USA: Chesapeake Shipbuilding Kicks Off Construction of ACL’s New Riverboat
American Cruise Lines, the leader in small ship cruising, will be building another brand new riverboat due to the high demand for its U.S. river cruises. A contract has been signed and construction has already begun at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. The new riverboat will be slightly larger but similar in many respects to the 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi, which is nearing completion at the shipyard’s facilities in Salisbury, MD.
“We recognize a considerable strength in river cruising and have observed an increased interest in our U.S. river cruises over the last several years,” said Charles A. Robertson, CEO of American Cruise Lines. “We look forward to introducing yet another new authentic paddlewheel riverboat to meet this demand.”
American Cruise Lines’ third new riverboat will feature a similar capacity to that of the Queen of the Mississippi and will also boast the most spacious staterooms in the industry, entirely private balconies – all with sliding glass doors, a center atrium with a grand staircase, various lounges and numerous amenities including:
- Fully-functioning authentic paddlewheel
- 300+ square foot staterooms
- Private balconies with sliding glass doors
- Various unique lounges, libraries, and cafés
- Fine hotel-style bathrooms
- Room Service
- Wi-Fi in all staterooms
- Satellite TV and DVD player in all staterooms
- Single sitting, open seating dining
- Complimentary cocktail hour
As of yet, no decision has been made as to where the new riverboat will operate other than on U.S. rivers. Additional details and information will be announced in the coming months.
With over thirty years of direct industry experience, Chesapeake Shipbuilding has become a leading designer and builder of a notable array of commercial ships up to 300 feet in length.
[mappress]
Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, March 14, 2012; Image: americancruiselines
