Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2021

1 1 2 INTERV IEW Creating an Ode to Americana Jorge Mesa tells Rebecca Gibson about Studio DADO’s first river cruise project on American Cruise Lines’ new American Melody A merican Melody will open American Cruise Lines (ACL) up to a new generation of cruise guests when she debuts on the Mississippi River this summer. The vessel, which is the first in the fleet to feature interiors entirely designed by Miami- based firm Studio DADO, will also be a celebration of all things American. “We wanted to take guests on a journey through America, highlighting the beautiful places that hold so much history and diverse culture through our vast land,” says Jorge Mesa, founding partner of Studio DADO. “We wanted to evoke a sense of pride and spark an appreciation for US history, while also ensuring that we offered some of ACL’s signature onboard touches.” Nods to America are intertwined throughout American Melody. For example, the main staircase features a sculpture representing the soundwaves of The American Songbook. Meanwhile, the study on Deck 3 (which can be transformed into a private dining room) has a rustic orange colour palette redolent of bricks made from the clay of the Chicago River. In addition, the 84 staterooms showcase a carefully curated collection of artworks that illustrate American Melody’s ports of call along the Mississippi River. They also offer various elements to enhance the guest experience, such as new storage options and USB charging outlets. Continuing the celebration of America, the décor for the six suites is inspired by both Chesapeake Bay’s historical skipjack vessels and Martha’s Vineyard, an island south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Guests will see these influences echoed in the nautical references in the furniture, hardware, millwork, lighting and glass, as well as in the natural wood tones and elegant finishes. These materials combine with the neutral colour palette to create “ We see this inaugural project in the domestic cruising industry as a creative catalyst” The sculpture in the atrium represents both American Melody’s musical name and the soundwaves of The Great American Song Book