NEW YORK -- American Classic Voyages acquired the United States
Lines brand name for its three ships that will operate in Hawaii,
Rod McLeod, president and chief operating officer of American
Classic, said at a briefing here.
The original United States Lines was established in 1893, and
its last ship sailed in 1969. McLeod said that the brand name was
purchased from someone who wished to remain anonymous but whose
father was an officer aboard a United States Lines ship. The first
American Classic ship to use the brand name will be the Patriot,
now operating as Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam.
Following the acquisition of the vessel, it will be refurbished
for seven-night cruises out of Honolulu beginning Dec. 9, 2000.
Group and individual reservations for the ship will begin on Nov.
22, 1999.
The two additional ships (as yet unnamed) that will fall under
the new brand name are under construction in Mississippi. The first
is scheduled to debut in January 2003, and the second during winter
2004.
All three are scheduled only for Hawaii itineraries, but McLeod
left open the possibility for additional destinations such as
Alaska.
McLeod also announced the repositioning of the Independence --
the single ship sailing under the American Classic subsidiary
American Hawaii Cruises brand -- from Honolulu to Kahului, Maui, on
Nov. 4, 2000 for seven-night cruises beginning on Nov. 11,
2000.
As for the future of the American Hawaii Cruises brand, McLeod
said "It has a role in the next year. It's a different price point,
a different experience. We are evaluating the market and it remains
to be seen if it has life after the Independence."
McLeod noted that he has been bidding for United States Lines
memorabilia on the auction Web site eBay.
When asked about the existence of a United States Lines Web
site, he said that, too, is under construction.