American Queen
{{Short description|1995 recreation Mississippi river steamboat}}
{{coord|30.024|N|94.001|W|display=title}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ital }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = American Queen Eads Bridge.jpg | Ship image size = 320px | Ship caption = The American Queen }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = American Queen | Ship country = United States | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United States|civil}} | Ship owner = *Delta Queen Steamboat Company (1995-2006)
| Ship operator = | Ship registry = {{flagicon|United States}} Memphis, United States | Ship route = Mississippi River and tributaries | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = McDermott Shipyard | Ship original cost = {{US$}} 65 million | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 1994 | Ship launched = 1995 | Ship completed = | Ship christened = *June 1995 | Ship acquired = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = February 20, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/AQV-shutdown-no-shock-to-advisors|title=American Queen Voyages shutdown no shock to travel advisors|website=Travel Weekly|first=Nicole|last=Edenedo}} | Ship back in service = | Ship identification = {{IMO Number|9084542}} | Ship status = Being scrapped | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Steamboat | Ship tonnage = 3707 | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|418|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|89|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = {{convert|109.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|8.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 7 (6 passenger 1 crew) | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = Steam engine and diesel-electric | Ship propulsion = Paddlewheel and Z-drive | Ship speed = | Ship capacity = 222 staterooms, 436 passengers | Ship crew = 160 | Ship notes = }} |
American Queen was a Louisiana-built river steamship said to be the largest river steamboat ever built.{{cite news|title=River Royalty: American Queen returns to area waters for first time since 2008|url=http://www.reviewonline.com/page/content.detail/id/557837/River-Royalty.html?nav=5008|access-date=19 July 2012|newspaper=The Review; East Liverpool, Ohio|date=19 July 2012}} American Queen's primary mode of propulsion is its stern paddlewheel powered by a steam engine extracted from the 1932 dredging vessel Kennedy.{{Cite web|url=https://quirkycruise.com/american-queen-review-by-karl-zimmermann/#:~:text=American%20Queen%20Review%20%E2%80%94%20First%2C%20the,and%20radar%20mast%20folded%20down.&text=Lee%20also%20revealed%20a%20fact,around%20the%20engine%20room%2C%20below.&text=If%20playback%20doesn%27t%20begin,can%27t%20play%20this%20video.|title=American Queen Review — Aboard the Queen of the “Western Rivers”|website=QuirkyCruise|first=Karl|last=Zimmermann}} Her secondary propulsion, which provides additional maneuverability and speed, comes from a set of diesel-electric propellers known as Z-drives on either side of the sternwheel. There are also two bow thrusters that offer better maneuverability when docking or treading water. She has 222 state rooms for a capacity of 436 guests and a crew of 160. She is {{convert|418|ft|m}} long and {{convert|89|ft|m}} wide.{{cite web|title=American Queen Steamboat Company Official page|url=http://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com|access-date=2012-11-05}}
History with Delta Queen Steamboat Company (1994–2011)
Construction of the ship began in 1994 by McDermott Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana and was completed in mid 1995. The vessel was created for Delta Queen Steamboat Company to be a six-deck recreation of a classic Mississippi riverboat. Upon the arrival of American Queen in New Orleans, Louisiana, the vessel was christened by radio producer Angel Harvey with a 4-foot tall bottle of Tabasco hot sauce rather than a bottle of champagne which is traditionally used in ship christenings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisingthemightymississippi.org/american-queen/|title=The American Queen|website=Cruising The Mighty Mississippi}} The vessel's maiden voyage set sail from New Orleans on June 2, 1995, bound for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During that same inaugural cruise on June 20, American Queen got stuck in mud during a photoshoot 130 miles downriver from Louisville, Kentucky. Water and fuel were pumped off in order to lighten the vessel and free it from the mud.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/20/us/steamboat-is-mired-in-ohio-river-mud.html|title=Steamboat Is Mired In Ohio River Mud|work=The New York Times |date=20 June 1995 }}
In May of 1996, American Queen participated in the Summer Olympics torch relay. It was originally planned for the AQ to carry the flame up the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri to the hometown of Mark Twain - Hannibal, Missouri. Due to high water levels on the rivers, American Queen could not reach St. Louis. So instead, the Olympic flame was brought aboard the vessel on the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky and stayed onboard until reaching the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at Cairo, Illinois.Pousner, Howard. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/145666162/ "Riverboat gamble: Team scrambles for new route as the Mississippi rises"], Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 29, 1996, page C3.Pousner, Howard. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/145666300/ "River fails to extinguish flame's appeal"], Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 31, 1996, page E3.
