The Queen holds Court

[PitbullMidwest]

The Delta Queen is paying a visit to my town this afternoon and I thought I'd post a pic for those who have never seen a Mississippi riverboat.

Delta Queen was built in 1927 in Stockton California and moved to the Mississippi River in 1946. She's the oldest riverboat in operation and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989. She measures 285 feet in overall length, 58 feet in overall beam and operates with 2 steam pipe boilers. With 87 staterooms she has capacity for 174 passengers.

I always felt a bit like Tom Sawyer as a kid when I'd hear the Delta Queen's colliope playing, you could hear it for miles around town. My folks would take us down to the port so we could check her out and take a tour. Maybe after the kids are grown I'll take my wife on a river cruise.

Burlington has river boat gambling but those boats are cheap imitators of the real thing. If she's still in town after work I'm going to grab the kids and go check her out.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

We have the pleasure of seeing the Delta Queen several times a year here in Louisville. One time is the "GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE" during Derby Week. (Kentucky Derby) Louisville has "The Belle of Louisville", and old sternwheeler that races the Delta Queen. Much cheating and general chicanery takes place during the "race".

The Delta Queen has a new "sister ship" the Mississippi Queen". It is a GIANT craft compared to even the rather large Delta Queen. The Mississippi Queen was built right across the river from Louisville At JeffBoat. Louisville has quite the history with steamers. Also across the Ohio River from Louisville is the city of New Albany. That was the site of construction for the famous sternwheeler, the "Robert E. Lee".

(The Belle of Louisville" was converted in the early '60's for passenger rides. It was formerly known as the "Idlewild" It is still a true steamer, as the Delta Queen is converted to a diesel powerplant.)

 

[GaryM]

She's very pretty for sure. Comes through St. Louis on a semiregular basis. I regret never seeing her in person though.

 

[ByronBob]

We just paid 32 million for a ferry between Rochester and Toronto a little while back. Huge boat and it looks like this one is too.

 

[BB_TX]

Have you ever taken a cruise on any of the river boats? My wife occasionally mentions it. We took a cruise in the Bahamas once, but we have never really looked into a cruise on one of these.

 

[Egon]

Anybody try " The African Queen "

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

 

[Bird]

Never tried The African Queen, but I sure have seen it several times.

 

[vetteman]

Hey Bob was that $32 million the first time or second time it was purchased ???????? I listen to BobLonsberry a lot and he just blasts the city of Rochester and its ferry.

 

[RobertN]

I have been looking at Australia for a trip this winter. Our good TBN buddy Vin(Daedong) lives down there by the Murray river. I did some web searching, and found they have some interesting river excursions on paddle wheelers.

They run some up in Washington too; looks like it would be fun Murray river paddlers

More Aussie paddle wheelers

Stern Wheelers in Washington Columbia Gorge

 

[v8dave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Have you ever taken a cruise on any of the river boats? My wife occasionally mentions it. We took a cruise in the Bahamas once, but we have never really looked into a cruise on one of these. )</font>

My wife and I have not taken such a cruise, but have wanted to do so for a long time. We have some friends that did take a riverboat cruise though and they said it was great! Not like a caribbean cruise though. On a Mississippi river steam boat cruise it's about the journey and not necessarily about the destination that is the enjoyment.

They suggested getting an outside cabin on one of the newer steamboats so you can have your own balcony to watch the river scene and traffic. Outside cabins with private balconies are not available on the Delta Queen. Being a fan of big machinery, the husband really enjoyed the river traffic watching. Wife enjoyed the scenery. It's a low key cruise--but pricey. Look 'em over here at the Delta Queen Steamboat Company.