American Cruise Lines · All American Cruise Lines ships · Coastal Cat (Project Blue catamaran series)

American Eagle: ship guide

The first Coastal Cat: a 100-guest catamaran for the Hudson, Chesapeake and Florida rivers.

Best for: Travelers who want a small, nimble ship that reaches Florida’s rivers, the Chesapeake and the Hudson with expedition-style access and all-inclusive river-cruise comfort. Sails from Jacksonville, FL, Amelia Island, FL, Charleston, SC, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Albany, NY, New York, NY in 2026 and 2027.

American Eagle
American Eagle
100guests at double occupancy
4decks
2023entered service
56staterooms

About American Eagle

American Eagle is the flagship of American Cruise Lines’ Coastal Cat series, the first of the Project Blue catamarans built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. It began sailing from Boston in summer 2023 and was christened on Buzzards Bay. Carrying just 100 guests in 56 staterooms on four decks, its twin-hull design gives a shallow draft and a stable ride, so it can slip into small harbors and travel almost any river or protected waterway in the United States.

Every stateroom has a private balcony or, on the Main Deck, a picture window with a built-in window bench, and sizes run from 250-square-foot singles to the 550-square-foot Grand Suite. The bow carries observation and sitting areas, the sun deck is open to the sky, and the stern has an activity platform with a tender and kayaks for exploring straight from the ship. Interiors draw on the history of New England, the Chesapeake and the Southeast.

American Eagle works the East Coast year-round. In 2026 and 2027 it sails Great Rivers of Florida round trips from Jacksonville all winter, Southeast Sea Islands cruises between Charleston and Amelia Island, the East Coast Inland Passage and Potomac & Chesapeake Bay cruises to Washington, D.C., and Hudson River Summer Classic and Fall Foliage round trips from Albany. It suits travelers who like expedition-style access with river-cruise comfort and everything included.

  • First ship of the Coastal Cat series, delivered and christened in 2023
  • Catamaran hull with a shallow draft for small ports, rivers and inland passages
  • Just 100 guests in 56 staterooms, every one with a balcony or window bench
  • Bow observation area and a spacious open sun deck
  • Stern activity platform with a tender and kayaks for exploring from the ship
  • Restaurant with open seating, plus a casual café and multiple lounges inside and out
  • Docks in Washington, D.C., on Potomac and Inland Passage itineraries; American says its small ships are the only cruise ships to visit the capital in 70 years
  • Hotel night, excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities included in the fare

Staterooms and suites

Grand Suite

550 square feet on Deck 4 with a separate bedroom and living room, king bed, breakfast bar, daily restocked refrigerator, double-vanity bathroom and a 25-foot private balcony with table, chairs and chaise lounge.

Sky Suite

440 square feet on Deck 4 with a triple-panel floor-to-ceiling glass wall, lounge chairs, desk, breakfast bar, stocked refrigerator, double-vanity bathroom and a furnished private balcony.

Vista Balcony

300 square feet on Deck 3 with full-size furniture, an open floor plan, a spacious bathroom with large shower and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors to a private balcony with table and chairs.

Premium Balcony

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

Premium Waterview

300 square feet on the Main Deck with a lounge chair, closet, deep dresser drawers and desk, a full shower and picture windows with a built-in window bench in place of a balcony.

Single Balcony

250 square feet on Decks 2 and 3 for solo travelers, with a full-size bed, desk and chair, sitting area and a private balcony with table and chair; offered without a single supplement.

American Eagle 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 4 plan

Deck 4

Sun Deck, Suites/Staterooms.

Grand Grand SuiteSky Sky Suite
  • 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.

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 Eagle

Sundeck
Sundeck
Sky Lounge
Sky Lounge
Restaurant
Restaurant
Forward Lounge
Forward Lounge
Sundeck
Sundeck
Sky Lounge
Sky Lounge
Restaurant
Restaurant
Forward Lounge
Forward Lounge

Dining on American Eagle

The RestaurantIncluded

Open seating at every meal with all 100 guests in one seating and water views from every table; menus follow the coast, from Florida and Lowcountry seafood to Chesapeake crab and New England lobster and scallops.

