American Cruise Lines is planning five new build river boats.
The first of these will take to the water in 2018 and will sport a very different look for the line.
The five new vessels will have a modern European style with large staterooms with private balconies and hotel-size bathrooms,
It is a move away from the line’s usual Mississippi paddlewheeler period style ships.
The first vessel is already under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Co and will carry 200 passengers.
Measuring 345 feet in length, they will have four decks with an expanded number of amenities including more lounges.
"American Cruise Lines has consistently pursued its new build program, as it considers refurbished boats unable to meet the modern expectations of today’s river cruise passengers," said the line’s vice present Timothy Beebe.
Chesapeake Shipbuilding is also building two 170-passenger coastal cruisers for ACL, the first of which is scheduled to begin sailing in the summer.
