American Cruise Lines
TypePrivate
IndustryTravel and Hospitality
Founded1973 (1973)
HeadquartersGuilford, Connecticut, U.S.
Area served
United States
Key people
Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO (2019-Present); Charles A. Robertson, Founder, Chairman & CEO (1973-2019)
ProductsCruises
Websitewww.americancruiselines.com

American Cruise Lines, Inc. is the largest river and small-ship cruise line in the U.S.A. with its headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut, United States.[1][2] The Line operates nineteen small U.S. flagged cruise ships along the Eastern Seaboard (Maine to Florida, Hudson River, and Chesapeake Bay) and Western Seaboard (including Alaska and Puget Sound[3]) as well as the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers and the Columbia-Snake river system in the United States.

History

American Spirit

American Cruise Lines was incorporated in 1991.[4] The company maintains the only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small cruise ships in the world, including the most riverboats exploring the Mississippi River. American Cruise Lines' first 49-passenger American Eagle launched in 2000 and was followed in 2002 by American Glory (both ships have since been retired). In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched the new American Eagle and American Glory; the 1st and 2nd ships in the company's new series of twelve 100-passenger Coastal Cats (namesakes of the original smaller vessels). The company's 90-passenger small ship American Spirit was launched in 2005, 90-passenger American Star in 2007, and 90-passenger American Independence in 2010 (all 3 were updated in 2023). American Cruise Lines acquired its first authentic paddlewheel cruise ship, Queen of the West in 1995, and the company launched three newly-built Mississippi River and Columbia & Snake River paddle-wheelers, Queen of the Mississippi, American Pride, and America. All four of the company's paddle-wheelers were redesigned and renamed in 2022. Riverboats Queen of the Mississippi, Queen of the West, and America became American Heritage, American West, and American Splendor (American Pride retained its original name). [5] In 2017 and 2018, American Cruise Lines launched two new small coastal cruise ships American Constellation and American Constitution respectively.[6] Accommodating 170-passengers each, these sister ships are significantly larger than the company's other 100-passenger small coastal ships, which sail 100% U.S. itineraries along both the U.S. East and West coasts (operating similarly to the company's river cruises; visiting only U.S. ports of call). [7] [8] In 2018, American Cruise Lines launched American Song, the first modern riverboat in the U.S.A. and the flagship in the company's groundbreaking Modern Riverboat Series sailing on both the Mississippi River and the Columbia & Snake Rivers.[9]

Modern Riverboats & Coastal Cats

On March 1, 2017, American Cruise Lines announced American Song, the flagship in a new class of modern riverboats for the U.S.A. Unlike more traditional paddle-wheel riverboats the company's new American Song is more modern, offering contemporary design like riverboats more commonly found on European rivers. American Song has 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 Harmony in 2019; American Jazz in 2020, American Melody in 2021; American Symphony in 2022; and American Serenade in 2023 (named Cruise Critic's Best New River Cruise Ship of 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 more in line with those in hotel rooms.

In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched 2 new boats in another new series of small coastal cruise ships, American Eagle and American Glory. These new small ships are part of the company's Project Blue series of twelve 100-passenger Coastal Cats being built in the U.S.A. These small 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 Coastal Cat series, American Liberty and American Legend.

100% U.S. Flagged Fleet

American Star docked in Jacksonville, Florida

Coastal Ships U.S. East & West Coasts

  • 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

Coastal cat ship American Eagle in Boston
  • American Song (2018)
  • American Harmony (2019)
  • American Jazz (2020)

Mississippi Riverboats

Modern Riverboats

  • American Song (2018)
  • American Harmony (2019)
  • American Jazz (2020)
  • American Melody (2021)
  • American Symphony (2022)
  • American Serenade (2023)

Costal Cats

  • American Eagle (2023)
  • American Glory (2023)
  • American Liberty (2024)
  • American Legend (2024)

Retired

  • The company's original American Eagle (built 2000) - was moored at Chesapeake Shipbuilding as housing for contractors. It has since been sold for scrap in Baltimore, MD.
  • The company's original American Glory (built 2002) - scuttled off coast of Delaware on November 4, 2019 for artificial reef[10]
Former American Glory

References

  1. ↑ "General Information Archived 2012-01-21 at the Wayback Machine." 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%5B%5D
  4. ↑ "American Cruise Lines". Altius Directory. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ "American Cruise Lines Announces Construction of a New Coastal Cruise Ship". PR Web. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "American Constellation Cruise Ship". Ship Technology (London, UK). Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Gray Faust, Chris. "American Cruise Lines Announces Name for 2018 Coastal Cruise Ship". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  9. ↑ "America's Only 100% U.S. Fleet Grows to 15 Small Ships and Takes All-American Names for 2022" (PDF). American Cruise Lines. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "Video: Small Cruise Ship Sunk as Artificial Reef Off Delaware". The Maritime Executive. Archived from the original on 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
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