American Cruise Lines has announced the latest development in the construction of its brand new 150-passenger paddlewheeler, the Queen of the Mississippi, as it nears completion at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland. Last week, the 23-ton, 28 foot-wide paddlewheel built specially for the new riverboat was lifted and installed. A short video documenting the construction milestone can be viewed at the bottom of the page.
The Queen of the Mississippi will be completed in May, with its inaugural cruise scheduled for Aug.11, 2012 from New Orleans to Memphis. Currently, the interior is well underway with carpeting being installed throughout the ship and furniture beginning to go onboard. Nearing completion is the installation of all sliding glass doors leading to the private balconies and painting. Sea trials are scheduled to begin in late March.
The Queen of the Mississippi carries 150 guests in staterooms, many of which are twice the size of those on any other Mississippi riverboat. Staterooms feature large private balconies with sliding glass doors. American Cruise Lines will operate the paddlewheeler over the entire Mississippi River System, including the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers. The Queen of the Mississippi will also be able to travel at higher speeds than other Mississippi riverboats, minimizing night travel and making more itineraries possible with longer visits to the river towns.
For more information, visit www.americancruiselines.com.