ACL American Symphony

The 2022-built MS American Symphony cruise ship is the fifth newbuild in the American Cruise Lines' "Modern Riverboat" fleet.

The sister ships in this class, with the same design, are American Song (2018), American Harmony (2019), American Jazz (2020), American Melody (2021), American Serenade (2023), American Encore (2026), and American Anthem (2027).

American Symphony is identified by IMO number 9901702 and is USA-flagged (MMSI 368261060).

In mid-June 2021, ACL signed a contract with Chesapeake Shipbuilding for the construction of two more units (the 5th and 6th) in the "Modern Riverboat" series. Both ships (Symphony and Serenade) were slated for inauguration in 2022, expanding the company's fleet to 15 vessels (5 small ships, 4 paddle-wheelers, and 6 modern riverboats). ACL also announced plans to continue building small ships (100-190-passenger) for USA coastal itineraries.

History - Construction and Ownership

The shipowner, American Cruise Lines (ACL), is the largest river cruise company in the USA (headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut), operational since 1991. The company specializes in river and lake cruising on the USA's largest navigable inland waterways, as well as voyages along the East Coast, New England, West Coast, and Florida.

All ACL vessels feature some of the industry's largest passenger cabins, each with private balconies, spacious lounges, outdoor deck spaces, gourmet cuisine, a top-quality enrichment program with many complimentary land tours and excursions, and highly personalized service from an all-American staff and crew.

All ACL ships are USA-flagged and built by the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury, Maryland.

Unlike anything seen before along American waterways, this innovative vessel introduces a new dimension to river cruising in the United States. American Symphony combines contemporary design with the comfort that American Cruise Lines is known for. Quieter, wider, and faster than any other river ship, it is the most environmentally friendly vessel in the industry.

Traditionally for large-sized USA riverboats, American Symphony features a fore-located boarding ramp (on Deck 1), allowing passengers to go ashore at any location along the ACL's cruise itinerary. The ramp is designed as a retractable gangway (passenger bridge) with a bow door opening, a feature commonly used on some of the largest ferries.

While other small cruise lines repurpose old casino ships, American Cruise Lines chose to build brand-new vessels to maintain the company's reputation for premium quality and service. Each newbuild features innovative design, spacious indoor and outdoor areas, and is a traditional USA-built vessel (constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland), as well as American-flagged and crewed.

Decks and Cabins

American Symphony staterooms (91 total) are all outside cabins, some of the largest in the industry, each with a full-size bathroom, private step-out balconies, and modern hotel amenities.

All staterooms have step-out balconies. The smallest are the Studios (single-occupancy cabins for solo travelers), sized 250 ft² (23 m²). Cabin sizes range from 275-315-350-370 ft² (26-29-33-34 m²), including the balcony size. Veranda Suites are sized 405 ft² (38 m²). The largest accommodations are the Grand Suites (650 ft² / 60 m²) and feature top-deck locations (forward on Deck 4), separate bedroom and living room areas, and a spacious terrace with an alfresco dining area.

The vessel has 5 passenger-accessible decks, of which 4 contain cabins.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

MS American Symphony features innovative interior design, including a 4-story glass-walled Vestibule (Atrium), spacious indoor and outdoor lounges, large open-deck spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the vessel. The 4-deck Vestibule has floor-to-ceiling windows (portside and starboard) and a SkyLight (transparent glass-roof cover) that allows natural light into the ship's interior.

The two Sun Decks are fitted with sunbathing and shaded seating areas, but, unlike the larger sister ships, they lack the deck-games area (with a Putting Green and Shuffleboard). The ship has 6 lounges (3 with outdoor terraces), a Grand Dining Room (complimentary, glass-enclosed restaurant), Chart Room & Library, a fore-located Main Lounge (with a central stage for live shows and musical productions, and a glass-roof cover), an aft-located Sky Lounge (with glass-roof cover and access to an alfresco dining terrace/Ellipse Cafe), a Fitness Room (indoor Gym), and a Yoga Studio (for group classes and private lessons).

The Sun Deck (top deck) is furnished with plenty of outdoor furniture, including padded sun loungers, padded wicker sofas and deck chairs, and 2-seat and 4-seat tables, with live plants. The Sun Deck has three large shaded seating areas (covered by retractable canopies) and two SkyLights (glass roof covers) over the Sky Lounge (aft) and the Atrium/Vestibule (midship-portside).

The list of the American Symphony's main public venues includes:

• (Deck 1) Boarding Ramp/bow, Vestibule/lobby level, Ship's Office, Dining Room Restaurant, Galley/Kitchen & Storage Rooms, Staff & Crew cabins (forward)
• (Deck 2) Bow Terrace/observation area with seating, Lyric Lounge/midship-starboard, wellness facilities/aft (Yoga Studio, Fitness Room/indoor Gym)
• (Deck 3) River Lounge/forward, with a wraparound terrace, The Study & Library/midship-starboard
• (Deck 4) Pilothouse/Wheelhouse, High Note Lounge/midship-starboard, Sky Lounge (indoor, aft), Ellipse Cafe (aft, outdoor terrace serving as an alfresco dining venue)
• (Deck 5) Sun Deck with plenty of outdoor seating (premium patio furniture)

Two elevators (passenger lifts in the Atrium) connect all decks.

