ACL-American Cruise Lines has officially welcomed American Maverick into service, holding the vessel’s christening ceremony during its 9-night inaugural voyage. The event took place in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, where employees, crew members, passengers and local community representatives gathered to mark the occasion.
The new vessel is the second ship delivered to the company in 2026, following the introduction of American Encore in May. Its arrival forms part of an ongoing fleet expansion programme that continues at the company’s shipyard in Maryland. Additional vessels, including American Ranger, American Mariner and American Navigator, are scheduled to enter service over the coming year.
American Cruise Lines President and Chief Executive Officer Charles B. Robertson stated that the company had set ambitious objectives during the development of American Maverick and that the finished vessel had established a new benchmark within the river cruise sector. He further noted that, with eight additional ships currently under construction, the company expected the American river cruise market to continue playing a leading role in the industry.
The vessel was christened by its godmother, Susan Renner, Board Chair and Treasurer of both American Cruise Lines and Chesapeake Shipbuilding. The traditional blessing ceremony concluded with the ceremonial breaking of a bottle against the ship’s hull. Following the event, guests attended a New England-style lobster bake at nearby Fort Adams State Park, adjacent to the berth where the ship was moored.
Designed to accommodate up to 130 passengers, American Maverick features exclusively private balcony staterooms, including single cabins and suites, distributed across four decks. Public facilities include a top-deck lounge, walking track, chart room, main dining room, casual café and fitness centre.
Earlier in the year, American Cruise Lines also christened American Encore, the first riverboat to be christened in Idaho. The vessel’s godmother, former U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, participated in the ceremony held in Lewiston.
American Encore accommodates 180 passengers across five decks and is distinguished by a four-storey glass atrium located at the centre of the vessel. Among its accommodations is a 1,500-square-foot Signature Suite, described by the company as the largest suite currently available aboard a riverboat. The suite features a wraparound balcony, separate living and sleeping areas, and a bathroom equipped with a soaking tub and heated flooring.
The expansion programme will continue with the introduction of sister ships American Anthem in 2027 and American Grace in 2028.
American Cruise Lines currently operates a fleet of 28 small ships on year-round itineraries throughout the United States, including the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, the Columbia and Snake rivers, Alaska’s Inside Passage and the sheltered waterways of the Florida Keys.