The waters of Newport, Rhode Island, witnessed a momentous occasion as American Cruise Lines celebrated the christening of their newest ship, American Liberty. The event, held on Friday, August 23, 2024, drew a crowd of cruise guests, community members, officials from Sail Newport and Fort Adams State Park, and American Cruise Lines executives and crew.
Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines, and Clare Harington, Vice Commodore of the New York Yacht Club and Godmother of American Liberty, delivered remarks. Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport, and Rhode Island State Representative Lauren Carson, also addressed the gathering, praising American Cruise Lines for their commitment to sustainable cruising and their ongoing launch of eco-friendly vessels. The festivities included a performance by The Victory Belles, a musical trio who entertained with patriotic songs as guests gathered on the ship’s top deck for the official blessing and the ceremonial bottle smashing.
The christening concluded with a traditional New England Lobsterbake at Fort Adams State Park, where guests enjoyed a discussion and live demonstration of the region’s ancient Native American cooking techniques.
“We are honored to be able to host this event in Fort Adams State Park with our fantastic partners from the community and Sail Newport. We are especially honored to have Vice Commodore Clare Harington of the New York Yacht Club serve as godmother of American Liberty. We look forward to further developing our longtime partnerships in Newport and many other historic coastal towns along the Eastern Seaboard.” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO of American Cruise Lines.
This christening comes on the heels of the company’s successful launches of the series flagship, American Eagle, in Buzzard’s Bay, Massachusetts (August 2023), and American Glory in Key West, Florida (November 2023). American Cruise Lines’ fourth new Coastal Cat, American Legend, is scheduled to begin sailing in November 2024.
American Liberty, the newest addition to the fleet, will embark on a variety of exclusive East Coast itineraries following its New England Islands cruises through September. These include Hudson River Fall Foliage cruises, departing roundtrip from NYC, and Historic South & Golden Isles cruises, running between Charleston, South Carolina, and Amelia Island, Florida, from November 2024 through spring 2025.
The increasing demand for American Cruise Lines’ specialized cruise experiences is driven by the company’s innovative new ships and expanding array of domestic itineraries. Unlike any other cruise line operating in the U.S., all of American’s coastal itineraries function similarly to river cruises, sailing within sight of land and visiting only U.S. ports. Over the past two decades, the company has introduced 19 of the 22 U.S.-built cruise ships launched.
American Liberty is part of the ongoing Project Blue Series, which includes 12 new small ships. Similar to its sister ships, American Liberty accommodates only 100 guests and features four decks with a distinctive catamaran bow. This Coastal Cat boasts elegant interior design, private balcony accommodations, a stunning top deck for breathtaking views, and comfortable lounges both indoors and outdoors. Guests can also enjoy a main restaurant, a casual café, and amenities rarely found on small ships, such as a walking track and a fitness center.
For a virtual 360-degree tour of American Liberty and the Coastal Cats, you can visit the American Cruise Lines Virtual Coastal Cat Tour. Additional ship photos and detailed information are available on the company’s main website under the “ships” tab.
