American Cruise Lines plans to add a total of 10 new ships to its fleet during the next three years. It comprises five American Riverboats and five Patriot Class vessels, with the first new addition joining the fleet this week. "The new ships will roll out at an average pace of one every four months and keep us on a disciplined growth trajectory," said Charles Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines. American Pioneer joins the fleet on October 31 and is the second Patriot Class ship launched this year. It took delivery of American Patriot this summer. The new ships, all American built, will sail domestically on the Mississippi, the Arkansas River, coastal Alaska, the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and on select National Park itineraries. American Pioneer will launch with a 16-Day Grand Florida Coast & Keys cruise from Amelia Island to St. Petersburg. Four more Patriot Class ships will launch in 2026 and 2027. The Patriot Class ships accommodate 130 guests across five decks; and feature guest lounges, a walking track; an observation area; a fitness center; a grand dining room and cafe. A new 180-guest American Riverboat, called American Encore debuts in May 2026. This is followed by American Anthem and American Grace in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Two further as yet unnamed Riverboats join the fleet in 2028.

  American Cruise Lines christened American Patriot in Newport, Rhode Island on 4^th July 2025.  American Patriot is the first ship in the company’s new Patriot Class – a fleet of 130-passenger ships designed exclusively for cruising the USA. Patriot Class sister ships, American Pioneer, American Maverick and American Ranger will launch later this year and into 2026.   American Patriot’s christening was attended by cruise guests, community members, officials from Sail Newport and a small group of American’s executives and crew members. Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines, spoke at the event along with American Patriot’s Godmother and president of Sail Newport, Susan Daily, and Carol Robertson, co-founder of American Cruise Lines. Cruise guests and christening attendees gathered on the ship’s  top deck for the official blessing and ceremonial bottle smash, followed by a traditional New England lobster bake at Fort Adams State Park just steps from where the ship was docked.   “We are so pleased to be back in Newport this summer, christening yet another new US ship and celebrating the 4th of July with our guests,” said Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “We are especially honoured to be joined by American Patriot’s  godmother, Susan Daly, and so many of our Eagle Society members who cruise with us again and again, whole-heartedly supporting our mission to offer the finest cruise explorations for discovering and re-discovering America.”   American Patriot accommodates just 130 guests. It features four decks, private balcony staterooms and suites, a chart room, spacious lounges (including a top deck lounge with a walking track), plus a main restaurant, casual café and fitness centre. The company’s new Patriot Class ships and all 25 small ships in the fleet offer world-class amenities, unusual for ships of their size.   American Patriot is the newest cruise ship in the USA and the latest in a long line of new innovative small ships introduced by American Cruise Lines. Sister ship American Pioneer launches later this year in Florida.   The company’s rapid fleet expansion is also well-timed to celebrate the country’s 250^th birthday. In addition to numerous new ships launching in 2025 and 2026, American has also introduced an array of extended cruises celebrating the anniversary - 50-Day+ itineraries highlighting the grandeur and history of the USA and small ship adventures that explore America’s great rivers and waterways, from the glaciers in Alaska to the beaches in the Florida Keys. American Patriot and American Pioneer will sail several of the line’s new extended cruises throughout 2026, as well as other itineraries dedicated to exploring the U.S.A   For further information call Fred. Holidays, American Cruise Line’s preferred booking agent, on 0800 021 3172, email [email protected] or visit www.americancruiselines.com

  American Cruise Lines has announced that 2025 will be its most exciting season ever on the Mississippi with five riverboats sailing 12+ itineraries on the river and its tributaries year round. The company’s Mississippi offerings range from eight to 51 days and include an array of authentic American experiences in 10 states from New Orleans, Louisiana to St. Paul, Minnesota.   American Cruise Lines’ Mississippi season officially opens on 21^st February aboard the award-winning American Serenade sailing American’s classic nine-day Lower Mississippi River Cruise from New Orleans to Memphis.   New 2025 itineraries feature a brand new 12-day Mississippi Explorer Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans, and several exclusive itineraries on the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio rivers including a new 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise from Pittsburgh to St. Louis. 2025 Mississippi offerings also showcase two of the longest US river cruises on the market - the new 51-day Great United States and the 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise, both of which sail the entire Mississippi or major sections of the river in addition to other US waterways.   American’s 2025 Mississippi river itineraries include:  

