GUILFORD, Conn. – The largest U.S. river cruise operator, American Cruise Lines, has bought four boats from a rival operator in bankruptcy. American Cruise Lines paid $6.3 million at an auction. The new assets include:
> American Queen: 417 guests, $2.2 million.
> American Countess, 245 guests, $1.6 million.
> American Empress, 223 guests, $1.6 million.
> American Duchess,166 guests, $200,000.
The line already has a fleet of other vessels, which make Winona a port of call. The line also has two new boats under construction. The newly acquired vessels had been operated by American Queen Voyages. They were caught up in the bankruptcy of its parent company, the San Francisco-based private equity investments Hornblower Group.