ACL cruises and ships
American Cruise Lines (ACL) operates the only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of river and small coastal cruise ships. All vessels are built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding (Salisbury, Maryland) and sail exclusively on U.S. waterways. They accommodate between 90–190 passengers in an intimate, American-made setting.
📁 Fleet by Class
ACL’s fleet is organized into six main vessel types:
- Project Blue – Coastal Cats (100‑passenger catamaran‑hull ships)
- Patriot Class (new coastal cruisers for up to 125 passengers)
- Modern Riverboats (100% private-balcony river vessels)
- Constellation Class Coastal Ships (~170 passengers)
- Classic Paddlewheelers (traditional 180‑passenger riverboats)
- Independence Class Coastal Ships (~90 passengers)
🛳️ Ship Details: Classes & Specifications
1. Project Blue – Coastal Cats (100 passengers)
- Ships: American Eagle (2023), Glory (2023), Liberty (2024), Legend (2024)
- Shallow-draft catamaran hulls allow access to narrow waterways.
- Operate along Eastern coastal itineraries (New England, Southeast).
- Designed for comfort with bow observation deck, walking track, dining salons.
Interesting fact: American Liberty features a hybrid hull with contemporary interiors and visited narrow creeks like Kingston’s Roundout Creek. Cruise Critic
2. Patriot Class Coastal Ships (125 passengers)
- Upcoming: American Patriot, Pioneer (2025); Maverick, Ranger (2026)
- All outfitted with stabilizers, 5 decks, 56 staterooms, expansive Sky Lounge with 360° Skywalk.
- Destinations: Maine to Florida coastal itineraries.
3. Modern American Riverboats (180 passengers)
- Ships launched: Song (2018), Harmony (2019), Jazz (2020), Melody (2021), Symphony (2022), Serenade (2023); Encore (2026) & Anthem (2027) planned.
- All have 100% balcony cabins, large rooms, atrium lobbies.
- Routes: Mississippi, Ohio, Columbia–Snake rivers.
- American Song was named by Time magazine as one of the “World’s Greatest Places.”
4. Constellation Class (~170 passengers)
- American Constellation (2017) and American Constitution (2018)
- Built for Pacific Northwest and Alaska coastal cruises, Puget Sound.
- Offer panoramic restaurant, lounge, fitness, and reading spaces.
5. Classic Paddlewheelers (180 passengers)
- Ships: American Splendor (2016, formerly America), Heritage, Pride, West (refurbished by ACL in 2022)
- Traditional steamboat styling, glass-enclosed dining, vintage ambiance.
- Sail Mississippi and Columbia River systems.
6. Independence Class Coastal Ships (~90 passengers)
- American Independence (2010), Star (2007), Spirit (2005)
- Smaller ships built for intimate coastal cruises.
- Main lounge, sun deck, cozy interiors, smooth navigation.
⚙️ Technical Snapshot
| Class | Build Years | Capacity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Blue – Coastal Cats | 2023–2024 | ~100 | Coastal catamaran tours |
| Patriot Class | 2025–2026 | ~125 | Stabilized East Coast cruises |
| Modern Riverboats | 2018–2023 (ongoing) | ~180 | Full-river itineraries |
| Constellation Class | 2017–2018 | ~170 | Alaska & Puget Sound coastal |
| Classic Paddlewheelers | 1995–2016 (refurb 2022) | ~180 | Traditional river cruising |
| Independence Class | 2005–2010 | ~90 | Shallow coastal voyages |
✨ Interesting Highlights
- ACL offers the largest staterooms in small-ship cruising — many over 300–600+ sq ft.
- Every ship is U.S.-built, U.S.-flagged, and crewed entirely by Americans.
- American Song earned international acclaim for its design and service.
⚠️ Incidents & Controversies
- Minimal incidents reported. ACL maintains a strong safety record and peer recognition.
- No significant scandals or failures appear in public domain sources. ACL’s FAQ emphasizes modern tech and safety across ships, with an average fleet age under four years.
✅ Summary
American Cruise Lines offers a uniquely American cruising experience. Their fleet balances modern amenities with small-scale comfort. Each ship class serves specific itineraries: Alaska coasts, historic rivers, Eastern seaboard, or Southern waterways. With expansion underway through 2027, ACL continues to innovate in U.S. cruising.
