American Cruise Lines (ACL) has announced that the renaming of its small ship fleet is complete and the company's fleet will expand to 15 small ships in 2022.
ACL’s plan to rename and redesign their paddlewheel fleet was revealed earlier this year. Next season, all of the company’s riverboats and small cruise ships will officially carry the distinctive “American” brand moniker.
ACL did not elaborate on the small fleet expansion for 2022.
The riverboats America, Queen of the Mississippi and Queen of the West, will be renamed the American Splendor, American Heritage and American West (American Pride will retain its name). ACL said that this rebranding brings uniformity to its growing fleet, which has doubled in the past five years, and remains the only 100 % U.S. fleet of small ships operating 100% domestic U.S. river and coastal itineraries.
The company’s website, marketing materials, cruise schedules, and travel advisor portal, have been updated to reflect the name changes and redesign in effect for 2022.
Studio DADO, the Miami-based design firm commissioned to do the interiors for ACL’s newest modern riverboats — American Melody, American Symphony, and American Serenade — will also complete the upcoming remodel of ACL’s paddlewheel fleet. The new project will begin this winter and will be finished in time for ACL’s 2022 cruise season which operates March through December.
“Both in designation and design, all four of our paddlewheelers will be remodeled to meet the sophisticated new bar we set for U.S. river cruising with our groundbreaking modern riverboats,” Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines, said in a recent statement.
From the staterooms and suites to the lounges and dining rooms, each of American’s classic paddlewheelers will be completely made-over with new color palettes, textiles and linens, new furniture and carpets, and regionally inspired artwork and flourishes, ACL said. Studio DADO will "reimagine" ACL’s paddlewheel fleet interiors while maintaining the romance, nostalgic touches, and iconic elegance of historic riverboats.
ACL said that the Mississippi paddlewheelers American Splendor and American Heritage will continue to pay homage to the river, highlighting its historical, cultural, musical, and literary inspirations. ACL’s Columbia and Snake rivers paddlewheelers, American Pride and American West, will continue to feature Western and Native American inspired themes, including influences from the region’s celebrated Lewis & Clark expedition.
