First modern riverboat in the U.S. to set sail from New Orleans

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The first modern riverboat in the U.S. is setting sail from New Orleans on Saturday.

The American Song, operated by American Cruise Lines, was introduced last fall as the first in the company’s new series of contemporary riverboats.

The 184-passenger ship will offer eight-day cruises on the Lower Mississippi River through the rest of the year. The riverboat has a four-story, glass-enclosed atrium with a large domed skylight and lounges that sit 40 feet above the water, a news release said.

In 2019, American Song will reposition west to the Columbia and Snake Rivers. A sister ship, American Harmony, will take its place on the Mississippi River as the company’s second modern riverboat.

The cruise line also sails two Victorian-style paddlewheelers on the river.

The Port of New Orleans, which handled over 1.1 million passengers in 2017, expects to break that record this year.

The American Queen Steamboat Company also homeports two paddle wheelers at the port and offers inland river cruises.

The largest ocean cruise ship in length and passenger occupancy is set to arrive at the port in November. The Norwegian Breakaway can accommodate nearly 4,000 guests. It replaces the Norwegian Pearl, also owned by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Royal Caribbean returns to New Orleans in December to homeport the Vision of the Seas, a 2,050-passenger ship.

In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line plans to increase capacity on its short cruise program by replacing the Carnival Triumph with the 2,974-passenger Carnival Valor. And Disney Cruise Lines recently said it plans to homeport a ship in New Orleans in 2020.

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