Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Travel and Hospitality |
Founded | 1973 |
Headquarters | Guilford, Connecticut, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO (2019-Present); Charles A. Robertson, Founder, Chairman & CEO (1973-2019) |
Products | Cruises |
Website | www |
American Cruise Lines is the largest river and small-ship cruise line in the United States with its headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut. [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.
American Cruise Lines was incorporated in 1991. [4] The company operates the largest and only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small cruise ships in the world, with 19 new riverboats and small cruise ships exploring around the United States, including five riverboats on the Mississippi River and five on the Columbia and Snake rivers. In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched two 100-passenger Coastal Cats, American Eagle and American Glory; the first and second ships in the company's newest series of twelve small ships for the U.S. market (both are namesakes of original company vessels that have since been retired). The company operates both classic paddlewheelers and a fleet of new modern riverboats, including the first modern riverboat in the country, American Song, which debuted in 2018, and was named one of Time magazine's "World's Greatest Places" in 2019. American's four classic paddlewheel riverboats were redesigned and renamed in 2022. Paddlewheelers 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, the 170-passenger American Constellation and American Constitution. [6] All American Cruise Lines' riverboats and small ships cruise only in the United States following 100% U.S. itineraries along U.S. rivers as well as the protected coastal waters along the East and West coasts (all the company's itineraries visit only U.S. ports of call). [7] [8] [9]
On March 1, 2017, American Cruise Lines announced American Song, the flagship in a new class of riverboats for the United States. 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 five 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.
In 2023, American Cruise Lines launched two new boats in another new series of small coastal cruise ships, American Eagle and American Glory. These 100-passenger Coastal Cats are part of the company's Project Blue series of twelve new small ships being built in the United States. The company's Project Blue 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 third and fourth ships in the series, Coastal Cats, American Liberty and American Legend. American Cruise Lines has announced more riverboats and small ships, already under construction, set to launch in 2025. More newbuilds through 2026 were announced in June 2024. [10] [11]
A steamboat is a boat that is propelled primarily by steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S or PS ; however, these designations are most often used for steamships.
Carnival Corporation & plc is a British and American cruise operator with a combined fleet of over ninety vessels across nine cruise line brands and one joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). A dual-listed company, Carnival is composed of the Panama-incorporated, US-headquartered Carnival Corporation, and UK-based Carnival plc, which function as one entity. Carnival Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, whereas Carnival plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with an ADR listing on the NYSE. Carnival is listed in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 250 indices.
Windstar Cruises is a cruise line that operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships. Its six yachts carry just 148 to 310 guests and cruise to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America. In May 2014, Windstar added to its sailing yachts by adding the Star Pride power yacht, followed by Star Breeze and Star Legend in May 2015. The additional capacity opened up new itineraries such as voyages to Iceland, the Panama Canal, and Costa Rica and allowed Windstar Cruises to sail Tahiti year round.
Royal Caribbean International (RCI), formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is a cruise line founded in 1968 in Norway and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997.
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, and merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1997. Celebrity's signature logo is an "Χ" displayed on the funnel of Celebrity ships, and is the Greek letter chi, for "Chandris".
MSC Cruises is a Swiss-Italian global cruise line based in Geneva, with operations offices in Naples, Genoa and Venice. It was founded in 1988 in Naples, Italy, as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). In addition to being the world's largest privately held cruise company, employing about 23,500 people worldwide and with offices in 45 countries as of 2017, MSC Cruises is the third-largest cruise company in the world, after Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group, with a 10.2% share of all passengers carried in 2021.
The Delta Queen is an American sternwheel steamboat. She is known for cruising the major rivers that constitute the tributaries of the Mississippi River, particularly in the American South, although she began service in California on the Sacramento River delta for which she gets her name. She was docked in Chattanooga, Tennessee and served as a floating hotel until purchased by the newly formed Delta Queen Steamboat Company. She was towed to Houma, Louisiana, in March 2015 for refurbishing to her original condition.
American Queen is a Louisiana-built river steamship said to be the largest river steamboat ever built. Although the American Queen's stern paddlewheel is indeed powered by a steam engine, her secondary propulsion, in case of an emergency and for maneuverability around tight areas where the paddle wheel can not navigate, comes from a set of diesel-electric propellers known as Z-drives on either side of the sternwheel. She has 222 state rooms for a capacity of 436 guests and a crew of 160. She is 418 feet (127 m) long and 89 feet (27 m) wide.
Jeffboat was a shipyard in Jeffersonville, Indiana founded by James Howard in 1834, a builder of steamboats. The company was owned by the Howard family until it was sold leading up to World War II. Following the war, it became known as the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company and later changed its name to Jeffboat, the more commonly used short form of its name. The company was the largest inland shipbuilder in the United States and the second-largest builder of barges before it closed in 2018.
Viking is a cruise line providing river, ocean, and expedition cruises. Its operating headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland, and its marketing headquarters are in Los Angeles, California.
American Classic Voyages was an American-based cruise ship holding company cruise line, headquartered in Chicago, that operated between 1993 and 2001. The company attempted to take advantage of federal loans and other incentives to build and grow a US-flagged passenger ship industry. The company traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "AMCV". The company operated the Delta Steamboat Company, Delta Queen Coastal Voyages, American Hawaii Cruises and United States Lines.
Saga Shipping, also known as Saga Cruises, a division of the Saga plc, is a cruise line headquartered in Folkestone, England. Saga Cruises exclusively markets to and operates for people aged 50 and over.
Queen of the Mississippi, now named American Heritage, is an overnight riverboat owned and operated by American Cruise Lines, currently operating on the Mississippi River. She entered service in spring 2015 and was built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland for overnight river cruising within the continental United States. The vessel accommodates 150 passengers in her 84 staterooms. The vessel is a sister ship to American Pride, which originally carried the Queen of the Mississippi name from 2012 to 2015. There are some differences between the riverboats, like internal arrangement and cabins on the 5th deck. However, both riverboats feature all outward-facing accommodations with private baths, and many cabins also have private furnished balconies. Both Paddlewheels were completely revovated in 2022.
American Splendor, formerly America, is an overnight riverboat built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland for American Cruise Lines (ACL) for overnight river cruising on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers in the United States. American Slpendor replaced paddlewheeler American Pride on the Mississippi River in 2016 when that ship was repositioned to the Columbia River. According to American Cruise lines, American Splendor will have "features never seen before on a riverboat". American Splendor is slightly larger than previous ACL riverboats with a 185-passenger capacity. The ship's hull was launched on August 7, 2015, and moved to a basin where construction of the upper decks and outfitting will take place.
Queen of the Mississippi is an overnight riverboat being built by American Cruise Lines (ACL) at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland for overnight river cruising on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers in the United States. This riverboat was announced to assume the Queen of the Mississippi name after the previous ship was repositioned to the Columbia River and renamed in early 2016. However, the American Eagle quietly assumed the name in 2016 without clarification of whether this vessel will become Queen of the Mississippi in 2017 or sail under a different name.
Padelford Riverboats, established in 1969, is the sole provider of river boat cruises within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in the Twin Cities of the U.S. State of Minnesota. Padelford boats cruise on the Mississippi River and celebrate the history of the region.
American Duchess is a river cruise paddlewheeler owned by American Cruise Lines. The vessel entered the overnight cruise market as the third addition to the now-defunct American Queen Steamboat Company fleet and was advertised as being the most luxurious option of the line's vessels. The riverboat's itineraries included routes on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Illinois Rivers.
American Countess is a river cruise paddlewheeler owned by American Cruise Lines.