US operator to launch two 170-guest ships and one 195-guest vessel between 2017 and 2018
By
Rebecca Gibson |
US shipbuilder Chesapeake Shipbuilding has started work on a third river cruise ship for American Cruise Lines at its yard in Salisbury, Maryland.
The shipbuilder is fabricating the steel for the 195-passenger newbuild, which is being constructed alongside two more American Cruise Line vessels.
First to be delivered will be the 170-passenger American Constellation, which is currently nine weeks ahead of schedule and being outfitted with interior before her May 2017 launch. Specifically designed to navigate US coastal waters, American Constellation features active wing stabilizers, the latest green propulsion technology, and large staterooms with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
In her inaugural summer season, American Constellation will sail a new 10-night roundtrip from Boston, Maryland to destinations such as Bar Harbor, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.
Chesapeake is also building a 170-passenger sister ship to American Constellation, which will be delivered in 2018.
“American Cruise Lines ships are the newest and most environmentally friendly in America,” said Timothy Beebe, vice president of American Cruise Lines. “By continually designing and building brand new ships, we are able to exceed the expectations of seasoned European river travellers right here in the US.”