Mississippi paddlewheeler to be named American Eagle

By Michelle Baran
American Cruise Lines’ new Mississippi paddlewheeler has been named the American Eagle and will sail its first revenue cruise on March 28.

After announcing last December that it would introduce four new U.S. riverboats between 2015 and 2017, ACL has finally provided details about the first of those vessels, the 149-passenger American Eagle.

The paddlewheeler is being built at the Chesapeake Shipbuilding yard in Salisbury, Md. It will feature 19 single staterooms and 65 double cabins, ranging from between 300 and 600 square feet.

With the exception of six lower-deck cabins, staterooms will have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with private balconies.

The public areas will include the Magnolia Lounge, the Sky Lounge, the Paddlewheel Lounge, the Grand Dining Room and the Mark Twain Library and Chart Room.

An outdoor exercise area and putting green will be located on the sun deck. Elevators will be available with access to all decks.

There will be guest laundry service, complimentary wireless Internet and complimentary breakfast room service.

The American Eagle will sail mostly seven-day cruises along the Mississippi River. It will join ACL’s existing Mississippi paddlewheeler, the 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi.

ACL has said that a Columbia and Snake river paddlewheeler will be launched later in 2015, but no details on that riverboat have been provided.

New Cruise Ships

 Check out the list of new ships we have compiled at We Travel 2U Cruise .

Cruise Line Ship Name Size/Tonnage Passengers Launch Date

New Cruise Ships Launching in 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Getaway 144,017 tons 4,000 February 2014  
Emerald Waterways Emerald Star 182 February 2014
Avalon Waterways Avalon Poetry II 128 March 2014  
Avalon Waterways Avalon Impression 164 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Alsvin 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Bestla 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Buri 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Delling 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Eistla 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Gullveig 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Heimdal 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Hermod 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Hlin 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Idi 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Ingvi 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Kara 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Kvasir 190 March 2014
Viking River Cruises Viking Lif 190 March 2014
American Queen Steamboat Company American Empress 3,388 tons 223 April 2014  
Aqua Expeditions Aqua Mekong 40 Spring 2014
Scenic Cruises Scenic Jade 2,721 tons 169 April 2014  
AmaWaterways AmaReina 164 April 2014
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Catherine 160 April 2014  
Emerald Waterways Emerald Sky 182 April 2014
Scenic Cruises Scenic Gem 2,200 tons 126 May 2014
Windstar Cruises Star Pride 9,975 tons 212 May 2014
Princess Cruises Regal Princess 141,000 tons 3,600 May 2014  
Avalon Waterways Avalon Illumination 164 May 2014
TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 3 99,700 tons 2,506 June 2014
Pearl Seas Cruises Pearl Mist 6,000 tons 210 June 2014  
AmaWaterways AmaSonata 164 July 2014
AmaWaterways AmaPura 56 Fall 2014
Costa Cruise Lines Costa Diadema 132,500 tons 4,947 October 2014
Royal Caribbean International Quantum of the Seas 167,800 tons 4,905 November 2014  

New Cruise Ships Launching in 2015

AIDA Cruises AIDAprima 124,500 tons 3,300 March 2015
Royal Caribbean International Anthem of the Seas 167,800 tons 4,905 April 2015  
Viking River Cruises Viking Star 47,800 tons 930 April 2015