The new all-suite, 166-guest American Duchess, has arrived in New Orleans to undergo final preparations for her August 14th inaugural sailing.

The American Duchess is owned and operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company and the luxurious paddlewheeler will join the American Queen and American Empress to become the third vessel of the riverboat company.

The first purpose-built boutique paddlewheeler will now receive thousands of pieces of furniture, delivery of soft goods and final coats of paint. 

Training will commence for her all-American crew along with provisioning for the inaugural season.

The American Duchess will offer guests an intimate experience through America’s heartland with the largest suites on the river in every category, which will be fitted to the American Queen Steamboat Company’s highest standards.

AQSC chairman John Waggoner said: “The American Duchess performed beautifully as she made her way to New Orleans, undergoing sea and river trials supervised by the US Coast Guard and company technicians, including exercises in the Gulf of Mexico.

“She exceeded all expectations from a technical standpoint and I can’t wait for our first guests to experience her first-hand very soon.” 

The 166-guest American Duchess follows in the pedigree of the line’s namesake American Queen, sailing the mighty Mississippi and her tributaries.

New for the line, the American Duchess will offer overnight stays in port including the heart of Nashville as well as shorter round-trip itineraries from the “Music City” and New Orleans.

Rupert Thomson, managing director of Light Blue Travel, which handles all UK, Ireland & European sales and marketing for AQSC, said: “ We’re very pleased with the interest we have received from the UK & Europe in US river cruising - it really is something different.

“It was clear we needed more capacity on the Mississippi and welcome the Duchess to the AQSC portfolio – saying that it is fully booked until October so we have no availability before then!”