The following is the text of a news release from American Cruise Lines:
(GUILFORD, Conn.) — American Cruise Lines launched its new riverboat American Song into the Wicomico River on Nov. 17.
The first ship in the line’s Modern Riverboat Series, American Song is being built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md., and is already seven weeks ahead of schedule. Immediately after the launch, the ship was positioned in Chesapeake’s East Outfitting Basin where it will receive its upper decks and outfitting.
American Song has five decks, accommodates 190 passengers, and has 102 staterooms. The bow of American Song is designed to open, allowing a retractable rotating gangway to extend from the ship’s main deck directly to a river bank or dock. This advanced bow and gangway gives the ship the ability to make “bow landings” wherever needed. This feature will give American Song an array of options for its itineraries.
The new boat features Veth z-drives forward and aft. American Song is also equipped with two Caterpillar ultra-low-sulfur diesel main engines.
The inaugural season aboard American Song will begin in fall 2018 on the Mississippi River and will continue on the West Coast in 2019 for American Cruise Lines’ Columbia and Snake River itineraries.
