According to a story on the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the new company called American Cruise Lines' will operate the American Queen -- which formerly operated for the now-defunct Delta Queen Steamboat Company and Majestic America Line -- from the U.S. Maritime Administration. About $22 million in funding would come from the company and its investors, the article said.
According to the newspaper, the boat would dock at Beale Street Landing and would winter in Memphis, which would also be the location for company headquarters. City officials estimated the project would have an annual economic impact of $89.5 million.
The American Queen is the
third "Queen" from the former Delta Queen
Steamboat Company and is propably the
largest steamboat ever built. She was built
in 1994 by McDermott Shipyard and launched
in 1995 at an approximate cost of $60
million. Her steam engine are from the U.S.
dredge Kennedy. As the paddle wheels are to
small to move the large boat in every
situation, there are two additional
propellers which can be used if necessary.
Modern technique and historic charm makes a
cruise on the American Queen an
unforgettable experience.
The small-ship line said the Queen would offer a variety of Civil War-themed cruises during its inaugural season that will take passengers to Vicksburg's National Military Park and New Orleans' Civil War Museum, to see monuments such as a 60-foot-tall statue of Robert E. Lee, and to historic battlefields, including Vicksburg and Nashville.
Onboard, ACL said passengers would enjoy "era-inspired cuisine, music and entertainment" - the line is offering no details on what that will entail - and will learn about the war from onboard Civil War historians and lecturers.
"Cruising aboard Queen of the Mississippi is a historic experience on its own, only to be heightened by our Civil War theme cruises," said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines.
