US yard will add three upper decks and outfit American Cruise Lines' third modern riverboat
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Chesapeake Shipbuilding has floated American Cruise Lines’ new riverboat American Jazz out of the building dock at its yard in Salisbury, Maryland five weeks ahead of schedule.
American Jazz, which is the third in a series of five new modern riverboats for American Cruise Lines, was launched into the Wicomico River and berthed in Chesapeake’s East Outfitting Basin to enable the shipyard’s team to add the upper three decks and outfit the interiors.
Boasting the same contemporary six-deck design as her sister ships American Song and American Harmony, which debuted in October 2018 and August 2019 respectively, the 194-guest American Jazz will have a central multi-storey glass atrium, an opening bow and retractable gangway, and 100 staterooms and suites, all of which will have private furnished balconies. Other onboard highlights will include the Grand Dining Room, multiple lounges, several open-air and shaded sundecks, a putting green, an exercise room, and a new casual dining venue called The Back Porch Café.
American Jazz is expected to start her maiden season in the third quarter of 2020, when she will begin offering cruises along the Mississippi River.
Chesapeake Shipbuilding has already started building American Melody, the fourth of American Cruise Lines’ modern riverboats. The vessel will feature several design changes from the first three ships in the series.