American Cruise Lines announced today the name of its brand new 140
passenger Mississippi stern-wheeler – Queen of the Mississippi – currently under construction
and two months ahead of schedule at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. in Salisbury, MD.
American Cruise Lines has also unveiled the first renderings of the ship’s interior, including
those of the future dining salon, Paddle-wheel Lounge and passenger staterooms.
“Queen of the Mississippi is a natural addition to our fleet, the name perfectly befitting of the
grandeur she will exemplify,” said Charles A. Robertson, President of American Cruise Lines.
“We truly look forward to carrying on the historic legacy of Mississippi steamboating, taking it
to the next level, and offering a riverboat cruising experience like never before.”
As depicted in the renderings, the spacious dining salon will have the capacity to generously
seat all passengers and will be complete with crystal chandeliers and fine works of art that will
far surpass the ambiance of past riverboats. The Paddle-wheel Lounge, featuring rich wood and
comfortable furnishings, will offer panoramic views of the passing scenery and the large red
paddle-wheel at the stern. Fine décor and a tasteful interior color scheme will cover every inch
of the ship – from the elevators to the dining salon to the passenger staterooms – capturing
the tradition of the grand riverboats that graced the Mississippi all the way back to the 1800s.
The onboard atmosphere, when combined with live entertainment, exceptional cuisine, and
highly attentive and personalized service, will truly raise the bar in riverboat cruising.
“Providing an authentic Mississippi cruising experience is our ultimate goal in building this
brand new riverboat,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines. “Making
the Queen of the Mississippi accommodating and comfortable by modern-day standards is an
effort that will meticulously blend in with the historic appeal of riverboats to create a ‘best of
both worlds’ experience.”
The first brand new overnight stern-wheeler built for the Mississippi in nearly 20 years, Queen
of the Mississippi will be the grandest ever with over-sized staterooms larger than those of all
former Mississippi riverboats. Staterooms will feature spacious private balconies and all of the
amenities today’s travelers expect. American Cruise Lines will operate the stern-wheeler over
the entire Mississippi River System, with the option of cruising at significantly higher speeds to
make more itineraries possible with longer visits to the many river towns. A number of unique
seven-night cruises are planned that take passengers as far as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi
River and Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.
About American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines operates the newest fleet of small ships in the industry and offers more
than 20 unique itineraries along the inland waterways and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the
Mississippi River System and East Coast of the United States.
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