America’s waterways will soon have beautiful new catamarans offering cruises for lucky passengers. American Cruise Lines has announced a new fleet of go-anywhere cruise ships designed specifically for the U.S. market.

Project Blue, the codename for the new builds, will more than double the nation’s current capacity for domestic coastal cruises when the 12 hybrid catamaran sister ships arrive.

The first two will debut in 2023 offering East Coast itineraries and will be named American Eagle and American Glory – namesakes of the company’s first two small U.S.-built ships.

“Project Blue started as a design challenge to create a boat small enough for New England harbors and stable enough for the Alaska Inside Passage, with a draft shallow enough for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,” Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines, said in a news release.

“These boats can run almost anywhere, and because there will be 12 of them, they will be deployed all over the United States,” he said.

All 12 of the hybrid ships will be built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, with the first two already under construction and due for delivery in 2023.

At 241 feet, long and 56 feet wide, each Project Blue ship will have the space to accommodate 109 passengers and 50 crew. Each will feature the hybrid catamaran design that enables both shallow draft access and stable sailing along lakes, rivers, bays and America’s coastline.

Studio DADO of Miami lent their expertise to the elegant modern décor found on board, including the 56 staterooms ranging from large standards to suites and singles. Each ship also will showcase an expansive forward lounge with 270-degree views.

“Together with Chesapeake Shipbuilding, we built the first modern riverboats in the country,” Robertson said. “Now we are proud to introduce another ship design for domestic exploration. American Cruise Lines has specialized in small ship cruising for over 30 years, and continuing to innovate and expand the possibilities for cruising close to home is central to our mission.”

Photos courtesy of American Cruise Lines

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