Casual CaféIncluded

An outdoor café for a relaxed breakfast or lunch on deck, popular on warm Florida and Chesapeake days.

Daily Cocktail HourIncluded

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

Drinks PolicyIncluded

All meals, snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included and available 24 hours a day.

Entertainment and activities

  • Onboard expert giving daily talks on coastal ecology, maritime history, pirates and the Gilded Age winter retreats of the Southeast
  • Live music every evening in the lounge, with local musicians joining in port
  • Bow observation area and open sun deck for wildlife and scenery
  • Stern activity platform with kayaks and a tender for exploring from the ship
  • At least one included excursion in every port, with optional Premium and Signature tours
  • Fitness center with new equipment
  • Art classes, cooking demonstrations, trivia and tech help sessions depending on the itinerary
  • Starlink Wi-Fi throughout the ship

Families and who it suits

American Cruise Lines runs no children’s program and its ships are designed for adult travelers; there are no kids clubs or family cabins, and the line does not publish a minimum age on its site, so ask before booking with anyone under 18.

Best for: Travelers who want a small, nimble ship that reaches Florida’s rivers, the Chesapeake and the Hudson with expedition-style access and all-inclusive river-cruise comfort.

Sails from: Jacksonville, FL, Amelia Island, FL, Charleston, SC, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Albany, NY, New York, NY · Regions: Florida and the Southeast, Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River, New England

American Eagle questions we answer every day

How big is American Eagle?
American Eagle is a 100-guest catamaran with four decks and 56 staterooms, built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland and delivered in 2023 as the first of American Cruise Lines’ Coastal Cats. The line does not publish tonnage, length or crew numbers. Staterooms run from 250 to 550 square feet, and an elevator serves every deck.
Where does American Eagle sail in 2026 and 2027?
American Eagle stays on the East Coast. From November through mid-May it sails Great Rivers of Florida round trips from Jacksonville and Southeast Sea Islands cruises between Charleston and Amelia Island. In late May it heads north on the East Coast Inland Passage to Washington, D.C., sails the Potomac & Chesapeake Bay cruise to Baltimore, then spends June through October on Hudson River Summer Classic and Fall Foliage round trips from Albany before returning south.
What is a Coastal Cat?
It is American Cruise Lines’ name for its series of 100-guest catamarans, built under the company’s Project Blue program at Chesapeake Shipbuilding. The twin-hull design gives a shallow draft and a stable ride, so the ships can enter small ports and travel rivers and inland waterways that conventional ships cannot, while a wide stern platform carries kayaks and a tender. American Eagle was the first, followed by American Glory, American Liberty and American Legend.
What is included in the fare on American Eagle?
American Cruise Lines is all-inclusive. The fare covers all meals and snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks around the clock, the daily cocktail hour, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with luggage service and transfer to the ship, at least one Featured excursion in every port, enrichment talks and nightly entertainment, Starlink Wi-Fi, gratuities, port charges and fees. Premium and Signature excursions cost extra.
Which staterooms are best on American Eagle?
Most guests choose the 300-square-foot Vista Balcony rooms on Deck 3 or Premium Balcony rooms on Deck 2. The 550-square-foot Grand Suite and 440-square-foot Sky Suite on Deck 4 add living space, a breakfast bar and bigger balconies. Premium Waterview rooms on the Main Deck trade the balcony for a picture window with a built-in bench, and solo travelers have 250-square-foot Single Balcony rooms without a supplement.
Is American Eagle good for families with children?
Not really. American Cruise Lines runs no children’s program, there are no kids clubs or connecting family cabins, and the onboard program of history talks, cocktail hours and evening music is built for adult travelers. Most guests are retired couples and solo travelers. If you are considering bringing a teenager, ask about the line’s age policy before booking.

Facts checked against American Cruise Lines: American Eagle, American Cruise Lines: dates and fares for American Eagle, American Cruise Lines press release: American Legend and the Coastal Cat series, American Cruise Lines: all-inclusive on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

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