American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines
Private
Industry Travel & Hospitality
Founded 1991
Headquarters Guilford, Connecticut
Area served
 United States
Products Cruises
Website AmericanCruiseLines.com

American Cruise Lines, Inc. is a small-ship cruise line with its headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut, United States.[1][2] The line operates six small ships along the Eastern Seaboard and Western Seaboard (including Alaska[3]) as well as the Mississippi-Ohio and Columbia-Snake river systems of the United States.

History

American Cruise Lines was incorporated in 1991.[4] The 49-passenger American Eagle launched in 2000 and was followed in 2002 by the same-sized American Glory. The American Spirit was launched in 2005 and held twice as many passengers. A fourth ship, American Star, was launched in 2007. In 2010 the 104 passenger Independence, built with a wider beam and active wing stabilizers, was launched. The wider beam allows for larger staterooms, public spaces and e balconies. In , American Cruise Lines acquired an authentic paddlewheel cruise ship, Queen of the West, renovating it by decreasing the capacity to 120, making for a larger more comfortable dining room, lounges and decks. The company has also launched two 150-passenger Mississippi River paddlewheelers Queen of the Mississippi in 2012 and a new American Eagle in 2015. On 14 July 2015, ACL announced a third Mississippi River Paddlewheeler named America will enter service in 2016.[5] On 4 August 2015, the company announced that Queen of the Mississippi would be renamed American Pride and repositioned to the Columbia River in early 2016 being replaced by the new America..[6] On October 23rd, 2015, ACL announced a new, coastal cruise ship.[7] At 170 passengers, this vessel is significantly larger than its previous 100 Passenger and 104 Passenger yacht style coastal ships. This ship was named American Constellation and entered service in May 2017.[8] Its sister vessel slated for 2018 will be named American Constitution.[9]

Modern river ships

On March 1, 2017, American Cruise Lines announced a new class of five new river vessels. Unlike ACL's current four riverboats, the new vessels will be of the more modern variety commonly found on European rivers rather than the Victorian-era-style paddlewheelers currently deployed. The new vessels will be four decks high, 345 feet (105 m) long, and carry 200 passengers. The styling is design is similar to the upcoming coastal cruise ships American Constellation and American Constitution. The vessels will feature private balconies, enlarged cabins, and bathroom facilities more in line with those in hotel rooms. ACL has not released exact routes or river systems for the new vessels, but the first vessel is expected to enter service in 2018 and is currently under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding.[10]

In late February 2018, the company announced the beginning of the second ship's construction. She's expected to enter service in summer 2019, while the first ship of the new class, American Song, will take her inaugural sailing in October 2018.[11]

Fleet

An American Cruise Lines ship docked in Jacksonville, Florida

Coastal cruise ships

Columbia Riverboats

Mississippi Riverboats

Modern Riverboats

  • American Song (2018)
  • American Harmony (2019)
  • Modern River Ship 3
  • Modern River Ship 4
  • Modern River Ship 5

Retired

  • American Eagle (2000) - permanently moored at Chesapeake Shipbuilding as hosing for contractors.
  • American Glory (2002) - laid up in Norfolk, VA.

References

  1. ↑ "General Information." American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012. "American Cruise Lines, Inc. operates from headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut[...]"
  2. ↑ "Cruise News." (Archive) American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012. "741 Boston Post Road ٠ Suite 200 ٠ Guilford, Connecticut"
  3. ↑ http://www.americancruiselines.com/admin/includes/uploadpdf/Alaska_Shore_Excursions_FINAL_2_2_12.pdf
  4. ↑ "American Cruise Lines". Altius Directory. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  5. ↑ http://americancruiselines.com/docs/press-releases/america-press-release-final-7-14-15.pdf?sfvrsn=2
  6. ↑ "New paddle wheeler to debut on Columbia and Snake rivers". USA Today. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "American Cruise Lines Announces Construction of a New Coastal Cruise Ship". PR Web. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "American Constellation Cruise Ship". Ship Technology (London, UK). Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. ↑ Gray Faust, Chris. "American Cruise Lines Announces Name for 2018 Coastal Cruise Ship". Cruise Critic.
  10. ↑ Baran, Michelle. "American Cruise Lines unveils look of modern U.S. riverboats". Travel Weekly. Travel Weekly. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Staff, CIN (2018-02-27). "American Cruise Lines Starts Construction on Another Riverboat". Retrieved 2018-02-28.
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