Deck 4's fore-located River Lounge is the main lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-roof cover. It also serves as the boat's show lounge, with a central stage, grand piano, and ample comfortable seating (comfy armchairs and plush sofas). Warm cookies are served starting at 10 am. The complimentary Afternoon Tea service (with fresh pastries) is available at 3:30 pm. The free-drinks cocktail hour is at 5:30 pm. Root beer and ice cream are served during the evening show. The evening entertainment includes one show (beginning at 8:15 pm) lasting about 1 hour. The show program may include a live concert, solo performances, music tributes, themed music, or movie trivia. The large space for the evening shows is in the room's center, and the furniture is rearranged daily (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day) to suit the themed entertainment. This is also the venue for the American Cruise Lines' enrichment program, consisting of themed lectures (history, food and wine, literature, etc.). Additionally, media presentations and ACL cruise itinerary and tour-related multimedia presentations and port talks are hosted here.

Deck 4's aft-located Sky Lounge is an indoor venue with premium furniture, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows (allowing 270-degree views), a glass-roof cover (SkyLight), and direct access to an open-air terrace (Ellipse Cafe). Throughout the day, beverages, snacks, freshly-baked cookies, and pastries are served. Sky Lounge's opening glass doors expand the space to include the furnished terrace/Ellipse Cafe. The Cafe's Bar serves complimentary water, soda, and light snacks. Complimentary Afternoon Tea service is available between 3:30-4:30 pm. In the evening, there is a cocktail hour with free drinks.

Sky Lounge's Ellipse Cafe staff serve the entire Sun Deck (relaxation and sunbathing top-deck area) with drinks and snacks.

Itineraries

The ACL American Symphony itinerary program started on August 27, 2022 (Maiden Voyage) and is based on the following themed voyages.

• 8-day/7-night "Lower Mississippi Cruise" (between homeports New Orleans LA and Memphis TN)
• 8-day/7-night "Upper Mississippi Cruise" (between St. Louis MO and Minneapolis-St. Paul MN)
• 22-day/21-night "Complete Mississippi Cruise" (from New Orleans and St. Paul)
• 15-day/14-night "Grand Heartland Cruise" (from St. Paul to New Orleans)

The ship also operates roundtrips from Port NOLA/New Orleans, with lengths of 5-day/4-night and 8-day/7-night.

American Symphony's itineraries visit ports in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

ACL cruise deals include a pre-cruise hotel package, all shore excursions (organized daily), cocktail hour (each evening), cruise accommodation, gourmet meals, Afternoon Tea service, room service (breakfast only), onboard enrichment and entertainment programs, and Wi-Fi (shipwide coverage).

The improved ship design of the Modern Riverboat series allows "bow landings" via a retractable and rotating gangway (passenger bridge) that extends from the Main Deck (Deck 1) to the dock or directly onto the riverbank. This feature is available on all traditional-design US paddlewheel riverboats and offers expanded options for river cruise itineraries that are unmatched by most newbuild river cruise ships.

The vessel features a modern propulsion system consisting of 2x azimuth thrusters ("Z-drives") manufactured by Veth (Holland). These 360-degree rotating propellers (1x forward, 1x aft) provide the vessel with greater maneuverability and berthing flexibility.

The ship is powered by 2x Caterpillar marine engines running on low-sulfur diesel. These modern engines require less fuel and produce fewer emissions (COx, NOx, SOx) and soot particles compared to other boats on the US river cruising market.

American Cruise Lines' "Modern Riverboats" are all constructed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding (a shipyard in Salisbury, MA). During the launch ceremonies, the vessel's hull is floated out from drydock into the Wicomico River, then positioned in the shipyard's East Outfitting Basin to receive the superstructure (upper decks) and final outfitting.

The vessel was launched/floated out from drydock on March 10, 2022, and was planned for inauguration in August 2022. The name (American Symphony) was officially announced by ACL during the American Melody's delivery on August 3, 2021.

American Symphony's first Master was Gregg Scheiferstein (Captain since 1988, with ACL since 2010).

American Symphony left Salisbury on August 5, 2022, and successfully completed its sea trials on August 6-7 while en route to Port NOLA (arriving on August 11). The christening ceremony took place on August 30th in Natchez, MS, during the Maiden Voyage out of New Orleans/Port NOLA (departure on August 27th).

The Inaugural Cruise (August 27, 2022) left Port NOLA with a small-scale dockside ceremony attended by Brandy DeVelbiss Christian (Port NOLA's President and CEO) and Charles B. Robertson (ACL's President and CEO, who succeeded ACL's founder, Charles A. Robertson / 1948-2020).

The official naming ceremony on August 30th in Natchez was led by Godmother Asya Danielle Branch (1998-born beauty pageant titleholder/Miss Mississippi 2018, Miss USA 2020). The special event was attended by Jonathon Tate Reeves (Republican, Mississippi's 65th Governor), Delbert Hosemann (Mississippi's 33rd Lieutenant Governor), Buz Craft (Vidalia's Mayor), Dan Gibson (Natchez's Mayor), Charles B. Robertson, and other ACL officials and VIP guests.

During the boat's naming ceremony, Asya Branch was joined by Cynthia and Denise Patterson as honored guests. Both sisters, along with their late mother, had traveled 28 times with ACL.