Fleet Expansion

The American Queen Steamboat Company – which is the owner and operator of the American Queen and American Empress – has announced that the new American Duchess will join the U.S.-flagged fleet in June 2017.

Construction begins soon on a recently purchased American-made hull that will become the third vessel of the Memphis-based company.

The all-suite American Duchess will be the first purpose-built boutique paddlewheeler offering the river cruiser an intimate experience through America’s heartland.

The 166-guest American Duchess follows in the pedigree of the line’s namesake American Queen, sailing the mighty Mississippi and her tributaries.

New for the line, the American Duchess will offer overnight stays in port including the heart of Nashville as well as shorter roundtrip itineraries from the “Music City” and New Orleans.

Ted Sykes, company president and COO, said: “The American Queen Steamboat Company has led the way in a rebirth of U.S. river cruising as thousands discover our heartland and the Pacific Northwest, served by an award-winning, All-American crew.”

Sykes continued: “Demand for more capacity on the Mississippi River has been overwhelming the past two seasons and we look forward to delivering a new boutique, all-suite experience and the flexibility of two riverboats sailing between New Orleans and St. Paul.”

For more, sail on over to http://www.AmericanQueenSteamboatCompany.com .