Ten Things To Know About The American Duchess

Make room for the American Duchess Riverboat, which is currently being built and added to the fleet of the popular American Queen Steamboat Company line of river cruisers. Vacationing on a riverboat is becoming one of the most popular ways to travel lately and the American Queen Steamboat Company is building another ship to answer the demand.

The company currently has two luxury riverboats, the American Queen® and the American Empress® that cruise along the Mississippi River. Its two-ship fleet includes the world's largest paddlewheel steamboat, but here’s what you need to know about the American Duchess ship:

1. This three-deck ship is 340 feet long and is a rebuilt version of the former Isle of Capri gaming boat. The American Queen Steamboat Company will build the American Duchess in the same wedding cake-style as the American Queen. The company will include a paddlewheel for auxiliary power and classic riverboat looks.

2. The Duchess will feature some of the largest staterooms on the river, with suites that range in size from 240 square feet to 550 square feet suites, as well as four loft suites and spacious Veranda Suites and Interior Suites. The lofts include an upper level with sleeping accommodations and a bathroom, and a lower level with a seating area and another bathroom.

3. The American Duchess will carry a maximum of 166 passengers from its homeport in Memphis on excursions through the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans. Other sailings will take place on the Upper Mississippi River to St. Paul, on the Cumberland River to Nashville, and from St. Louis to Chicago.

4. American Duchess will employ 90 to 125 staff members.

5. When it comes to food, the ship will have plenty of options, including a Grand Dining Room and Grill Room. The dining room is capable of seating all passengers at once, and the grill can seat about half the passengers. Wine and beer will be served complimentary at dinner, and specialty coffees, bottled water and soft drinks will be available throughout the trip.

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6. The American Duchess will operate a year-round schedule, without winter downtime. The nine-day cruises between Memphis and New Orleans begin around $5,400.

7. There will be ‘hop-on, hop-off’ excursions in the ports, and the price of these excursions will be included in the ship’s fare.

8. When you cruise on the American Duchess, you will take a step back in time and visit such southern sights as the Antebellum plantations, cotton fields, and Civil War memorials. You’ll also have the opportunity to stay overnight in some of these ports as well.

9. The American Queen Steamboat Company will be shorter sailings on the American Duchess, to appeal to families and younger professionals.

10. The American Duchess is set to launch on June 4, 2017. If you’re interested in experiencing your first river cruise or if you’ve done it before and want to do it again, reservations are being accepted starting in October.