American Symphony Launched

American Cruise Lines announced March 17 that the cruise vessel American Symphony was launched at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md. It is the fifth vessel in ACL’s “modern riverboat” series, which was introduced in 2018.

Construction is already underway on the next vessel in the series, the American Serenade.

The American Symphony will feature the same design and state-of-the-art features showcased aboard the 2021 sister ship American Melody, including the series’ hallmark opening bow and retractable gangway. The American Symphony will accommodate 175 passengers, has 5 decks, 100 percent balcony staterooms, a four-story glass atrium, indoor and outdoor dining venues, large fitness centers, multiple spacious lounges and a top deck that showcases a skywalk and an ellipse cutout cantilevered over the ship’s fourth-deck cafe below.

It will begin its inaugural Mississippi River season in August, sailing 8-day Lower Mississippi River cruises between New Orleans and Memphis, then transition to Upper Mississippi River sailings between St. Louis and St. Paul.

Immediately after the launch, the new riverboat was positioned in Chesapeake’s East outfitting basin where it will receive its upper decks and outfitting.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding has a long history of designing and building innovative new small ships for American Cruise Lines, including the line’s recently announced Project Blue fleet, coming in 2023.

American Cruise Lines operates 15 ships, all accommodating just 100-190 passengers.

Caption for photo: Aerial view of Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md.