American Cruise Lines will be adding three more ships to its fleet by the end of 2026.
Two of the vessels will be the seventh and eighth ships in the line's Project Blue series of coastal ships. The other will be its seventh modern American riverboat. All three will be built at the company's Chesapeake Shipbuilding yard in Maryland.
Project Blue debuted last summer with the American Eagle, the first ship in a class called Coastal Cats. These 100-passenger ships were designed to sail coastal waters and inland waterways. The American Glory followed last November.
Later this year, two more Coastal Cats will enter service: American Liberty and American Legend.
Then in 2025, a new class of Project Blue ships will debut -- the Patriot class. These ships will be larger than the Coastal Cats, accommodating 125 passengers. The first two will be called American Patriot and American Pioneer.
American Cruise Lines did not say whether the seventh and eighth Project Blue ships would be Coastal Cats or Patriots.
Among its modern riverboats, the line sails the American Jazz, American Harmony and American Song on the Columbia and Snake rivers, according to its website. The American Melody, American Serenade and American Symphony sail the Mississippi River system. The Serenade is the newest of the river ships, debuting in April 2023.
American Cruise Lines operates four paddlewheelers: American Heritage, American Splendor, American Pride and American West.
The line currently has 21 ships in its fleet and plans to have 24 by the end of 2026.