American Ranger Begins Maiden Season on Hudson River
After the Hudson schedule, American Ranger will sail Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River cruises before winter Florida Gulf Coast and Keys departures from St. Petersburg.
American Cruise Lines’ new 130-guest American Ranger has begun its maiden season with an eight-night Hudson River cruise from New York City to Albany. The coastal vessel is the company’s third ship to enter service in 2026.
Built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, the Patriot-class ship is part of the operator’s program to introduce 13 vessels between 2025 and 2029, spanning both coastal ships and riverboats.
From the Hudson to the Florida Keys
American Ranger’s inaugural open-jaw itinerary includes calls at Sleepy Hollow, West Point, Hyde Park, Kingston, Catskill and Troy. The route will repeat through early November, covering New York State’s fall foliage season.
After completing the Hudson River schedule, the ship will operate Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River cruises before repositioning to Florida for the winter.
Beginning in December, American Ranger will sail the company’s eight-night Florida’s Gulf Coast & Keys itinerary, with departures and arrivals in St. Petersburg. The route includes Marco Island and Punta Gorda, along with an overnight stay in Key West.
A coastal addition to the newbuild program
The 243-foot vessel has 56 staterooms, each with a private balcony. Fourth-deck accommodations consist entirely of suites measuring 420 to 620 square feet. The ship is fully stabilized for coastwise cruising and carries approximately 50 crew.
American Ranger follows two other fleet additions this year. The riverboat American Encore was christened in Idaho on May 12, while the coastal ship American Maverick entered service a few weeks later and was named at a Rhode Island ceremony in mid-June.
The next coastal deliveries are American Navigator and American Mariner, both scheduled for 2027 with capacity for 130 passengers apiece. The company also plans to introduce the riverboat American Anthem in April that year, with an inaugural season devoted to its 16-day Grand Columbia & Snake Rivers itinerary.
Later deliveries include American Grace in April 2028 and the recently named, 180-passenger American Beauty, scheduled to begin Mississippi River service that September. Another 180-passenger riverboat, American Rhapsody, is due to begin operating on the Columbia and Snake rivers in 2029. Chesapeake Shipbuilding will build both of the newly named vessels.
The fleet expansion schedule also includes two other ships for 2029 whose names and specifications have not been announced. American Cruise Lines’ fleet update did not include an executive comment.
American Ranger is scheduled to move to the West Coast in 2027, beginning Puget Sound and San Juan Islands itineraries in April. Its first summer season will take it to Alaska for a series of 11-night cruises between Juneau and Ketchikan.
