Company Overview:
Tracing its root to 1890, the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. was America's oldest U.S. flag cruise line still in operation, and if there is just one thing you can say about it, the company is a survivor. In just the last 10 years the flagship river boat, the namesake Delta Queen, has sailed under the direction of four different companies, starting with the original Delta Queen Company, which was acquired by American Classic Voyages which folded just after 9/11, to the Delaware North Company which held tight until the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and is now under the aegis of Majestic American Line, owned by hospitality conglomerate Ambassadors, International, Inc. as of April 2006.
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However, the name Delta Queen Steamboat Company no longer applies to the company. The singular riverboat, the Delta Queen, which has been designated as America's only floating historic landmark, is now a part of Majestic American Line, as are the other river boats that formerly belonged to the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, the American Queen and the Mississippi Queen.
In addition, Majestic American Line also acquired the river paddlewheel steamboats of the American West Steamboat Company; Columbia Queen, Empress of the North, Queen of the West and Contessa. Altogether, the company now owns the largest fleet of paddle wheel steamboats in the world.
The three riverboats of Delta Queen Co.; the Delta Queen, the American Queen and the Mississippi Queen, ply the scenic inland rivers of the United States during three- to eight-night cruises through America's heartland. Built in 1927, the legendary Delta Queen became a National Historic Landmark in 1989 and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an American treasure. The slighty larger Mississippi Queen was built in 1976, while the largest steam-driven riverboat every built, the American Queen, debuted in 1995.
The owners of this new Majestic America Line, Ambassador International, resumed service for the two smaller vessels, Delta Queen and American Queen, in April of 2006. The Delta Queen is doing 7-day journeys between Baton Rouge and Memphis. The American Queen is sailing roundtrip out of Memphis. Mississippi Queen is set to traverse the Mississippi river between New Orleans and Memphis, and Memphis to Cincinnati starting April 7th, 2007. Beginning in August of 2007, all three former Delta Queen boats will return to New Orleans for their home base.
The former American West Steamboats, Empress of the North, Queen of the West and Columbia Queen are now focused on the Columbia River area on a "Three Rivers" itinerary, roundtrip Portland Oregon. The boats visit Klickitat Dock, Oregon; Clarkston, Washington; Longview, Washington; and Astoria, Oregon. The 7-night voyages can be combined with pre and post hotel stays in Portland.
The Contessa, also formerly of America West but not a steamboat, sails 7-night Alaska adventure cruises through the Inside Passage. Sailing roundtrip out of Juneau, the boat visits Glacier Bay, Skagway, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell and Dawes Glacier. The boat holds just 48 passengers in 24 cabins, and has four public rooms.
