American Cruise Lines
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | TravelandHospitality |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Guilford, Connecticut,U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO (2019-Present); Charles A. Robertson, Founder, Chairman & CEO (1973-2019) |
| Products | Cruises |
| Website | www |
American Cruise Lines, Inc.is the largest river and small-shipcruise linein the U.S.A. with its headquarters inGuilford, Connecticut,United States.[1][2]The Line operates nineteen smallU.S. flagged cruise shipsalong theEastern Seaboard(Maine to Florida, Hudson River, and Chesapeake Bay) andWestern Seaboard(includingAlaskaandPuget Sound[3]) as well as theMississippi,Ohio,Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers and theColumbia-Snakeriver system in the United States.
History
[edit]
American Cruise Lines was incorporated in 1991.[4]The company operates the largest and only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small cruise ships in the world, with 19 new riverboats and small cruise ships exploring around the U.S.A., including five riverboats on the Mississippi River and five on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched two 100-passenger Coastal Cats,American EagleandAmerican Glory;the 1st and 2nd ships in the company's newest series of twelve small ships for the U.S. market. (both are namesakes of original company vessels that have since been retired). The company operates both classic paddlewheelers and a fleet of new modern riverboats, including the first modern riverboat in the country,American Song,which debuted in 2018, and was named one of Time Magazine's World's Greatest Places in 2019. American's four classic paddlewheel riverboats were redesigned and renamed in 2022. PaddlewheelersQueen of the Mississippi,Queen of the West,andAmericabecameAmerican Heritage,American West,andAmerican Splendor(American Prideretained its original name).[5]In 2017 and 2018, American Cruise Lines launched two new small coastal cruise ships 170-passengerAmerican ConstellationandAmerican Constitution.[6]All American's riverboats and small ships cruise only in the U.S.A. following 100% U.S. itineraries along U.S. Rivers as well as the protected coastal waters along the East and West coasts (all the company's itineraries visit only U.S. ports of call).[7][8][9]
Modern Riverboats & Coastal Cats
[edit]On March 1, 2017, American Cruise Lines announcedAmerican Song,the flagship in a new class of modern riverboats for the U.S.A. Unlike more traditional paddle-wheel riverboats the company's newAmerican Songis more modern, offering contemporary design like riverboats more commonly found on European rivers.American Songhas four decks, is 345 feet (105 m) long, carries 180 passengers, and offers 100% private balcony accommodations. Since 2018, American Cruise Lines has launched 5 more modern riverboats:American Harmonyin 2019;American Jazzin 2020,American Melodyin 2021;America.n Symphonyin 2022; andAmerican Serenadein 2023 (named Cruise Critic'sBest New River Cruise Shipof 2023). All the company's new modern riverboats feature state-of-the-art amenities like private balconies, largest-in-class cabins (singles, doubles & suites), and en-suite bathrooms.
In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched 2 new boats in another new series of small coastal cruise ships,American EagleandAmerican Glory.These 100-passenger Coastal Cats are part of the company's Project Blue series of twelve new small ships being built in the U.S.A. The company's Project Blue ships are meant for exploring U.S. coastal waters in the same manner as the company's riverboats, sailing close to home and visiting only U.S. ports of call. In 2024, American Cruise Lines will launch the 3rd and 4th ships in the series, Coastal Cats,American LibertyandAmerican Legend.American Cruise Lines has announced more riverboats and small ships, already under construction, set to launch in 2025. More newbuilts until 2026 were announced in June 2024.[10][11]
100% U.S. Flagged Fleet
[edit]
Coastal Ships U.S. East & West Coasts
[edit]- American Spirit(2005)
- American Star(2007)
- American Independence(2010)
- American Constellation(2017)
- American Constitution(2018)
- American Eagle(2023)
- American Glory(2023)
- American Liberty(2024)
- American Legend(2024)
Columbia & Snake Riverboats
[edit]- American West(1995)
- American Pride(2012)
- American Song(2018)
- American Harmony(2019)
- American Jazz(2020)
Mississippi Riverboats
[edit]- American Heritage(2015)
- American Splendor(2016)
- American Melody(2021)
- American Symphony(2022)
- American Serenade(2023)
Modern Riverboats
[edit]- American Song(2018)
- American Harmony(2019)
- American Jazz(2020)
- American Melody(2021)
- American Symphony(2022)
- American Serenade(2023)
Coastal Cats
[edit]- American Eagle(2023)
- American Glory(2023)
- American Liberty(2024)
- American Legend(2024)
Retired
[edit]
- The company's originalAmerican Eagle(built 2000) -was moored atChesapeake Shipbuildingas housing for contractors. It has since been sold for scrap in Baltimore, MD.
- The company's originalAmerican Glory(built 2002) -scuttled off coast of Delaware on November 4, 2019 for artificial reef[12]
References
[edit]- ^"General InformationArchived2012-01-21 at theWayback Machine."American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012." American Cruise Lines, Inc. operates from headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut[...] "
- ^"Cruise News."(Archive) American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012. "741 Boston Post Road ٠ Suite 200 ٠ Guilford, Connecticut"
- ^http://www.americancruiselines.com/admin/includes/uploadpdf/Alaska_Shore_Excursions_FINAL_2_2_12.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^"American Cruise Lines".Altius Directory.Archivedfrom the original on 17 January 2012.Retrieved28 January2012.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-07-14.Retrieved2015-07-14.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"American Cruise Lines Announces Construction of a New Coastal Cruise Ship".PR Web.Archivedfrom the original on 27 November 2015.Retrieved24 October2015.
- ^"American Constellation Cruise Ship".Ship Technology (London, UK).Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2018.Retrieved31 January2018.
- ^Gray Faust, Chris."American Cruise Lines Announces Name for 2018 Coastal Cruise Ship".Cruise Critic.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-03-31.Retrieved2017-03-30.
- ^"America's Only 100% U.S. Fleet Grows to 15 Small Ships and Takes All-American Names for 2022"(PDF).American Cruise Lines.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 December 2021.
- ^https://www.americancruiselines.com/media/american-cruise-lines-announces-3-more-newbuilds-confirms-7-ships-on-order
- ^https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/06/american-cruise-lines-announces-3-more-newbuilds-confirms-7-ships-on-order/
- ^"Video: Small Cruise Ship Sunk as Artificial Reef Off Delaware".The Maritime Executive.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-11-08.Retrieved2019-11-08.
