the Caribbean and Central and South America.

An avid adventurer, and ship builder by trade, Capt. Blount was the first to provide small ship cruises to remote and exotic locations, as an alternative to large, overcrowded and impersonal cruises, which sailed only to "tourist-trap" destinations. Essentially, he felt that an ACCL cruise should feel more like "sailing on your friend's yacht." Moreover, Blount firmly believed - as he still does today - that the passengers' money was better spent on getting to exciting destinations, rather than on unnecessary frills that other cruises offered.

30 years on, ACCL has become the benchmark in small ship cruising. With his adventurous mind and passion for exploration, Capt. Blount has established an impressive, year-round itinerary for his three ships, spanning from Canadian Sub-Artic to the southerly tropics of the Orinoco Delta.

Three main factors have contributed to the company's overwhelming success. Firstly, ACCL's ships are built with the adventurous traveler in mind. Their shallow draft (6'3") and patented bow ramp allow passengers to land on deserted beaches and access areas of the world that larger ships - and even other expeditionary vessels - can only view from a distance. Another ACCL feature, the retractable pilot house, allows the ships to pass under low bridges and tricky locks in rivers or canals.