American Cruise Lines is Building Two New Ships, American Patriot and American Pioneer

Image: American Cruise Lines is building American Patriot and American Pioneer (Photo Credit: American Cruise Lines)

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Mon April 8, 2024

The American Cruise Lines fleet is growing again: Less than a week after announcing it had purchased four former American Queen Voyages ships, American Cruise Lines has revealed that it’s building two additional ships.

The new-build vessels will be named American Patriot and American Pioneer. Both can accommodate up to 125 passengers in 56 staterooms—all with private balconies—and will sail up and down the East Coast.?

The 5-deck ships are under construction at American Cruise Lines’ affiliated shipyard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding, in Maryland.

American Patriot is scheduled to debut in June 2025, while American Pioneer will hit the water in November 2025. They represent the fifth and sixth ships in the cruise line’s “Project Blue” series of 12 new small ships for the U.S. market.

One of the itineraries the vessels will offer is the new 15-day “Grand Florida Coast & Keys” cruise. Slated to launch in 2025, the new itinerary is a longer version of an 8-day itinerary that launched this year.

The new ships will have a large main lounge and restaurant on the first floor, giving passengers a view of the water from every seat. The fifth floor will feature a 360-degree walking track, an indoor lounge, an outdoor sun deck and a casual cafe. The third deck will feature a terrace and lounge, while the fourth deck will have an indoor fitness center.

The fourth deck will also feature all-suite accommodations that range in size from 420 to 620 square feet. In addition to suites, the new ships will have standard staterooms and single rooms.

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