American Cruise Lines · All American Cruise Lines ships · Patriot Class (Project Blue coastal ship)

American Navigator: ship guide

Coming summer 2027: the sixth Patriot Class ship, Cape Cod to the Chesapeake and Keys.

Best for: History-minded travelers who want a brand-new all-balcony small ship for Cape Cod, the Hudson, the Chesapeake and the Florida Keys in its first season. Sails from Boston, New York, Albany, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Tampa, Key West in 2026 and 2027.

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American Navigator
American Navigator
130guests at double occupancy
5decks
2027entered service
69staterooms

About American Navigator

American Navigator is an upcoming Patriot Class ship from American Cruise Lines, the last of six in the class and one of ten new U.S.-built ships the company announced in October 2025. It is being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, and is scheduled to start sailing in summer 2027, with its first listed departure a Cape Codder cruise from Boston on August 6, 2027. Like its sisters it will carry 130 guests in 69 staterooms, every one with a private balcony, and is purpose-built for the Eastern Seaboard.

The Patriot Class combines a traditional bow, slightly deeper draft and full stabilization for coastwise performance with a serene interior. On the top deck the reimagined Sky Lounge has expansive glass walls, alongside a 360-degree Sky Walk track, a casual café and lounge seating. The Chart Room at the bow is for watching the scenery and tracking the voyage on charts, the Chesapeake Lounge hosts nightly entertainment and enrichment, and the glass-enclosed Restaurant serves open seating meals. Fares include meals, drinks, a daily cocktail hour, an excursion in every port, gratuities and Wi-Fi.

American Navigator’s first season runs from New England to Florida: Cape Codder cruises round trip from Boston in August 2027, Northeast Harbors cruises between Boston and New York in September, Hudson River Fall Foliage cruises from Albany in October, then an American Revolution cruise from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, Potomac River & Chesapeake Bay and Chesapeake Bay cruises in November, and nine-day Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruises between Tampa and Key West from late November 2027 into spring 2028. It will suit travelers who want a new ship on an East Coast history circuit.

  • Brand-new Patriot Class ship scheduled for summer 2027, the sixth and last in the class
  • Inaugural season from Boston, New York, Albany, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Tampa
  • All 69 staterooms have private balconies, including eight Single Balcony staterooms
  • Deck 4 all-suite level with two 500-square-foot Grand Suites
  • Reimagined Sky Lounge with sweeping glass walls, 360-degree Sky Walk track and top-deck café
  • Chesapeake Lounge for nightly entertainment and the Chart Room at the bow
  • Open seating Restaurant with regional menus from New England seafood to Chesapeake crab and Gulf fish
  • Daily cocktail hour, all drinks, an excursion in every port, gratuities and Wi-Fi included

Staterooms and suites

Single Balcony

250 square feet on decks 2, 3 and 4 with a full-size bed, desk, sitting area and a private balcony with table and chair; eight on board, priced for one guest.

Premium Balcony

300 square feet on deck 2 with full-size furniture, open floor space, a large shower and sliding glass doors to a furnished private balcony.

Vista Balcony

300 square feet on deck 3, the central deck close to the Chart Room and Bow Terrace, with an open floor plan and a private balcony with table and chairs.

Veranda Suite

320 square feet on deck 4 with a king-size bed, seating area, stocked refrigerator, closet and full-size dresser, and a furnished balcony.

Sky Suite

400 square feet on deck 4 behind a triple-panel floor-to-ceiling glass wall, with lounge chairs, desk, stocked refrigerator and a bathroom with double vanity and large shower.

Grand Suite

500 square feet on deck 4 with a dedicated bedroom and separate living room, both opening onto a 25-foot private balcony with table, chairs and chaise; dining area, breakfast bar, daily-restocked refrigerator and two TVs; two on board.

American Navigator deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 5 plan

Deck 5

Sky Lounge, Back Porch Cafe, Sun Deck, Sky Walk.

  • Sky LoungeSituated on the top deck of the ship, this elegantly appointed lounge offers an inviting atmosphere for socializing and soaking in the stunning views.
  • Back Porch CafeFrom sandwiches and burgers to salads and more, there's something to satisfy every palate as you dine al fresco amidst the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
  • Sun DeckTake a deep breath of fresh air and immerse yourself in the breathtaking 360-degree view of the passing scenery from this ideal setting.
  • Sky WalkOffering a unique perspective high above the water, this walking track allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of the landscapes that unfold before you.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board American Navigator

Sun Deck
Sun Deck
Sky Walk
Sky Walk
Sky Lounge
Sky Lounge
Restaurant
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Fitness Center
Chesapeake Lounge
Chesapeake Lounge
Chart Room
Chart Room
Bow Terrace
Bow Terrace
Back Porch Cafe
Back Porch Cafe
Sun Deck
Sun Deck
Sky Walk
Sky Walk
Sky Lounge
Sky Lounge

Dining on American Navigator

RestaurantIncluded

Glass-enclosed main dining room on deck 1 with open seating and water views from every table; regional American menus cooked to order from locally sourced ingredients.

