American Countess
{{Short description|River cruise paddlewheel ship}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |display title=ital}}
|+American Countess {{Infobox ship image | Ship image=Countess at the Crab Shack.jpg | Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header= | Ship name=*Kanesville Queen (1995–2016)
| Ship owner=*Harrah's Entertainment (1995–2013)
| Ship operator=American Cruise Lines | Ship registry=Louisville, Kentucky, USA | Ship route= | Ship ordered= | Ship builder= | Ship original cost= | Ship yard number= | Ship way number= | Ship laid down= | Ship launched=1995 | Ship completed= | Ship christened= | Ship acquired= | Ship maiden voyage= | Ship in service= | Ship out of service= | Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|368048990}}
| Ship fate= | Ship status= | Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header= | Header caption= | Ship class= | Ship type= | Ship tonnage= | Ship displacement= | Ship length=*{{convert|318|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship beam={{convert|79|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship height= | Ship draught= | Ship draft= | Ship depth= | Ship decks=4 | Ship deck clearance= | Ship ramps= | Ship power= | Ship propulsion=Paddlewheel and Z-drive (diesel electric){{Cite web|url=https://www.workboat.com/passenger-vessels/american-countess-completes-successful-sea-trial|title=American Countess completes successful sea trial|website=Work Boat}} | Ship speed= | Ship capacity=245 passengers{{Cite web |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise/American-Queen-Voyages/American-Countess|title=American Queen Voyages American Countess Information|website=Travel Weekly}} | Ship crew= | Ship notes= }} |
American Countess is a river cruise paddlewheeler owned by American Cruise Lines.
''Kanesville Queen'' (1995-2016)
The casino boat Kanesville Queen was originally constructed for Harrah's Entertainment in Council Bluffs, Iowa and opened to the public on New Year's Day of 1996.{{Cite web|url=https://nonpareilonline.com/news/local/kanesville-queen-leaves-harrahs-after-17-years-on-the-river/article_3bb055cd-7549-5979-958d-c84ba0657f15.html|title=Kanesville Queen Leaves Harrah's After 17 Years on the River|website=Daily Nonpareil}} In 2007, Iowa law was changed to allow casinos to operate fully onshore.{{Cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/news/local/iowa-reviews-water-based-casino-rule/article_eb561c34-4b87-5ae0-846b-c53a37306f39.html|title=Iowa reviews water-based casino rule|website=Quad-City Times}} After the revision of the law, Harrah's officials stated that the river vessel was no longer needed at their Council Bluffs casino and estimated it would save the company $2 million annually to retire the boat.{{cite web|first=Kermit|last=Miller|title=Odds are against casino boat's survival|url=https://krcgtv.com/news/local/odds-are-against-casino-boats-survival|website=KRCG}} In 2013, Kanesville Queen was sold as scrap to Newt Marine of Dubuque, Iowa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstribune.com/news/2013/aug/21/scrap-job-good-gamble/|title=Former riverboat casino in Jefferson City to be scrapped (VIDEO)|website=News Tribune}}
Introduction as ''American Countess''
Purchased by American Queen Steamboat Company in 2016, the dormant vessel was eventually brought to Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, Louisiana to be cut in half and extended with a new 60-foot midsection in order to increase passenger capacity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/new-riverboat-passes-sea-trials-set-for-april-cruise|title=New riverboat passes sea trials, set for April cruise|website=KMTV Omaha}}File:American Countess Paddlewheel.jpg]]
After many delays, the American Countess was finally launched on March 21, 2021, in New Orleans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-launched-in-New-Orleans|title=American Countess launched in New Orleans|website=Travel Weekly}} The launch followed almost four years after the launch of American Duchess, another former Iowa casino boat that had been converted into an overnight cruise vessel by the same company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/08/14/american-duchess-new-mississippi-riverboat-christened-new-orleans/567166001/|title=New Mississippi riverboat American Duchess christened in New Orleans|first=Gene|last=Sloan|website=USA Today}}
In February 2024, American Queen Voyages ceased operations. American Countess was purchased by American Cruise Lines for $1.6 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2024/04/04/american-cruise-lines-finalizes-purchase-of-american-queen-boats/|title=American Cruise Lines finalizes purchase of American Queen boats|website=Vicksburg Post}} It is to be scrapped without further use.American Cruise Ships Monthly July 2024 page 12