Delta Queen Steamboat Company announced that its American Queen's return to scheduled cruise service will be postponed until 2007, due to conditions in New Orleans and along the lower Mississippi River system, the American Queen's home base. Over the last few months, the American Queen has been in private charter. Passengers will be given the opportunity to travel on either Delta Queen or the Mississippi Queen in lieu of their American Queen cruise. Bruce Nierenberg, president of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, said that in 2006, with very minimal schedule changes, the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen will continue to cruise heartland rivers. The company cites that it has experienced strong positive momentum in bookings in the last few months and hopes this trend continues, but it is apparent that the upriver itineraries would have a difficult time supporting a three-boat operation for the whole 2006 operating year. For more information, visit [www.deltaqueen.com].