• Eight-day Historic Mississippi River Cruise round trip from New Orleans
• Nine-day Lower Mississippi River Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans
• Nine-day Upper Mississippi River Cruise from St. Louis to St. Paul
• Nine-day Music Cities Cruise from Memphis to Nashville
• Nine-day Tennessee Rivers Cruise from Nashville to Chattanooga
• NEW: 12-day Mississippi Explorer Cruise from Memphis to New Orleans
• 12-day Mississippi River Gateway Cruise from New Orleans to Louisville
• Nine-day Ohio River Cruise from Louisville to Pittsburgh
• NEW: 16-day Grand Ohio River Cruise from Pittsburgh to St Louis
• 12-day Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cruise from Knoxville to Nashville
• 16-day Grand Heartland Cruise from St. Paul to New Orleans
• 23-day Complete Mississippi River Cruise from New Orleans to St. Paul
• 36-day Civil War Battlefields Cruise from New Orleans to Gettysburg
• 51-day Great United States Cruise from Portland to Boston

  American is the only river cruise line offering US river cruises aboard both classic paddlewheelers and new modern riverboats. The company’s world-class riverboats are less than half the size of other riverboats and deliver the most personalised river cruise experiences available along the nation’s most iconic waterways. Highlights include visits to Elvis Presley’s Graceland and Mark Twain’s boyhood home; off-the-beaten track adventures from Cajun swamp safaris to ATV treks; explorations of classic American landmarks like the St. Louis Arch and Vicksburg National Military Park; and deep cultural dives into music, cuisine and history.   Prices for the 2025 Mississippi season start from £2,927 per person for the eight-day Historic Mississippi River Cruise round trip from New Orleans on 23^rd November 2025. Price includes all meals and drinks, gratuities, port fees, onboard enrichment and entertainment, shore excursions and WiFi.

  American Cruise Lines has announced details of its biggest Alaska cruise season ever, with two small ships in Alaska and five extraordinary itineraries delivering once-in-a-lifetime experiences aboard sailings operating between May and September 2025.   For 2025, American has repositioned small ship American Constitution to the West Coast for summer Alaska cruises and spring and autumn Puget Sound cruises. Doubling capacity in the region, 170-passenger American Constitution joins sister ship American Constellation sailing an exciting line-up of five different Alaska itineraries, including two new Alaska National Parks cruises. These exclusive adventures feature seven days of land exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks; a 12- or nine-day cruise between Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska; and special small-ship access in Glacier Bay National Park.   Among all the options available for cruising Alaska in 2025, American’s ships and itineraries offer a unique way to explore this bucket-list region. The company’s offerings are notable because they blend small-ship expedition access with large-ship luxury and comfort on board. Unlike other small ships in the region, US-built American Constellation and American Constitution are both fully stabilized and offer private balcony accommodations plus onboard amenities from spacious top-deck lounges to alternative casual dining venues, unheard of on ships of their size. All Itineraries offer included pre-cruise stays and a range of exciting experiences featuring up-close views of Alaskan glaciers and wildlife. In addition, all of American’s cruises enjoy small-ship access to Glacier Bay National Park, with some sailings also including a rare overnight in this world-renowned biosphere.  

• 19-day Grand Alaska National Parks: includes seven days of guided exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks and a 12-day Alaska cruise sailing Glacier Bay National Park, the Inside Passage, Frederick Sound and the Wrangell Narrows. Operating between Fairbanks and Juneau, this adventure visits Fairbanks, Anchorage, Seward, Juneau, Haines, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Tracey Arm.

 

• 16-day Alaska National Parks: includes seven days of guided exploration in Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks and a 9-day Alaska cruise sailing Glacier Bay National Park and the Wrangell Narrows. Operating between Fairbanks to Juneau, this adventure visits Fairbanks, Anchorage, Seward, Juneau, Haines, Petersburg, Wrangell and Tracey Arm.

 

• 9-day Southeast Alaska Cruise: sails roundtrip from Juneau visiting Haines, Glacier Bay National Park, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glacier, and sailing the Wrangell Narrows.

