American Cruise Lines (ACL) today announced Project Blue, its plan to build 12 new “go-anywhere” sister ships exclusive to U.S. destinations. The vessels’ hybrid catamaran design will permit them to comfortably navigate coastal ocean routes as well as rivers, emphasizing small towns and trips closer to home.
“Project Blue started as a design challenge to create a boat small enough for New England harbors and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage, with a draft shallow enough for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of ACL. “These boats can run almost anywhere, and because there will be 12 of them, they will be deployed all over the United States.”
Project Blue started as a design challenge to create a boat small enough for New England harbors and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage, with a draft shallow enough for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Individual ship specifications call for each to carry 109 passengers and 50 crew and measure in at 241 feet long and 56 feet wide. Their catamaran hull design will permit stable, shallow-draft sailing in oceans, rivers, lakes and bays alike.
"Their go-anywhere agility combines the adventure of an expedition with the luxury of the finest river cruises,” according to the line.
Miami-based Studio Dado is designing the shipboard interiors to be elegant and contemporary. Every ship will sport 56 staterooms, almost all featuring private balconies, with categories including large standards, suites and singles. Public venues will extend to interior and exterior observation and sitting areas at the bow punctuated by a 270-degree-view forward lounge. Two dining rooms and room service will also be available. Meanwhile, at the stern, ships will feature an adventure deck complete with kayaks, tender and other itinerary-specific activities.
“Together with Chesapeake Shipbuilding, we built the first modern riverboats in the country,” Robertson said. “Now we are proud to introduce another new ship design for domestic exploration. American has specialized in small ship cruising for over 30 years, and continuing to innovate and expand the possibilities for cruising close to home is central to our mission.”
The first two U.S.-built, -crewed and -registered ships — American Eagle and American Glory — are already under construction at Chesapeake and will debut along the East Coast in 2023.
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American Cruise Lines
