A steamboat company based in Memphis, The American Queen Steamboat Company, plans to add a second suites-only ship, the American Duchess, to its Mississippi River cruise line up next year in June 2017. According to chief operating officer, Ted Skyes, the hope is that the 166 passenger steamboat will boost jobs and tourism in Memphis and bolster service to Nashville and Chicago.
The steamboat company based in Memphis unveiled their extension plans Tuesday in a luncheon with travel industry writers in New York City. The American Duchess will join the 435 passenger American Queen, which is known for bringing overnight cruises back to the Mississippi and tributaries in 2012 after its four-year absence.
The American Steamboat company which is based in Memphis has contracted with an American shipyard for the Duchess’s buildout which will include a paddlewheel for an auxiliary power and a classic riverboat look. Memphis movers and company officials believe the American Duchess will give them a much needed leg up on the competitors who are targeting the Mississippi River cruise market.
The American Duchess will be more upscale than the American Queen, with rooms as large as 450 square feet, which is the largest offered by the Memphis based steamboat company. The riverboat will introduce shorter cruise times that will be aimed at working professionals since shorter cruises appeal to a younger demographic of people who are still working.
The American Duchess will operate on a year-round schedule, without a winter downtime. The steamboat company based in Memphis will offer the least expensive nine-day cruise between Memphis and New Orleans that will cost a couple approximately $5,400.
The Memphis based moving company, All My Sons Moving & Storage, is excited for the tourist and job growth that the American Duchess is expected to attract. We are proud of the economic impact the American Queen Steamboat Company is bringing to our home port of Memphis and the many cities included in their visit, including New Orleans and St. Louis.