 

• 12-day Alaskan Explorer Cruise: sails roundtrip from Juneau visiting Haines, Glacier Bay National Park, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Tracey Arm. Alaskan Explorer cruises also sail the Inside Passage, Frederick Sound and the Wrangell Narrows.

 

• 16-day Alaska Inside Passage Cruise: this extraordinary adventure explores nearly 1,000 miles of stunning coastline through Alaska’s southeastern panhandle where 22,000 islands create a maze of breathtaking vistas. Sailing between Seattle and Juneau, the cruise visits  Haines, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Friday Harbor, Anacortes, and Seattle, Washington. The cruise also sails the Inside Passage, Frederick Sound, the Queen Charlotte Strait and the Strait of Georgia.

  Prices for the American’s 2025 Alaska season start from £4,630 per person for the nine-day Southeast Alaska Cruise departing 8^th September. Price includes daily excursions and entertainment, all meals and beverages including beer and wine with lunch and dinner and a daily cocktail hour, WiFi, gratuities and port charges. For further information call Fred. Holidays, American Cruise Line’s preferred booking agent, on 0800 021 3172, email [email protected] or visit www.americancruiselines.com

American Cruise Lines is expanding its fleet yet again. It just signed new contracts for four additional vessels, expected by 2027. The deal with Chesapeake Shipbuilding bolsters its current order book to nine ships expected to be handed over within the next three years. The new ships will boost ACL’s fleet to 21 ships. It comes as the company took delivery of new Coastal Cat American Legend this week. This ship officially launches on November 25. The further nine vessels will launch over the next three years at a steady pace, starting with American Patriot and American Pioneer during 2025. Three ships are expected in 2026, and four more the following year. 

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Domestic river and coastal cruise brand American Cruise Lines has christened American Liberty, its third new Coastal Cat in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the latest of the line’s 100-passenger ships. The naming ceremony took place at Fort Adams State Park, where all ACL small ships dock when visiting Newport. American Liberty was visiting the town during its inaugural cruise, a New England Islands cruise roundtrip from Providence, Rhode Island. American Liberty’s christening celebration included cruise guests, community members, officials from Sail Newport and Fort Adams State Park, and a small group of American’s executives and crew members. American Liberty’s godmother was Clare Harington, vice commodore of the New York Yacht Club. The christening was followed by a traditional New England lobster bake at Fort Adams State Park. “We look forward to further developing our longtime partnerships in Newport and many other historic coastal towns along the Eastern Seaboard,” said Charles B Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines. It follows christenings of series flagship, American Eagle, in Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts and American Glory’s christening in Key West, Florida, both in 2023. American Cruise Lines fourth new Coastal Cat, American Legend, is scheduled to begin sailing in November 2024.   

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American Cruise Lines is growing its fleet again. Fresh off purchasing ships from shuttered rival American Queen Voyages, ACL is building two new coastal cruise ships. The two new-build ships are under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding, in Maryland. American Patriot and American Pioneer will have five decks and capacity for up to 125 passengers in 56 staterooms. All staterooms will have private balconies, and ships will have a large main lounge and restaurant, an indoor lounge, an outdoor sun deck and a casual cafe. They will also house a fitness center and walking track. American Patriot will launch in June 2025, while American Pioneer will debut later next year. They mark the halfway stage in the company’s Project Blue series of 12 new small ships. The coastal cruise ships will offer East Coast sailings, such as a longer version of the recently launched Grand Florida Coast & Keys itinerary. “Coastally, this category of cruise has never been available in so many regions of the country before,” ACL said. The company just bought four river cruise ships from former rival line American Queen Voyages, which is now in bankruptcy proceedings. This includes the American Queen, the largest ever US paddlewheeler. 

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  Faith Alchorn-Selk, Business Development Manager at American Cruise Lines, reveals the company's dynamic approach to river cruising in the United States. With over 50 diverse itineraries spanning 35 states, American Cruise Lines offers more than just the iconic Mississippi River experience. Faith emphasizes the company's innovation in designing smaller, more agile ships, enabling access to 400 additional ports across the US. Catering to well-traveled individuals aged 55 and above, the cruise line provides themed sailings such as American revolutionary and Civil War journeys, as well as culinary adventures. With a maximum capacity of 180 guests per vessel, including options for private charters, American Cruise Lines promises intimate, unforgettable journeys along America's waterways.

