Guilford, CT—November 2017—American Cruise Lines announced today that it successfully launched its brand new riverboat American Song into the Wicomico River on Friday, November 17th. The first ship in the Line’s highly anticipated Modern Riverboat Series, American Song has made a big splash—both in the water and the news. With its sleek modern design and state-of-the-art technical features, it sails past the competition and will be the finest ship available in U.S. river cruising.
Built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD; American Song is already 7 weeks ahead of schedule. Immediately after the launch, the ship was positioned in Chesapeake’s East Outfitting Basin where it will receive its upper decks and outfitting. Chesapeake Shipbuilding has a long history of designing and building innovative new ships for American Cruise Lines. American Song embodies this tradition and will possess a host of superior technical advancements, revolutionary in the industry.
American Song has 5 decks, accommodates 190 passengers, and has 102 staterooms. The bow of American Song is designed to open, allowing a retractable rotating gangway to extend from the ship’s main deck directly to a river bank or dock. The uniqueness of this advanced bow and nimble gangway gives the ship the ability to make “bow landings” wherever needed. This feature will give American Song an array of options for its itineraries unmatched by other ships. The new riverboat also employs a superior propulsion system; 2 Veth Propulsion Z-drives (supplied by Veth of the Netherlands). These 360-degree azimuthing forward and aft propellers give American Song total flexibility for docking and maneuvering. American Song is also equipped with 2 advanced main engines from Caterpillar. These twin, ultra-low-sulfur diesel engines require less fuel and produce lower emissions than other engines currently in use on the market. In all, American Song will be the most technically superior, efficient, and environmentally friendly ship in U.S. river cruising.
The Inaugural season aboard American Song will begin in Fall 2018 on the Mississippi River and will continue on the West Coast in 2019 for American Cruise Lines’ magnificent Columbia and Snake River itineraries.
