NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – New American Cruise Lines riverboat to homeport in New Orleans. “American Eagle” will be the second riverboat for American Cruise Lines in New Orleans.
With the popularity of Mississippi River cruising growing each year, Guilford, CT-based American Cruise Lines, will soon be introducing its second riverboat to be home-ported in New Orleans.
The two new riverboats are the first new ships built especially for the Mississippi River in 20 years. Construction of the 305-foot, 150-passenger American Eagle was recently completed at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. The new riverboat is now moving to New Orleans and is scheduled to arrive later this month. Similar to American Cruise Lines’ “Queen of the Mississippi,” it will offer various eight-day itineraries on the Lower Mississippi River between New Orleans and Memphis.
The brand new American Eagle will enter service in the spring. The riverboat will have 84 staterooms, 78 of which feature large, private balconies and will offer all the amenities travelers expect, while maintaining the elegance of classic late 1800s riverboats.
While the American Eagle will primarily operate between New Orleans and Memphis, the company has announced a number of unique journeys, including a 22-day complete Mississippi River cruise.
Cruise Lines International Association ranked the Port of New Orleans the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States with direct industry expenditures in Louisiana totaling $406 million, supporting 8,129 jobs and accounting for $323 million in total income.
Cruise Critic, a leading cruise review and information website, named the Port of New Orleans it’s “Best North American Homeport” as part of its 2014 U.S. Editors’ Picks. Cruise Critic hosts the largest cruise community in the world with more than 3 million people ranging from avid cruise fans to first-time cruisers. Leading cruise publication, Porthole Cruise Magazine, also named the Port of New Orleans “Friendliest Homeport” for the second year in a row in its 2014 Editor-In-Chief Awards.
To learn more about cruising from New Orleans, visit www.portno.com