On June 4, 1997, while docked in Memphis Harbor, passengers aboard the American Queen spotted the body of a man floating near the southern tip of Mud Island and notified vessel crew. First mate Dave Williamson retrieved the body to bring to local police which was later identified to be the remains of singer Jeff Buckley.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jeff-buckleys-body-found-in-memphis-58208/|title=Jeff Buckley's Body Found In Memphis|first=Ari|last=Bendersky|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=6 June 1997 }}{{Cite news|url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-jb-no-papers-97/125548253/|title=Missing singer's body found near Mud Island|first=Chris|last=Conley|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|date=5 June 1997 |page=1 }}
American Classic Voyages, the parent company of Delta Queen Steamboat Company, declared bankruptcy on October 19, 2001. ACV blamed its fate on the September 11 terrorist attacks and the spike in cancelled reservations, although many other factors attributed to the bankruptcy. Despite launching an ambitious expansion, American Classic Voyages faced operational challenges. According to sources close to ACV, the company's successful brands had strayed from what had made them attractive to their niche clientele, ACV's rollout of new cruises was mismanaged and the company had a costly dispute with its shipbuilder, Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding.{{Cite news|author=Stewart Yerton|author2=Rebecca Mowbray|title=Running Aground|url=https://steamboats.com/research/latestnews-acv.html|work=Times Picayune|date=October 28, 2001}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/10/20/cruise-line-files-bankruptcy/|title=Cruise line files bankruptcy|website=Tampa Bay Times}}
Resulting from the bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages, American Queen was taken out of service in October 2001. Delta Queen Steamboat Co. was subsequently purchased by Delaware North and American Queen was brought back into service in January 2003.{{Cite web|url=https://www.steamboats.org/steamboat-pictures/american-queen.html|title=American Queen|website=Steamboats.org}}
File:American Queen Steam Whistle (Front View).jpg of the American Queen, located in front of the port side bridge wing]]
Following reports that Delta Queen Steamboat Co. had suffered heavier losses than previously stated from the damages and travel disruption of Hurricane Katrina, Delaware North sold the company to Ambassadors International Inc. in April 2006 for $3 million.{{Cite web|url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2006/04/delta-queen-sold/|title=Delta Queen Sold|website=Cruise Industry News}}
From 2006 to 2008, American Queen and its sister vessels sailed under Majestic America Line, a subsidiary of Ambassadors International. After multiple failed attempts throughout 2008 to sell Majestic America Line, it was decided to break up the fleet and sell the vessels individually.{{Cite web|url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2008/10/breaking-up-majestic-america-line/|title=Breaking Up Majestic America Line|website=Cruise Industry News}}
On November 20, 2008, the steamer American Queen was retired to the reserve fleet in Violet, Louisiana. Due to the failure of Majestic America Line, she was returned to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) who held her $30 million mortgage.{{cite web|url=http://www.steamboats.org/steamboat-pictures/american-queen.html|title=American Queen|publisher=steamboats.org|access-date=2010-01-24}} The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration records the ship's movement to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet on January 22, 2009.{{cite web|title=National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory|url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/i090131.pdf|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration|access-date=September 26, 2015|page=2|date=January 31, 2009}}
In April 2011 American Queen was purchased for $15.5 million by HMS Global Maritime of New Albany, Indiana.{{cite web|author=Dale K. DuPont |url=http://www.workboat.com/newsdetail.aspx?id=9874 |title=Marad approves sale of American Queen |publisher=WorkBoat.com |date=2011-04-25 |access-date=2012-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316150823/http://www.workboat.com/newsdetail.aspx?id=9874&utm_source=NewsLink&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=InformzNews |archive-date=2012-03-16 }}
