The new American Legend has passed its sea trials and is ready for its first cruise on Nov. 25. The newest Coastal Cat in American Cruise Line’s fleet is designed for inland exploration along the East Coast.

With just 100 guests and the shallowest draft in the fleet, each Coastal Cat offers a personalized exploration of New England, the Hudson River or the Intracoastal Waterway of the Southwest.

American Legend will join sister Coastal Cats the American Liberty, American Eagle and American Glory. While small in size, the ships offer more space per person than any other new cruise ship globally. With standard rooms starting at 300 square feet and beautiful lounges on every deck, the ships provide a luxurious cruise.

American Cruise Lines Patriot Class ship, Coastal Cat and modern American Riverboat

First introduced by American Cruise Lines in 2023, the new Coastal Cats redefine “The Small Ship Advantage.” The company operates the only 100 percent U.S. flagged fleet of riverboats and small ships in the world and remains fully committed to introducing only new small ships built specifically for domestic cruising.

American Cruise Lines also announces that it has signed contracts with Chesapeake Shipbuilding for four more ships, bringing the line’s total orderbook with Chesapeake to 10 ships over the new three years.

All the newbuilds are expressly for the U.S. cruise market, the fastest growing segment of the river cruise industry. American Cruise Lines has been a trailblazer in that market for more than 50 years and will operate 21 small ships around the country next year.

They include three riverboats and six additional coastal ships. Now available for booking are American Patriot and American Pioneer (2025), American Maverick and American Ranger (2026), and new riverboat American Encore (2026). More details on the four additional newbuilds for 2027 will be released soon.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Salisbury, Maryland

American’s commitment to U.S. River cruising is longstanding, but the rapid expansion of the company’s fleet in just the past several years is demonstrative of the growing interest and demand for world-class cruise experiences in the United States. American has introduced 19 of the 24 cruise ships built in the U.S. in the past 20 years.

American Cruise Lines will operate 21 small ships in 2025; sailing the largest collection of 100 percent domestic river and coastal itineraries ever offered in the United States. The company will continue to introduce new ships with top-notch amenities that are unusual for small ships—unlocking amazing new opportunities for cruising closer to home and exploring America year after year.

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Lines

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