American Cruise Lines (ACL), Guilford, Conn., has announced 10 new ships for the U.S. market beginning with American Pioneer debuting in Florida on Oct. 31. American Pioneer is the second new Patriot Class ship the company has launched this year. The balance of the order will be delivered over the next three years, underscoring the company’s commitment to the development and modernization of the U.S. market.
All American’s new boats will continue to sail domestically, operating itineraries across the ACL’s growing portfolio, including the Mississippi River, Alaska, and the East Coast. The new ships will also accelerate American’s expansion into new niche markets such as the Great Lakes, the Arkansas River, and National Parks cruises.
“American’s order book reflects our confidence in the domestic cruise market and the product we have pioneered in the U.S.,” Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of ACL, said in a statement announcing the company’s plans. “The new ships will roll out at an average pace of one every four months and keep us on a disciplined growth trajectory.”
Following American Pioneer’s inaugural sailing, the company’s orderbook will feature five new American Riverboats, and four more Patriot Class ships, which are a part of ACL’s ongoing Project Blue series. The Project Blue ships to date have included four new Coastal Cats and Patriot Class flagship, American Patriot, which launched in June 2025.
American Cruise Lines 10 New Ships Through 2028 include the following:
• American Pioneer, small Patriot Class ship, 2025;
• American Encore, modern American Riverboat, 2026;
• American Maverick, small Patriot Class ship, 2026;
• American Ranger, small Patriot Class ship, 2026;
• American Anthem, modern American Riverboat, 2027;
• American Mariner, small Patriot Class ship, 2027;
• American Navigator, small Patriot Class ship, 2027;
• American Grace, modern American Riverboat, 2028;
• (American’s 29th ship): modern American Riverboat, 2028;
• (American’s 30th ship): modern American Riverboat, 2028.
This week, American Pioneer begins sailing the company’s new 16-day Grand Florida Coast & Keys cruise, from Amelia Island, Fla., to St. Petersburg, Fla. Both American Pioneer and American Patriot will be sailing several of the company’s popular, new Florida coastal itineraries through April 2026.
The next four new Patriot Class ships are American Maverick, and American Ranger, launching in 2026, and American Mariner and American Navigator, launching in 2027.
American Maverick and American Ranger will begin sailing the company’s domestic East Coast itineraries in June and September 2026, respectively. American Mariner and American Navigator will also sail an array of the company’s East Coast itineraries beginning in June and July 2027.
Featured amenities include: 130 guest capacity; 5 decks; singles, doubles, and suites with private balconies; multiple guest lounges, including a top deck lounge with fresh-air walking track; bow terrace/observation area; fitness center; a grand dining room and casual café; complimentary laundry room; and elevator access to all decks.
Next year will mark the debut of American’s seventh new modern riverboat, American Encore. The 180-guest riverboat will sail the Columbia and Snake Rivers beginning in May 2026. American Encore is the latest iteration in the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art new American Riverboats for U.S. cruising, and will be quickly followed by sisterships, American Anthem and American Grace in 2028. (Also slated to operate on the Columbia and Snake Rivers where demand continues to grow, especially for American’s exclusive National Parks cruises). Two more presently unnamed American Riverboats will follow American Grace in 2028.
Featured amenities include: 180 guest capacity; five decks; multi-story glass atrium at the center of the ship; 100% private balcony accommodations, including the first-ever Signature Suite (1,000 sq/ft); a grand dining room and casual café; multiple indoor and outdoor lounges, including top deck lounge and outdoor walking track; fitness center; complimentary laundry room; and elevator access to all passenger decks.
