American Cruise Lines announced today that the construction of its new 140 passenger Mississippi sternwheeler is well underway and ahead of schedule.

The new sternwheeler is currently under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD. The hull is nearly complete and the superstructure is taking shape. The paddlewheeler will fully recreate the grandeur of past riverboats, while incorporating the latest safety, environmental and construction technologies.

This is the first and grandest overnight paddlewheeler built for the Mississippi in nearly twenty years. It will have the largest staterooms ever, almost all of which will have private balconies. In addition, the ship will feature a multitude of lounges to choose from that not only accommodate various passenger tastes in onboard activity but truly capture the historic essence of the Mississippi River cruising experience. The ship will boast a grand salon, card room, library, sky lounge, showroom, and internet lounge. All modern onboard amenities can be expected to provide passengers with maximum comfort and service. Unlike the previous riverboats that had offered cruises on the Mississippi, American Cruise Lines’ new paddlewheeler will have the option of cruising at a significantly higher speed to make the most imaginative itineraries possible.

“As construction proceeds ahead of schedule our loyal passengers are getting increasingly excited to see our brand new paddlewheeler come to the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines.

American Cruise Lines will operate the riverboat over the entire Mississippi River System. A number of unique seven-night cruises are planned that take passengers as far as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi River and Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.