American Cruise Lines’ Mississippi Sternwheeler Ahead of Schedule

Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Corp.

American Cruise Lines, a small-ship cruising specialist, announced that construction of its new 140-passenger Mississippi River sternwheeler is ahead of schedule. The new sternwheeler is currently under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md. The hull is nearly complete and the superstructure is taking shape.

The paddlewheeler will recreate the grandeur of past riverboats, while incorporating the latest safety, environmental and construction technologies.

This is the first overnight paddlewheeler built for the Mississippi River in nearly 20 years. It will have large staterooms, almost all with private balconies. The ship will have a grand salon, card room, library, sky lounge, showroom and Internet lounge.

Unlike the previous riverboats that had offered cruises on the Mississippi, American Cruise Lines’ new paddlewheeler will have the option of cruising at a significantly higher speed to make the most imaginative itineraries possible.

American Cruise Lines will operate the riverboat over the entire Mississippi River system. A number of seven-night cruises will carry passengers up to St. Paul, Minn., on the Mississippi River, and Pittsburgh, Pa., on the Ohio River. For more information, call 800-814-6880 or visit www.americancruiselines.com.