American Cruise Lines has officially begun its Mississippi River cruise season in New Orleans. Over the next few weeks, all five of ACL’s Mississippi riverboats will begin cruising on the Lower Mississippi. This year will be the company's largest season ever across the country, especially on the Mississippi. ACL’s new riverboats will sail more than 16 itineraries throughout the region, also exploring Mississippi tributaries, the Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. In May of this year, American will begin operating several new Mississippi River experiences, including the first Great Smoky Mountains National Parks cruises. This new itinerary allows guests to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a 12-day itinerary from Knoxville, TN, to Nashville, TN, cruising the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Also in May, the company's first new 35-Day Civil War Battlefields cruise will depart. This cruises the Mississippi, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers as well as large expanses of the East Coast and Chesapeake Bay. It visits over 20 Battlefields of the Civil War. In August, it will sail a historic 61-Day Great United States cruise - the longest river cruise in US history. It explores the entire Mississippi River, 20 states, three national parks and four rivers, as well as sailing the East Coast and Hudson River ports from New York City, to Boston, and Bar Harbor, Maine. In the past five years, American Cruise Lines has nearly tripled its US fleet while also introducing brand new riverboats on the Mississippi River every year since 2018. Following this week's opening on the Mississippi, the company's full fleet of 19 small ships and riverboats will continue deploying across the country, visiting over 140 US ports this year. 

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Domestic cruise operator American Cruise Lines will offer regular sailings departing central Washington DC. It is the only cruise line to sail up the Potamac and operate multi-day coastal and river cruises from the heart of the nation’s capital. In 2018, ACL’s American Constitution was the first cruise vessel to dock in D.C. in over 60 years. Starting in spring, the ‘American Revolution’ river cruises will offer 10 nights on Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and the York River. Cruises call at Annapolis, Norfolk and Mount Vernon as well as the ‘Historic Triangle’ of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. It is deploying the American Constitution and 100-guest American Glory from DC with 10-night sailings in the spring and fall. “We offer cruises no one else does, from small ships docking in D.C., to new ships exploring the country’s National Parks,” said Melissa Young, the cruise line’s Director of Business Development. Land experiences include tours of the Capitol and Smithsonian museums in DC and a visit to Arlington National Cemetery among many others. 

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American Cruise Lines’ coastal cat, American Glory has successfully passed sea trials. It will be the second coastal cat to launch this year. American Cruise Lines has accepted delivery of the 100-passenger small ship from Chesapeake Shipbuilding on time as scheduled. American Glory is the newest to be inducted in American's series of 12 new coastal cats for US waterways. Additional ships in the series are already under construction with the next two scheduled for delivery in 2024. American Glory will sail its inaugural cruise on 28 November from Maryland to Florida where it will begin operating American's brand new Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruises from late December. American Glory will sail US itineraries along the East Coast throughout 2024. It is being introduced only a few months after series flagship, American Eagle, as well as new riverboat American Serenade. American Glory features four decks with private balcony accommodations, including single- and double-occupancy staterooms as well as suites. The ship also offers a top deck with lounges inside and out, a main restaurant, casual café and fitness center.

The first American Cruise Lines' Coastal Cat has completed its sea trials. ACL accepted delivery of the 100-passenger small ship from Chesapeake Shipbuilding on-time as scheduled. American Eagle is the first of a dozen new Coastal Cats that American Cruise Lines is planning to build. The next four ships are already under construction for expected delivery over the next year. The new boat is the first in its class. American Eagle is already on its way to Massachusetts where it will embark on its first passenger cruise. The new ship will sail itineraries along the East Coast starting 14 August 2023. The first cruise is an eight-day 'Cape Codder' itinerary round trip from Boston. "This is the flagship in American Cruise Lines new series of small Coastal Cats, which are unlike anything else available in the US market,” said CEO Charles B Robertson. American Eagle accommodates 100 guests axross four decks with private balcony staterooms. It features comfortable interior and outdoor lounges, a main restaurant, café and fitness centre. It comes just months after the company introduced its sixth new modern riverboat. The second new Coastal Cat in the series, American Glory, will launch in November 2023.