Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises will add a new ship to its fleet this summer – the first of three to be added over the next year and a half. Currently under construction in Somerset, MA, the Circle Line Manhattan is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage in late June. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, which has provided more than 60 million guests with a unique glimpse of New York City through the savvy eyes of its professional guides, will host a commencement event to celebrate the ship’s christening.
The Circle Line Manhattan will offer upgraded amenities while maintaining the iconic silhouette that generations of voyagers have come to associate with New York City’s most famous sightseeing cruise. Holding 600 passengers and made entirely of steel, the 165-foot vessel represents a modern version of a very traditional and functional ferry design. Those wishing to witness the ship’s construction can find pictures on Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises website at www.circleline42.com, beginning April 2008.
“This addition to the fleet marks another historic day in our 63-year reign over the waters of Manhattan,” said Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises Vice President and General Manager Andreas Sappok. “The state-of-the-art vessel will provide passengers with added comfort as they witness the world’s greatest city from the city’s greatest sightseeing cruise.”
The Circle Line Manhattan will replace the 76-year-old Calypso, which is set for retirement. Before joining Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises fleet, the Calypso was assigned as a convoy escort, where, in 1944, she navigated the Atlantic seaboard and rescued survivors from torpedoed ships.
