The 130-passenger American Maverick, newest of the fleet’s 28 small ships, offers itineraries in New England and Florida. All staterooms have private balconies.
American Cruise Lines’ newest small ship, the American Maverick, entered service on June 11 with a 9-day inaugural New England cruise departing from Providence, Rhode Island. Christening festivities, featuring an official blessing and ceremonial bottle smash, took place in Newport.
Details about the Christening
Guests, crew members, community partners and American Cruise Lines staff from the company’s headquarters in Connecticut attended the christening festivities.
Charles B. Robertson, president & CEO of American Cruise Lines, said, “We set the bar high for ourselves with American Maverick, and we were surprised to see that we set the bar for the rest of the river cruise industry in the process….The American Maverick is the new standard by which others should follow, and with eight more ships under construction, it shows that the U.S. river cruise market will lead the way.”
Susan Renner, board chair and treasurer for American Cruise Lines and Chesapeake Shipbuilding, serves as the godmother and did the bottle smashing honors. The christening was followed by a traditional New England lobster bake at Fort Adams State Park, just a few steps from the dock.
Chesapeake Lounge
American Maverick Fast Facts
- The American Maverick has four decks and accommodates 130 guests in 56 private-balcony staterooms. The five stateroom categories include singles and suites.
- Deck 3 features a bow lounge and an outdoor seating area overlooking the front of the ship.
- The fitness center is located on Deck 4.
- Guests enjoy great cuisine in the Main Dining Room.
- Chesapeake Lounge is a perfect setting for nightly entertainment.
- The Chart Room, located at the bow, is where guests can follow the ship’s route on charts or simply take in the beautiful vistas.
- The sun deck offers an enclosed Sky Lounge, a casual cafe and a walking track.
- An elevator provides access to every deck.
- Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship.
The American Maverick was built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland. She is a sister ship to American Cruise Lines’ American Patriot, American Pioneer and American Ranger.
Sky Lounge
Where the American Maverick is Sailing
The American Maverick offers a variety of itineraries on the U.S. East Coast. On New England Explorer Cruises from Boston, she calls at:
- Portland, Maine
- Rockland, Maine
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Boothbay Harbor, Maine
- Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts
Starting in November 2026, the American Maverick will be doing Florida sailings roundtrip from St. Petersburg, with stops at these ports:
- Tampa
- Marco Island, where guests can enjoy dolphin sightings, mangrove paddles and white sand beaches
- Key West, Florida – For the sunset at Mallory Square, Caribbean culture and Hemingway history
- Punta Gorda
Chart Room
More About American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines, with a fleet of 28 small ships, is the largest river cruise line in the United States. The ships sail on the Mississippi River, the Columbia and Snake Rivers and the Great Lakes. They also sail in protected waterways all over the country, including Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Established 50 years ago, American Cruise Lines operates more overnight cruises on domestic itineraries than any other company.
By Cindy Bertram
Photos courtesy of American Cruise Lines