History with American Queen Steamboat Company (2011–2024)
In April 2012, HMS Global Maritime relaunched American Queen under a new cruise line, Great American Steamboat Company. The company held a new christening to celebrate the steamboat relocating its home port to Memphis. American Queen was the first passenger vessel to dock at the new Beale Street Landing, built long enough to accommodate the 418-foot long steamboat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/beale-street-landing-a-timeline|title=Beale Street Landing: A Timeline|first=Bianca|last=Phillips|website=Memphis Flyer}} Priscilla Presley, named godmother of the American Queen, rechristened the vessel with a bottle of champagne{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/priscilla-presley-named-godmother-for-great-american-steamboat-companys-american-queen-141564663.html|title=Priscilla Presley Named Godmother For Great American Steamboat Company's American Queen|website=PR Newswire}}{{Cite web|url=https://wreg.com/news/priscilla-presley-christens-the-american-queen/|title=One on One With Priscilla Presley As She Christens The American Queen|first=Sabrina|last=Hall|website=WREG Memphis|date=27 April 2012 }} before it set sail on its inaugural cruise with its new company, this time without sister vessels Delta Queen which became a floating hotel affixed to shore in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Mississippi Queen which was scrapped in 2011. The new inaugural cruise departed from Memphis bound for Cincinnati, Ohio. Along the way, American Queen participated for the first time in the Great Steamboat Race.{{cite web|title=New Vessel to Participate in 2012 Great Steamboat Race|url=http://kdf.org/news-New-Vessel-to-Participate-in-2012-Great-Steamboat-Race.html|publisher=Kentucky Derby Festival|access-date=3 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005163630/http://kdf.org/news-New-Vessel-to-Participate-in-2012-Great-Steamboat-Race.html|archive-date=2011-10-05}} She came in second place. Following a trademark dispute from American Cruise Lines, Great American Steamboat Company changed its name to American Queen Steamboat Company effective July 1, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/delaware/dedce/1:2013cv00324/51195/258/|title=American Cruise Lines Inc. v. HMS American Queen Steamboat Company|website=Justia US Law}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/U-S-river-cruise-company-changes-name|title=U.S. river cruise company changes name|first=Michelle|last=Baran|website=Travel Weekly}}
For a period around 2014, the American Queen Steamboat was a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.{{cite web|title=The American Queen Steamboat a Historic Hotels of America member|url=https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/american-queen-steamboat|website=Historic Hotels of America|access-date=January 20, 2014}}
In October 2014, American Queen struck jagged rock on the Cumberland River on its way into Nashville, Tennessee. Passengers were able to embark on time while repairs were made, although the vessel had to wait for Coast Guard clearance before sailing which came a day later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/american-queen-resumes-sailing-after-repairs-rock-damage|title=American Queen resumes sailing after repairs to rock damage|first=Anne|last=Kalosh|website=Seatrade Cruise News}} American Queen suffered another accident during high water conditions on the Mississippi River shortly before midnight on September 4, 2018, when she collided with the old Champ Clark Bridge in Louisiana, Missouri. The vessel sustained some damage to its port side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldtrippers.com/18mississippi/18c_mississippi/l180906.htm|title=Aboard the American Queen|website=Worldtrippers}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrfO0ph4asw|title=American Queen river boat hitting a bridge pylon.|via=YouTube}}
