Captain, Coastal & River Cruise Leader

American Cruise Lines; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 129,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with match

Travel, room and board covered

Bridge simulator-based training

Job summary

American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Captains to lead our U.S. flag fleet. The role involves safe vessel operations across inland and coastal routes and representing the company with professional leadership.

Captains are master mariners with piloting experience in challenging waterways and will oversee deck officers and shipboard engineers. We offer comfortable onboard accommodations, chef‑prepared meals, and access to an advanced bridge simulator for rigorous training and development.

Qualifications

• US Coast Guard Master's license with Near Coastal endorsement (1600 GRT+ preferred).
• Captain experience on coastal and river waterways; minimum 2 years, 5+ years preferred.
• Excellent communication and team-building skills; pre-employment drug testing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety and security of passengers, crew, and vessel.
• Operate the vessel in compliance with company and regulatory standards.
• Lead and develop deck officers and oversee shipboard engineering activities.
• Maintain logs, reports, and administrative records.
• Provide visible leadership through announcements and guest interaction.

Skills

Coastal navigation experience

River navigation experience

Leadership & crew development

Excellent communication

Education

US Coast Guard Master's license (100 GRT with Near Coastal endorsement; 1600 GRT+ preferred)

TWIC credential

Job description

American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Captains to lead our U.S. flag fleet. The role involves safe vessel operations across inland and coastal routes and representing the company with professional leadership.

Captains are master mariners with piloting experience in challenging waterways and will oversee deck officers and shipboard engineers. We offer comfortable onboard accommodations, chef‑prepared meals, and access to an advanced bridge simulator for rigorous training and development.