by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:00 PM ET, Thu August 13, 2026
American Cruise Lines has unveiled the names of two new river ships that will join its fleet in the coming years.
Built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, American Beauty is scheduled to debut on the Mississippi in 2028 as the 29th ship in the fleet. American Rhapsody will become the 30th when it sets sail on the Columbia and Snake rivers in 2029.
American Beauty will begin cruising the Mississippi River in September 2028, operating the company’s popular 8-day “Upper Mississippi River” itinerary between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota. Toward the end of the season, American Beauty will also offer the company’s new 8-day “Gulf Coast” cruises, which operate between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida.
In 2029, American Rhapsody will begin cruising the company’s 9-day “Columbia & Snake Rivers” cruises between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington.
American Beauty and American Rhapsody are part of the company’s 180-guest American Riverboat series, which debuted in 2018 with American Song. They’ll join sister ships American Encore, which launched in May 2026; American Anthem, scheduled to set sail in April 2027; and American Grace, launching in April 2028.
The brand is also growing its fleet in other regions of the United States. American Ranger, the company’s third new ship this year, is scheduled to launch in September, offering the company’s “Hudson River Fall Foliage” cruises, “Potomac River & Chesapeake Bay” cruise, and “Florida Gulf Coast & Keys” cruises throughout the holiday season and into the New Year.
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