American Queen Steamboat Company Ships, Cruise Deals, Reviews and Ratings

American Queen Steamboat Company

Cruise Line Information

The mighty rivers of the United States of America once served as the great highways of early exploration and inspired dreams of discovery. Today, the American Queen Steamboat Company re-creates the same sense of wonder, excitement and inspirations with all the convenience and comfort of modern luxury aboard two of the largest and most elegant riverboats in the world, the American Queen and the American Empress. Traveling in the wake of legends, guests are transported to an era of leisurely and romantic travel.

At the American Queen Steamboat Companyto share the dream of American river cruising and as such maintain a commitment to excellence each of vessels is richly complemented by a culture of gracious service, elegant decor, rousing entertainment and rewarding enrichment experiences. All of this is accentuated with pre-cruise deluxe hotel stays, remarkable shore excursions included in every port of call and a wealth of complimentary onboard amenities.

American Queen is the largest steamboat in the world, with the capacity to carry 436 passengers. The boat was purchased in August 2011 from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) for $15.5 million. Originally built in 1996 for the defunct Delta Queen Steamboat Company, American Queen had been laid up since 2008, when its most recent owner, Majestic America Line, went bust.

Before relaunching in April 2012, American Queen received a $6 million spruce-up to make the Victorian decor -- chandeliers, upholstery, polished wood throughout -- pop. Cabins got new bedding and flat-screen TVs, and a top-deck dining venue was added. In early 2013, the company made additional refurbishments to public areas, such as the J.M. White Dining Room and the Front Porch buffet venue.

In 2013, the company announced it purchased Empress of the North from MARAD and subsequently renamed it American Empress. The 223-passenger ship sails the Pacific Northwest (on the Columbia and Snake rivers). A major refurbishment added the Victorian touches that define the company -- lots of chandeliers, lace curtains, opulent wallpaper and ornate, dark wood furniture. Of course, it also got some modern amenities, including shipwide Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers in cabins and Bose entertainment systems in suites. Public spaces were also completely revamped, most notably the River Grill & Bar, an upscale dining spot with cool al fresco option.

Spring of 2014 marked the expansion of elegant and intimate style of travel to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The soaring mountains, dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and frontier spirit of the fascinating West are the perfect complements to the cultural history, quiet towns and genteel character of our voyages on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Just as the American Queen embodies the Heartland and legacy of Mark Twain, the American Empress was exclusively designed to celebrate the rich tradition of exploration in the West.

Nature's beauty and the historical tapestry that blankets this land have been in the making for countless generations. Regardless of which riverboat captures your imagination and regardless of which region wins your heart, a vacation aboard the American Queen or theAmerican Empress is one unlike any other. Each voyage offers unique perspectives on America's history, culture and landscape that you can't get anywhere else: up-close, in-depth and unforgettable. Step aboard and delight in the luxurious modern amenities, gracious service and endless authentic experiences that are synonymous with American Queen Steamboat Company river cruising.

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