In the late 2010s, AQSC began rapidly expanding its fleet. The company purchased two abandoned casino boats in 2016 which would later be remodeled and reintroduced as American Duchess and American Countess. In January 2019, AQSC acquired Victory Cruise Lines which consisted of Great Lakes cruise ships, Victory I and Victory II. The two coastal cruisers were reintroduced under AQSC as Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2019/01/american-queen-completes-acquisition-of-victory/|title=American Queen Completes Acquisition of Victory|website=Cruise Industry News}}{{Cite web|url=https://opposite-lock.com/topic/61073/the-turbulent-history-of-cv-cape-may-light-cv-cape-cod-light|title=The Turbulent History of CV Cape May Light & Cape Cod Light|website=OPPO}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Ocean-Navigator-returns|title=The Ocean Navigator coastal ship is back in service|first=Andrea|last=Zelinski|website=Travel Weekly}}
In response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, American Queen Steamboat Company suspended operations in March 2020. AQSC, along with numerous other cruise lines worldwide would struggle to return to normal operations for the next couple years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.workboat.com/passenger-vessels/american-queen-suspends-ship-operations|title=American Queen and ACL suspend inland and coastal cruise operations|first=Dale K.|last=DuPont|website=WorkBoat}}
In October 2021, American Queen Steamboat Company changed its name to American Queen Voyages to reflect the addition of ocean-going itineraries. The company's headquarters were relocated from New Albany, Indiana to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/American-Queen-Steamboat-Company-American-Queen-Voyages|title=Why American Queen Steamboat Company Is Now American Queen Voyages|first=Kelly|last=Rosenfeld|website=TravelAge West}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/john-waggoner-i-never-expected-go-beyond-one-boat|title=John Waggoner: 'I never expected to go beyond one boat'|first=Anne|last=Kalosh|website=Seatrade Cruise News}}
In February 2024 American Queen Voyages announced they were ceasing operations and shutting down.{{cite web |title=American Queen Voyages |url=https://www.aqvinfo.com/ |website=American Queen Voyages |access-date=February 20, 2024}} In March 2024, assets of American Queen Voyages were put up for auction. Competitor American Cruise Lines successfully bid for all four of AQV's river vessels. American Queen was purchased for a price of $2.15 million.{{Cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/american-queen-paddlewheelers-sold-to-american-cruise-lines|title=American Queen Paddlewheelers Sold to American Cruise Lines|website=The Maritime Executive}}
Upon the purchase, American Cruise Lines evaluated options for the future of the American Queen other than adding the vessel to their operational fleet or as it was immediately done with sister vessels American Duchess and American Countess, selling it as scrap. In May 2024, they were reported to be contacting cities and towns along the Mississippi River and its tributaries to offer up the 29 year-old vessel as a donation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.republicaneagle.com/news/mayor-american-queen-offered-to-red-wing/article_e34eda7c-1ee4-11ef-b412-9b4b3392ae73.html|title=Mayor: American Queen offered to Red Wing|first=Lisa|last=Kaczke|website=Republican Eagle}}
In January 2025, footage was released online showing American Queen in the process of being dismantled at a scrapyard in Houma, Louisiana, with all its exterior cabin doors removed. That same winter, another notable and record-setting US-built passenger cruiseliner, SS United States was towed to Alabama to be scuttled and become an artificial reef.{{Cite web|url=https://nkytribune.com/2025/02/the-river-the-s-s-united-states-like-so-many-iconic-american-vessels-lost-to-time-and-progress/|title=The River: The S.S. UNITED STATES, like so many iconic American vessels, lost to time and progress|first=Capt. Don|last=Sanders|website=Northern Kentucky Tribune}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AoH9m1gUr0|title=American Queen and American Countess at scrapyard|website=YouTube}}
Facilities
The American Queen has health and wellness facilities that include a spa with masseuse located on main deck and a gym and pool located between the fifth and sixth decks. For dining, the vessel offers formal dining in the J.M. White Dining Room located on main deck and a casual, 24-hour dining option called the Front Porch Cafe located on Deck 3. There is also the River Grill & Bar which is an outdoor bar on Deck 5 that offers drinks and cookout-style food during good weather. There are also several entertainment venues including the Grand Saloon - a stage theater modeled after Ford's Theatre. Other entertainment options include a movie theater on Deck 3, musical performances in the Engine Room Bar on Deck 2 and numerous card games and reading materials in the Gentlemen's Card Room, Ladies' Parlor, Mark Twain Gallery and Chart Room.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/vessels/american-queen/|title=American Queen - Cruise with Living History|website=Official website}}
