Being in, near or on the water is arguably one of summertime’s greatest pleasures. This season, consider the new Eight-Day Hudson River Summer Classic cruise on offer from American Cruise Lines . The view from your private balcony and the deck of the new Coastal Cat American Eagle includes pastoral landscapes, a collection of stunning mansions lining the Hudson Valley waterfront and iconic New York City landmarks.

Onboard the elegant American Eagle, all staterooms feature private balconies, along with generously proportioned bathrooms and wardrobes. With the most expansive accommodations of any river cruise worldwide according to ACL, these spaces also come with large LED televisions, seating areas, writing desks and complimentary WiFi. American Eagle includes both indoor and outdoor lounges and walking tracks, with evenings featuring après-dinner performances by local musicians.

The itinerary (round-trip from New York City’s Pier 81 includes excursions in the city, plus port calls in Catskill, Albany, Kingston, Hyde Park, West Point and Sleepy Hollow. Knowledgeable guides and local experts lead tours through historic sites and locations such as Vanderbilt Museum, Lyndhurst, West Point Military Academy, and FDR’s Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park.

In the city, passengers can take part in tours of Sleepy Hollow, which served as the setting for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. There’s also an opportunity to participate in a guided World Trade Center 9/11 and Reflective Pools experience.

In addition to being the world’s only cruise line with luxury overnight routes along the Hudson River, American Cruise Lines also offers itineraries on the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers, and waterways in 35 U.S. states aboard a fleet of small ships and riverboats that are entirely U.S.-flagged. If autumn is your preferred cruise season, check out the schedule of Hudson River Fall Foliage expedition options.