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American Cruise Lines' 2026 ships are called Maverick and RangerAmerican Cruise Lines' 2026 ships are called Maverick and Ranger

The 126-passenger American Maverick and American Ranger comprise the seventh and eighth ships in American Cruise Lines' Project Blue.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

October 11, 2024

1 Min Read
American Maverick and American Ranger are part of what's planned to be the 12-ship Project Blue seriesRENDERING: AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

They're due to enter service in 2026, the same year as riverboat American Encore, and following 2025's American Patriot and American Pioneer.

Latest Project Blue iteration

The Project Blue series began with four 100-passenger Coastal Cats introduced in 2023 and 2024. The newest Patriot-class ships — American Maverick, Ranger, Patriot and Pioneer —represent the latest iteration in the ongoing series. All 12 of the planned Project Blue ships are being built at American Cruise Lines' affiliated yard, Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland.

Eastern Seaboard

American Maverick and American Ranger will be fully stabilized coastwise ships to sail on the Eastern Seaboard, increasing itinerary options from Maine to Florida.

The five-deck vessels offer elegant interior design and 100% private balcony rooms, some of them single occupancy, with the fourth deck housing all-suite accommodations ranging from spacious 420 square feet to 620 square feet.

American-Cruise-Lines-lounge.jpg

The Deck 5 Sky Lounge, an entire level devoted to relaxation and recreation, provides panoramic views, lounge seating, a 360-degree Skywalk (walking track) and a casual outdoor Back Porch Café.

Both new ships will also feature an expansive main lounge and restaurant on Deck 1, with water views from every seat, a Bow Terrace and Horizon Lounge on Deck 3 and a fitness center on Deck 4.

Fleet of 24

When American Maverick and American Ranger begin sailing in 2026, American Cruise Lines will field 24 small ships across the country, the largest collection of domestic river and coastal itineraries ever offered in the United States.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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