More new builds for American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines, the largest coastal and river cruise operator in the U.S., continues to accelerate its new build program across its diverse fleet — adding new ships to its new Modern Riverboat Series as well as its fleet of new coastal ships and Victorian-style paddlewheelers. American’s aggressive building program has expanded exponentially in the past 2 years; introducing a new ship in 2017 and two new ships in 2018. The Line has no plans to slow down, as American’s latest new ship will go into service this summer, and the Line has two more new builds coming in both 2020 and 2021.
In August 2019, American Harmony, the 2nd of 5 ships in American’s Modern Riverboat Series, will begin service on the Mississippi, bringing American’s fleet of U.S. built ships to 11. By 2021, American’s fleet will have increased to 15 ships. American Song, the 1st modern riverboat in the U.S., began cruising in October 2018 and is already sailing out West on the Columbia & Snake Rivers. The 3rd modern riverboat, to be named shortly, will be completed in 2020, and is already well under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD where all American’s ships are designed and built.
American Cruise Lines is the only U.S. line offering 3 distinct ship styles and all the Line’s ships are infinitely more advanced and environmentally friendly than anything else on U.S. Rivers. American builds only new ships and each of their ships possesses the newest safety technology and showcases stunning interior design. American’s series of 5 modern riverboats in particular, meet the highest new emissions standards and have the smallest carbon footprints in the industry. American’s modern riverboats are the perfect complement to the Line’s beautiful Victorian paddlewheelers and fully stabilized coastal ships — the new modern riverboats provide an exciting and refreshing new option for U.S. river cruisers American’s modern riverboats showcase soaring multi-story glass atriums and more glass throughout, than other U.S. riverboats — ensuring spectacular views from everywhere on the ship. The ships have huge standard cabins (at over 350 sq/ft), all outward facing, with full sliding glass doors and private furnished balconies. Each new ship in the series possesses the unique (patent-pending) opening bow and retractable gangway, which enables these riverboats to make bow landings wherever necessary. In addition to numerous comfortable lounges and gorgeous sundecks, the modern riverboats also feature casual cafés, in addition to the grand dining rooms found aboard all American’s ships.
While every ship in the Modern Riverboat Series shares the underlying modern design premise, each new ship is unique and will be slightly different than the one that came before it. The 1st ship, American Song, has 5 decks and showcases enormous 900 sq/ft Grand Suites with wrap-around private balconies. The 2nd ship, American Harmony, has 6 decks and features a 5th deck exclusively housing ten huge Veranda Suites. The 3rd modern riverboat will be slightly larger than the 1st and 2nd, but all the modern riverboats are under 200 passengers. American Song, American Harmony and the upcoming 3 rd, 4th & 5th ships in the Modern Riverboat Series are the very first ships of their kind available in the U.S. and the response to the 1 st modern riverboat, American Song, has been tremendous, as guests are delighted by the new style. In the past few years, the company has enjoyed record sales across its diverse fleet and continues to grow — adding new exceptionally designed, American-built ships year after year.
About American Cruise Lines: In 2018, American Cruise Lines celebrated its most award-winning year ever, winning 13 travel awards, including Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Award, for Top Small Cruise Lines; and Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Award for Best River Line in the U.S. & Canada. American operates the largest and newest fleet of coastal cruise ships, Victorian-style paddlewheelers, and the only modern riverboats in the U.S. All ships are between 100-200 passengers and are built, crewed and registered in the U.S.A. With over 35 itineraries to 25 states, including many theme and holiday cruises, American cruises along the rivers, as well as the coastal and inland waterways of New England, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Mississippi River system, and the Southeast.