C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT

C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT at launching, Jana M. German, wife of Delta
Queen Coastal Voyages brand manager James M. German, breaks a
bottle of champagne on the bow of the ship. (photo: AMCV)

C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT (2000)
American Classic Voyages
U.S. Registered

Built by Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Florida
300 feet long
226 passengers

Launched June 9, 2000 at Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, Florida, the first hull for American Classic Voyages new fleet of coastal ships. CV CAPE MAY LIGHT's public areas include the Rosecliff Dining Room, Harbor Lights Lounge and Fogcutter's Bar.

C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT, fitting out, photo: AMCV

C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT began sailing nine itineraries along the U.S. East Coast in spring 2001.

C.V. CAPE MAY LIGHT, "artists impression"

Update: American Classic Voyages files Bankrupcy
October 19, 2001: American Classic Voyages, Inc. has filed for bankruptcy court protection and will cease most sailings. In Hawaii, SS INDEPENDENCE and MS PATRIOT will stop sailing on Saturday, October 20 after completing current cruises. The Delta Queen Vessels AMERICAN QUEEN, MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, COLUMBIA QUEEN and CAPE MAY LIGHT will stop sailing over the next three days. A fifth Delta Queen steamboat, the historic DELTA QUEEN, will continue to operate its Mississippi River voyages. American Classic said that of its bookings had fallen since the terrorist attacks on September 11 and cancellations had risen to 30 percent. Rumors the company was in financial trouble had circulated for weeks and on Thursday, Nasdaq officials halted trading in American Classic's shares after they reached a new low of 46 cents each. Two weeks ago, insurers stopped offering polices for American Classic passengers wanting insurance against cruise cancellations. The move discouraged travel agents from booking passengers on the company's ships. American Classic has on order two new, 1,900-passenger ships under a planning stage at the Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi. The company said it hopes to work out a deal with Los Angeles based Northrop Grumman Corp., owner of the shipyard, and the U.S. Maritime Administration to keep the ship-building projects underway.

Both coastal cruisers, completed in 2001 and 2002, were withdrawn from service following the financial collapse of American Classic Voyages; they remained laid up in Florida, for sale.

August 21, 2006: The U.S. coastal overnight cruise ships, CAPE MAY LIGHT and CAPE COD LIGHT, laid up since the collapse of American Classic Voyages in 2001, were reported have found a buyer in Hornblower Marine Services. The press reports indicated the close of the deal, on the two ships, was expected in October 2006.

In 2007 the American Coastal Voyages (ACV) website stated that "ACV will continue to, develop its planned US and international itineraries, land operations as well as set pricing and marketing strategies. The ships, one launching in spring 2008 and the other early 2009 will undergo a process of reconditioning and refurbishment to meet the high standards we know our cruise guests will expect."

Back to Delta Queen Coastal Voyages Company History

[Home]   [Table of Contents]   [Shipping Mall]   [Index of ships]