The new American Ranger is sailing from New York City today to kick off its maiden season in the U.S. Northeast.

As the newest ship in American Cruise Lines’ fleet, the 180-guest coastal vessel was built at the Chesapeake Shipyard in Salisbury, Maryland.

For its first cruise, the Patriot-class ship embarked on an eight-night cruise to the Hudson River that sails to Albany.

The open-jaw itinerary features visits to a series of destinations in New York State, including Sleepy Hollow, West Point, Hyde Park, Kingston, Catskill and Troy.

Allowing guests to explore the region during the fall foliage season, the itinerary will be repeated through early November.

The American Ranger will then offer cruises in the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River before repositioning to Florida for the winter.

Starting in December, the 5,000-ton ship offers ACL’s “Florida’s Gulf Coast & Keys” itinerary, which sails roundtrip from St. Petersburg.

The eight-night cruise is highlighted by visits to Marco Island and Punta Gorda, in addition to an overnight call in Key West.

The American Ranger is then scheduled to reposition to the West Coast in 2027, offering itineraries in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands starting in April.

For its first summer season, the ship will debut in Alaska for a series of 11-night cruises that sail between Juneau and Ketchikan.

Following the American Encore and the American Maverick, the American Ranger is the third ship to enter service for ACL in 2026.

The Encore became the newest riverboat in the company’s fleet after being christened in Idaho on May 12. The Maverick entered service a few weeks later, being named in a ceremony in Rhode Island in mid-June.

ACL will introduce two additional coastal ships in 2027, the American Navigator and the American Mariner.