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Modern US riverboat American Song nears completion

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American Song ready for final outfitting at Chesapeake Shipbuilding
The first modern-style riverboat in US history is nearly complete. This week American Cruise Lines' American Song moved under its own power from the East Outfitting Basin at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, to the yard’s outfitting bulkhead for the final outfitting touches.

American Song is set to sail its inaugural cruise Oct. 6 on the Mississippi River from New Orleans, during the city’s tri-centennial year.

American Harmony close behind

American Song’s sister, American Harmony, the second modern riverboat in the series, is currently five and a half weeks ahead of schedule and will be launched later this fall. American Harmony is scheduled to go into service in spring 2019 on the Mississippi, where it will join two of American Cruise Lines' Victorian-style paddlewheelers, Queen of the Mississippi and America.

American Song westward-bound in 2019

American Song will operate lower Mississippi River cruises for the remainder of the year, including holiday-themed cruises throughout December, before repositioning to the West Coast to sail the Columbia and Snake rivers in 2019.

Five of these modern-style riverboats are planned.