Delta Queen

MS Delta Queen is an authentic American stern paddle-wheel steamboat, historically used for cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, primarily in the southern United States. Following a major refit, the vessel was scheduled to resume operations in 2020, offering voyages on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kanawha rivers.

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

Delta Queen was launched in 1925 and began operations in 1927. She was previously docked in Chattanooga, Tennessee, functioning as a hotel ship until being purchased by the newly formed Delta Queen Steamboat Company. In March 2015, the vessel was towed to Gulf Island Fabrication Inc shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, for a drydock refurbishment to restore her to original condition.

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

Delta Queen is powered by a cross-compound steam engine generating 1.5 MW of output. Propulsion is provided by a stern-mounted paddlewheel. She is the last surviving original overnight steam-powered cruise ship on the Mississippi River.

Onboard amenities include the Forward Cabin Lounge (with a roof-covered terrace/Front Porch of America), Texas Lounge (bar lounge with panoramic windows, comfortable seating, full-service bar, and alfresco terrace with 4-seat tables), Lobby Hall (Reception Desk/Purser and Gift Shop), Betty Blake Library (Reading Room/Cards Room), Orleans Room (Restaurant and Galley/Kitchen), and Engine Room Viewing Lounge with views of the paddlewheel.

The vessel has five decks, four of which are passenger-accessible, with cabins located on three. All cabins on the Sun Deck and Texas Deck have direct access to wraparound promenades (outdoor walking areas), with stairs leading to other decks.

A unique feature of the Delta Queen is the steam calliope mounted on the Sun Deck (aft of the Pilothouse/Navigation Bridge). The calliope, a 19th-century musical instrument (also known as a steam organ or steam piano), produces sound by releasing steam through large whistles. Covering approximately three octaves, the calliope was used to play music during docking and undocking, and occasionally extended as a courtesy to nearby vessels.

In 1989, Delta Queen was designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), officially recognized by the U.S. government. Due to SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations from 1966, the vessel cannot carry more than 50 overnight passengers, as the law prohibits wooden ships from operating overnight cruises. Although the ship has a steel hull, her superstructure and staterooms are primarily wooden. Delta Queen previously operated under a SOLAS exemption, which expired in 2008. She is also listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the National Maritime Hall of Fame.

In July 2015, two U.S. senators from Ohio introduced a bill to allow the Delta Queen to resume overnight cruises. The bill complemented legislation introduced earlier in March 2015 and proposed a 15-year SOLAS exemption, requiring the installation of modern safety equipment—a practice followed before 2008.

Currently, the vessel is undergoing refurbishment in Houma, Louisiana. The refit is overseen by Delta Queen Steamboat Company's President and CEO, Cornel J. Martin. His partners, Leah and Randy Ingram, previously operated the ship as a hotel in Chattanooga, TN. The refurbishment project is estimated at around USD 5 million.

A provision in the 2018-modified U.S. Senate Coast Guard authorization bill granted Delta Queen an exemption from federal law and USCG regulations that require vessels carrying more than 50 overnight passengers to be constructed from fireproof materials. The ship’s passenger capacity was redesigned to accommodate 174 guests. This legal update followed the 1966 fireproofing mandate prompted by the 1965 SS Yarmouth Castle disaster, which resulted in 90 fatalities.

Delta Queen’s cruise itineraries cover the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, with scheduled departures from New Orleans to Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO, St. Paul, MN, Cincinnati, OH, and other major riverport cities.

The itinerary map above displays the riverports included in Delta Queen’s cruise schedule.

Note: For the complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats, visit the "itinerary" section of CruiseMapper's River Cruises hub. For similar stern paddlewheel riverboats, refer to the fleets of American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company (AQSC). A smaller, similar vessel is the Australian steamship Murray Princess (built in 1988).