Delta Queen

MS Delta Queen is an authentic American stern paddle-wheel steamboat. The ship has historically been used for cruises on Mississippi River and its tributaries, and mostly in Southern USA. Following a major refit, the boat was scheduled to start operations in 2020, with voyages on Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kanawha rivers.

The vessel (IMO number 8643327) is currently USA-flagged (MMSI 366950730) and serves as a hotel permanently moored in Sacramento CA.

The riverboat was launched in 1925 and started operations in 1927. The paddlewheeler was docked in Chattanooga Tennessee, serving as a hotel ship until purchased by the newly established Delta Queen Steamboat Company. In March 2015, the vessel was towed to Gulf Island Fabrication Inc shipyard (in Houma Louisiana) to be drydock refurbished to its original condition.

The current shipowner is the Kimmswick Missouri-based Delta Queen Steamboat Company.

Delta Queen has a cross-compound steam powerplant, which engines generate 1,5 MW power output. As propulsion, the boat is moved by its stern-mounted paddlewheel. This riverboat is the last surviving (original) overnight steam-powered cruise ship on Mississippi River.

Shipboard facilities include Forward Cabin Lounge (with a roof-covered terrace/Front Porch of America), Texas Lounge (bar lounge with large windows, comfortable seating, full-service Bar, an open-air terrace/alfresco venue with 4-seat tables), Lobby Hall (Reception Desk/Purser, Gift Shop), Betty Blake Library (Reading Room / Cards Room), Orleans Room (Restaurant & Galley/kitchen), Engine Room Viewing (lounge with views of the stern paddlewheel).

The boat has 5 decks, of which 4 are passenger-accessible and 3 with cabins. All cabins on Sundeck and Texas Deck have direct access to wraparound Promenades (outdoor walking areas) from where via outdoor stairs are accessed other decks.

An unusual feature of the Delta Queen steamboat is the steam calliope mounted on Sundeck (adjacent/aft of the Pilothouse/Navigation Bridge). Calliope is a 19th-century invented musical instrument (aka steam organ / steam piano) producing sounds by sending steam through large whistles. The riverboat's calliope covers about 3 octaves and was used to play the vessel while docking (berthing) and undocking. Sometimes, the ship's Master (Captain) extended this courtesy to other ships as well.

In 1989, Delta Queen was designated a "National Historic Landmark" (NHL, officially recognized by the US government). As such, the cruise ship can't sail with over 50 passengers onboard - based on SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea Act) requirements issued in 1966. That law also prohibits overnight cruises on wooden ships. The riverboat has a steel hull, but its public spaces and all staterooms are mostly of wooden construction. Delta Queen sailed for decades under SOLAS exemption, but this expired in 2008. The historic steamship is also included in the USA's National Register of Historic Places and National Maritime Hall of Fame.

In July 2015, two US senators from Ohio State introduced a bill that would let the riverboat Delta Queen to operate once again overnight passenger cruise service. The bill is a companion to legislation introduced in March 2015. The new legislation would require the installation of modern safety equipment and would grant the riverboat a 15-years exemption to the SOLAS rule (standard practice until 2008).

Currently, the cruise ship is undergoing refits in Houma Louisiana. The refit project is led by Delta Queen Steamboat Company's President and CEO Cornel J. Martin. His partners (Leah and Randy Ingram) previously operated the vessel (IMO 8643327) as a ship hotel, being permanently moored in Chattanooga TN. Steamboat's drydock refit and refurbishment cost were estimated at around USD 5 million.

A provision found in the 2018-modified version of the Senate's USCG authorization bill exempted Delta Queen from federal law and USCG regulations. These regulations currently require vessels with overnight accommodations for 50+ passengers to be made of fireproof materials. The boat's owner redesigned the steamship to passenger capacity 174. In 1966, US law was changed to require fireproofing of boats with large berthing capacity following the 1965 fire on SS Yarmouth Castle (wooden steamship) in the Caribbean. The accident killed 90 people.

Delta Queen cruises on Mississippi and its tributaries. The regularly scheduled itineraries are operated with departures from New Orleans to Memphis TN, St Louis MO, St Paul MN, Cincinnati OH and other major riverport cities.

The above itinerary map shows all river ports planned to be included in the Delta Queen steamboat's schedule.

Note: You can see the CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there. For similarly-designed (stern paddlewheel) US riverboats you can check the fleets of American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company (AQSC). Also similar (but way smaller) is the Australian steamship Murray Princess (1988-built).