Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 by Shawn Dake
AMERICAN QUEEN. Photo Shawn Dake 2012
The Great American Steamboat Company which inaugurated service with the 436-passenger AMERICAN QUEEN in April will be getting a new name. Just as the Greene Line Steamers became the Delta Queen Steamboat Company to honor their historic steamboat the DELTA QUEEN, the new company is following in the same footsteps and as a tribute to their own iconic flagship the line will now be renamed the American Queen Steamboat Company. The change takes effect on July 1, 2012.
“Just as the Greene family renamed their operation to honor the historic Delta Queen, we are embracing the legacy of the American Queen and renaming the Company in honor of her. Because of her iconic status, she has quickly become the brand in the eyes of our guests and travel agent partners,” stated Jeffrey D. Krida, the company’s chief executive officer.
The full schedule of cruises for 2013 has also just been released. Highlights include 30 departures sailing between the boat’s homeport of Memphis and New Orleans, with a wide variety of themed cruises ranging from Elvis to cooking and Civil War history. A variety of voyage lengths, range from four nights to twelve nights with fares beginning at $1,095 per guest. New in 2013 will be additional accommodations designed for single travelers including new Single Outside Staterooms. Not changing is the largely inclusive aspect of these river cruises. Every steamboat holiday includes a free one-night deluxe hotel stay in the city of embarkation, shore tours on the very popular SteamCoaches in all ports, complimentary wine and beer with dinner, and a host of other amenities. With a new name that guests can easily remember the American Queen Steamboat Company looks to have a great start on establishing their Great American legacy.
For bookings contact your travel agent. The new web address for the company is www.AmericanQueenSteamboat.com
Rob
June 21, 2012 at 7:55 pm
I thought Greene Line was renamed after the Delta Queen several years after the Greene family had sold out to Overseas National Airways?
At any rate, this is a very logical idea. They are a presently a one ship line, so the company brand and the underlying product really ought to be one and the same thing. Sticking a different umbrella brand above the boat just confuses customers.
Frank X. Prudent
June 23, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Rob is correct; at the time that Greene Line Steamers, Inc. became The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. in 1973, there was none of the Greene Family associated with the company. In her book “Long Live the DELTA QUEEN” Letha C. Greene writes the sale to Overseas National Airways was completed during November, 1969.
Shawn Dake
June 24, 2012 at 4:48 pm
You are both completely correct on all counts and I did not intend to imply otherwise. I think Mr. Krida was also simply saying that both lines were now going to be named after their best-known, and at the time of each renaming, only vessel. With the demise of ocean-going steamships now complete, I think I am correct in stating that the AMERICAN QUEEN is now the only overnight, steam-powered passenger vessel in the world. Certainly in the United States. If anyone knows of others it would be interesting to hear about them.
Edward Ira Weston
August 1, 2012 at 9:49 am
Please send us a full brochure of the newly refurbished Delta Queen with scheduling and pricing for trip booked
Kenneth Eden
August 2, 2012 at 5:31 am
Contacting a travel agent will gain the brochure or visit the company on line – by the way, the DELTA QUEEN is a floating museum, and is not sailing.
There is talk and print of having a Congessional Act to allow the DQ to sail again, against the SOLAS requirements, too much wood.
Since our US Congress is a do nothing body of lard that wishes to see our president disgraced, do not count on it any time soon.
Daniel Boeddeker
September 2, 2012 at 7:23 pm
The safety at sea law was meant for vessels “at sea”… the DQ and her sister ships were/are never more than a couple of minutes from shore. If she could get exemption for all those years, why couldn’t she now? It was the lack of interest from Congress AND the current president who didn’t care about her legacy.
My family has followed the DQ since my grandmother and sister sailed on her in 1961- a 3 week trip from Cincinnati to St. Paul and back. My parents took 13 trips on her, usually in Cabin 234 I believe, port side corner room by the paddlewheel. They had to stop travel on her since she did not have an elevator and my father could no longer take the stairways to each deck.I hope the DQ sails again because I would love to travel on her!
Kenneth Eden
September 4, 2012 at 6:15 am
The DELTA QUEEN was withdrawn from service in 2007, our current president was not elected then, so if any shadow is to be placed upon a US president, it would be one that preceeded President Obama.
Her owner was Delaware North, and the DQ is residing as a “museum” boat. As with most big corporations I can only presume the river boat company was purchased on a leverage buyout, sold for a major profit, not to operate again??
Sure, the “safety at sea law” as noted above, is SOLAS, the Safety of Life at Sea, which encompasses all aspects of safety for all humans on board cruise ships, liner, tugs, freighters et cetera, ad nauseum. Safety drills and such could, should, would apply to river boats. The mere closeness of land or shallow water depths are not an excuse for not having safety drills or use of life vests, its a no brainer. SOLAS written in legaleze and boiler plate can be found on line.
As for US presidents that have indeed ruined or tarnished our love of ships, look at it this way: Tricky Dicky Nixon, he scuttled the SS UNITED STATES in 1969, sold off the Presidential Yacht SEQUOIA. At least they were not left to rot and fester in a bayou in Louisianna and sold off as trash to be broken up in China.
Shawn Dake
September 4, 2012 at 11:33 am
Mr. Boeddeker is correct in that it was our U.S. Congress that killed the river cruising career of the DELTA QUEEN. For the record, the steamboat was withdrawn from service in 2008. The final operator in service was Majestic America Line. President Obama did voice his support for the DELTA QUEEN during his campaign and then did nothing more about it. The reality is that it was Congress and economics that have removed the boat from overnight passenger service. Throughout her years of service, at least since 1973, routine exemptions to the ocean-going SOLAS regulations were rather routinely granted. That is until June 2007. From that time, for reasons having very little to do with actual safety, exemption legislation was consistently blocked despite numerous attempts to extend it. The brunt of the blame lies squarely with former Representative James Oberstar from Minnesota and to a lessor extent Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, both Chairmen of their respective Transportation Committees. They thwarted all efforts to present exemption legislation before Congress. While both claimed that fire safety was their only motivation, they had close ties to the Seafarers International Union which until 2006 represented the majority of the steamboat’s employees. Majestic America Line operated their boats with non-union personnel. The DELTA QUEEN is and was safe and passengers had a choice whether they wanted to cruise on a boat with a wooden structure or not. It is a crime that they no longer have that choice. Thankfully, the AMERICAN QUEEN still provides a taste of what could once be experienced on her smaller, much older sibling. For a more complete look at why the DELTA QUEEN was removed from service please see the postscripts to my story of the steamer at http://www.maritimematters.com/2010/09/log-of-the-steamboat-delta-queen-along-southern-rivers-part-two-2/
Mark Twain
September 4, 2012 at 11:37 am
“No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the Congress is in session.”