Themed voyages
American Queen passengers experience themed voyages with special appearances by various performers and lecturers, such as Lewis Hankins as Mark Twain. The Civil War themed voyage includes historians as guest speakers, and the Twain cruise features Cindy Lovell and other Twain scholars.{{cite web|url=https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/blog/special-themed-voyage-–-the-mighty-mississippi/ |title=Special themed voyage – The Mighty Mississippi |date=2019-04-04 |author=River Cruise Blog |publisher=American Queen Steamboat Co.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/aqsc/media/Design/Alert%20Materials/AQ_Deviation_091618_Proof3-1.pdf?lang=en-us |date=2018-09-16 |title=Mark Twain Voyage |author=American Queen Steamboat Co. |publisher=AQSC}}
Routes
The American Queen has cruised the Mississippi River from its mouth to as far north as St. Paul, Minnesota. She has also traveled the entire length of the Ohio River, the Tennessee River as far up as Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cumberland River as far up as Nashville, Tennessee and the Illinois River as far up as Ottawa, Illinois. In addition to these rivers, the American Queen enters the Yazoo Diversion Canal when visiting Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lake Ferguson when visiting Greenville, Mississippi and the Allegheny River when visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/vessels/american-queen/|title=Voyages on this Vessel|website=Official website}} The riverboat has also traversed the Gulf of Mexico in order to reach maintenance and repair facilities in Morgan City, Louisiana and Beaumont, Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://steamboats.com/museum/americanqueen.html|title=American Queen Steamboat in Mothball Fleet|first=John|last=Weise|website=Steamboats.com}}
File:American Queen Steamboat at Natchez Under the Hill.jpg|American Queen docked at the bottom of Silver Street in Natchez, Mississippi.
File:American Queen Saint Francisville in Morning.jpg|American Queen docked in St. Francisville, Louisiana in September 2017.
File:American Queen Facing Ottawa Rail Bridge.jpg|American Queen docked in Ottawa, Illinois facing the Ottawa Rail Bridge in September 2018. She cannot proceed up the Illinois River beyond this point.
File:American Queen Docked in Henderson KY.jpg|American Queen docked in Henderson, Kentucky in November 2015.
File:American Queen Clarksville Riverfront.jpg|American Queen docked in Clarksville, Tennessee in October 2016.
File:American-Queen-Dubuque.jpg|American Queen docked in Dubuque, Iowa in August 2015.
File:American Queen Memphis TN 2012-04-27 017.jpg|American Queen docked in Memphis, Tennessee in April 2012.
File:American Queen in New Orleans.jpg|Stern view of American Queen docked in New Orleans, Louisiana in June 2015.
Media appearances
In 2007, American Queen was the subject of an episode of the Discovery Channel TV series Superships.{{Cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1093754/|title=First Lady of the Mississippi: The American Queen (2001)|website=IMDb}}
In 2009, American Queen was featured in an episode of Little People, Big World in which the Roloff family took a cruise aboard the vessel.{{Cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1440536/plotsummary?ref_=m_tt_ov_pl|title=Roloffs on the River (2009)|website=IMDb}}
In 2018, American Queen was featured in an episode of Cruising with Jane McDonald. The show followed British singer Jane McDonald on a cruise aboard the American Queen from New Orleans to Memphis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8431|title=Jane McDonald Cruises to America in Final Episode of "Cruising with Jane McDonald"|first=Ashley|last=Kosciolek|website=Cruise Critic}}
See also
References
{{commons category|American Queen (ship, 1995)}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.aqvoyages.com/}}
Category:Delta Queen Steamboat Company
Category:Paddle steamers of the United States
Category:Passenger ships of the United States