Back Porch CaféIncluded

Casual outdoor café on the top deck serving sandwiches, burgers and salads al fresco.

Daily cocktail hourIncluded

A complimentary evening cocktail hour every day with hors d’oeuvres and top-shelf liquor.

Drinks policyIncluded

All beverages are included at any hour, from beer, wine, spirits and cocktails to soft drinks, water, coffee and tea; there is no drinks package and no bar bill.

Entertainment and activities

  • Chesapeake Lounge at the bow, a daytime social hub and the venue for nightly live entertainment
  • Reimagined Sky Lounge on the top deck with the Sun Deck and 360-degree Sky Walk track
  • Onboard expert with daily talks on Revolutionary and maritime history, plus local musicians in the evenings
  • Guided small-group shore excursions, at least one included in every port, from Mount Vernon to Key West
  • Chart Room and Bow Terrace for morning coffee and following the route on nautical charts
  • Fitness Center with cardio machines, free weights and resistance equipment
  • Starlink Wi-Fi, self-service guest laundry and an elevator to all decks

Families and who it suits

American Cruise Lines publishes no minimum age and runs no children’s program; there are no kids’ facilities on board, and the enrichment talks, excursions and cocktail hour are built for adults, so families with young children should ask before booking.

Best for: History-minded travelers who want a brand-new all-balcony small ship for Cape Cod, the Hudson, the Chesapeake and the Florida Keys in its first season.

Sails from: Boston, New York, Albany, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Tampa, Key West · Regions: New England, Hudson River, Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, Florida Gulf Coast and Keys

American Navigator questions we answer every day

When does American Navigator start sailing?
American Cruise Lines lists American Navigator as coming in 2027, with its first departures in August 2027 on Cape Codder cruises from Boston. It is the sixth Patriot Class ship, following American Mariner by a couple of months, and part of the ten-ship order the company announced in October 2025 to be delivered at about one ship every four months through 2028.
How big is American Navigator?
American Navigator will carry 130 guests in 69 staterooms over five decks with an elevator to every deck, identical to its Patriot Class sisters. American Cruise Lines does not publish tonnage or length for the class, though it says its small ships are nearly 60 feet wide compared with a typical 39-foot European riverboat, which is how it fits 250 to 500-square-foot staterooms on a 130-guest ship.
Where does American Navigator sail in 2027?
Cape Codder cruises round trip from Boston in August 2027, Northeast Harbors cruises between Boston and New York in September, Hudson River Fall Foliage cruises round trip from Albany in October, an American Revolution cruise from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia on October 25, Potomac River & Chesapeake Bay and Chesapeake Bay cruises in November, and Florida Gulf Coast & Keys cruises between Tampa and Key West from late November 2027 through March 2028.
What is included in the fare on American Navigator?
Fares are all-inclusive: all meals and snacks, all alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a daily cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, at least one guided excursion per port, nightly entertainment and an onboard expert, gratuities, port charges, Starlink Wi-Fi and a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with luggage service and transfer. Premium and Signature excursions are extra. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where American allows it, not available when you book direct.
Which staterooms are best on American Navigator?
Every stateroom has a private balcony. Premium Balcony on deck 2 and Vista Balcony on deck 3 are both 300 square feet, with deck 3 the preferred middle deck. Deck 4 is all suites: 320-square-foot Veranda Suites, 400-square-foot Sky Suites with a full glass wall and two 500-square-foot Grand Suites with a separate bedroom and 25-foot balcony. Eight 250-square-foot Single Balcony staterooms are priced for solo travelers.
What is the difference between American Navigator and the Coastal Cats?
The four Coastal Cats (American Eagle, Glory, Liberty and Legend) are 100-guest catamarans that opened the Project Blue series in 2023 and 2024. The Patriot Class that followed, including American Navigator, is larger at 130 guests with a traditional single hull, a deeper draft and full stabilization, giving smoother sailing on open coastal stretches, plus a fifth deck. Both designs share the all-balcony staterooms, Sky Lounge and walking track.

Facts checked against American Cruise Lines: American Navigator, American Cruise Lines press release: 10 new U.S.-built ships through 2028, American Cruise Lines press release: American Patriot and American Pioneer announced, American Cruise Lines: all-inclusive fares on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

Live from the cruise line

Every American Navigator sailing, priced all-in

Every American Navigator departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.

Every American Navigator sailing

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.