American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com), the leader in small ship cruising, released today video footage of the recent launching of its brand new authentic sternwheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland.  After being moved out of the fabrication buildings, the two lower hull halves were joined together and a traditional side launching took place. The event drew in a crowd of onlookers who cheered throughout the launching process. Please click here to view the launching video.

“It’s always a thrill to watch, no matter how many times I’ve witnessed a launching,” said Charles A. Robertson, President, American Cruise Lines. “It’s an important step in the process and we’re happy to be ahead of schedule. We’re full speed ahead now on the superstructure – you’ll see a magnificent vessel come to life as the third, fourth and fifth decks are added.”

The sternwheeler is currently being outfitted with miles of electrical cable, piping, joiner work, and more.Queen of the Mississippi will boast 75 passenger staterooms larger than those on any former Mississippi riverboat, spacious private balconies and all of the amenities today’s travelers expect, while maintaining the elegance and traditional Victorian appearance of classic Mississippi riverboats.  A multitude of spacious and elegant lounges and public spaces are planned that will accommodate various passenger tastes in onboard activity. These include a grand dining salon, the Paddlewheel Lounge and Huckleberry Lounge, a card room, library, Internet lounge, and several smaller lounges.

American Cruise Lines will operate the authentic sternwheeler over the entire Mississippi River System, with the option of cruising at significantly higher speeds to make more itineraries possible than ever before on the Mississippi River,  with longer visits to the river towns and less night traveling. A number of unique seven-, 10-, and 14-day cruises are planned that take passengers as far north as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi River and as far east as Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.