Small American Ships – ACL’s Project Blue
By Ted Scull
American Cruise Lines has just revealed details of a brand-new fleet of go-anywhere small American ships for the U.S. market.
An aerial rendering of the new Project Blue series. * Rendering: American Cruise Lines
Innovators from the Start
If there is innovation afloat in the American-flag small ship industry, one can almost always bet on Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines (ACL) being in the forefront.
The name has been around for decades under several owners and the current family — the Robertsons — are second generation.
ACL’s small ships always had bigger cabins, the first private balconies, albeit often extremely narrow, dedicated single cabins, and more than just one public room.
The second and third lounges were often entrance foyers deftly transformed with lounge furnishings.
Further, because so many different states are involved on coastal itineraries between Maine and Florida, the liquor laws varied. One had to have a separate license for each one.
Hence it was cheaper, to jack up the price a notch and offer a complimentary one-hour open bar before dinner and include wine at lunchtime and dinner. The decision proved very popular.
Evolution of the ACL Design & Look
ACL riverboats initially kept the stern paddlewheel for looks, then the newer vessels evolved to a more European-style with traditional propellors. And soon the window-dressing paddle-wheel was history.
Now we have the catamaran-style river, bay, and coastal cruise boat, the first-generation in North America, and infrequently used in Europe for overnight cruising.
The catamaran can be anything but comfortable in rough weather as I experienced twice in Europe and once in the Indonesian archipelago. Seas tended to slam into the cavity between the twin hulls creating an unsettling jolt. However, ACL will mostly confine the ships to inland waters.
The catamaran hull design of the upcoming Project Blue fleet. * Rendering: American Cruise Lines
The Ambitious Project Blue
ACL’s latest new fleet, to be built under the designation Project Blue, is an ambitious one.
“Project Blue started as a design challenge to create a boat small enough for New England harbors and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage, with a draft shallow enough for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. These boats can run almost anywhere, and because there will be 12 of them, they will be deployed all over the United States,” says Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines.
A dozen ships of the same class is extraordinary — I can’t think of any other line in history who has done it, other than the standard model of Viking’s river fleet and over a long period.
They will be built in the line’s own yard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding, located well up the Wicomico River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
The few tests these boats will face are open-waters along the Eastern Seaboard between short stretches of the protecting Intra-Coastal Waterway. The longest bit of ocean sailing lies along New Jersey’s Atlantic Coast between New York Harbor and the mouth of the Delaware River.
On Alaska cruises, there is a short open stretch where Pacific swells enter the Inside Passage just north of Vancouver Island. And, maybe one might encounter some more when cruising amongst the islands nearest to the open ocean.
Already under construction, the first two vessels will appear in 2023.
They will take up to 109 passengers and a crew of 50. This latter figure seems high.
Modern décor is by DADO of Miami. As with ACL’s other vessels, most accommodations will have balconies.
Project Blue’s standard cabin with balcony. * Rendering: American Cruise Lines
The forward observation lounge offers 270-degree views, and the stern water-level deck allows easy access to the tender and kayaks.
Deck space is generous and available on several levels.
The forward lounge. * Rendering: American Cruise Lines
Expect to see them operating in much the same waters as the rest of the fleet: along coasts, into bays, up rivers, and across lakes. However, promotion now includes the deftly added wording of an expedition cruise.
Genuinely different will be two main dining rooms, a rarity on this type and size of ship. Plus, room service, which is not an option on most other small ship fleets, unless you are ill.
One of two dining rooms on the Project Blue vessels. * Rendering: American Cruise Lines
The initial pair will be named American Eagle and American Glory, after the two vessels that restarted American Cruise Lines with its second coming in 2000 and 2002.
All American Small American Ships
This fleet of small American ships will operate solely within the United States. It will employ an All-American crew as does the present fleet of 15 ships, now handling between 100 and 190 passengers.
A catalogue of more than three dozen itineraries touch no less than 31 states.
For more info on American Cruise Lines’ Project Blue, click here.
RELATED: John Roberts spends a week on the new American Countess, here’s his review.
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HEIDI SARNA
Thanks, Ted, for the great insights into coastal cruising and ship design, drawing from your vast experience and direct knowledge of the company. You added a lot to my understanding of this ambitious project.
Thank you Anne for your support and all your good work for us..
Wow, that’s a lot of new small ships for the US, so many appealing options close to home!