ACL to Launch Riverboat Pair in 2021

American Cruise Lines announced that it will launch two additional modern riverboats for the 2021 season. Construction is already underway on the new riverboats and will ramp up as American Jazz, the Line’s third modern riverboat, is readied for its 2020 debut in New Orleans.

The two riverboats coming next year will be sister ships to the American Harmony and American Jazz, but will feature new design elements that appeal to today’s discerning travelers. Further design enhancements will be unveiled later this year.

“These new ships show our continued commitment to leading the Mississippi River cruise market,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines. “The American fleet is already unrivaled and the new riverboats will allow us to continue to roll out innovative amenities that enhance guest experiences.” All three new ships are being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md. an affiliate of American Cruise Lines.

“Chesapeake Shipbuilding is well-suited to increase production output,” said Steve McGee, President of Chesapeake Shipbuilding. “We have five hull fabrication buildings and more than 1,000 feet of deep water bulkhead to build and outfit multiple ships at the same time.”

American’s series of modern riverboats ushered in a new era of river cruising in the U.S. The line introduced the country’s first modern riverboat in 2018, with the debut of the series flagship, American Song. The second modern riverboat, American Harmony, was introduced in 2019, and the third, American Jazz, will begin cruising the Mississippi in 2020.

American Cruise Lines has introduced five new ships since 2017, including new coastal ships, and will have 14 ships cruising in 2021 to expand both its river and coastal fleet.