American Queen Sails Again

The American Queen
Photo by Charles Pannell

In October 2001, the fate of the grand American Queen sternwheeler was uncertain at best. After the bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages, (the parent company of the Delta Steamboat Company) many financial experts predicted that the world's largest steamboat would never sail again. Glady this was not her fate.

Following a successful bid in the bankruptcy auction in May 2002, Delaware North Companies acquired the assets and business of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. These assets included the American Queen. Less then three weeks after the acquisition, Delaware North Companies announced they would rebuild the Delta Queen Steamboat Company in New Orleans. And on Jan. 25, 2003 the grand American Queen returned to the country's waterways to kick off the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration.

Originally launched in 1995, today the American Queen continues to cruise the inland rivers of America's heartland on 3- to 11-night cruises. Passengers can explore sites from antebellum mansions to Civil War battlefields at the port stops along the way; and enjoy regional American cuisine, top-notch service and award-winning entertainment while on board the opulent American Queen. It's a distinctively American, yet unabashedly old-fashioned way to travel.

Access is quite good on the American Queen. She has 222 passenger cabins, including nine which are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible cabins are available in a broad range of categories, from Category A (outside superior) to Category D (inside). Access features include roll-in showers, grab bars, lever handles, a 5' turning radius in the bathrooms and hand-held showers.

Many of the American Queen's shore tours are also wheelchair-accessible.

For more information about the American Queen visit www.deltaqueen.com or call (800) 543-1949.

Check out the Fall 2003 issue of Emerging Horizons for a great article about a Mississippi River cruise aboard the grand (and very accessible) American Queen. The article includes access details about the ship, plus information on accessible shore tour options.