MV Louisiane

MV Louisiane was purchased in early 2016 by the newly formed French America Line. The company, based in New Orleans, LA, acquired the 2000-built “MV Columbia Queen” (a Columbia River cruise ship) from the US Maritime Administration and brought her to Louisiana for a complete drydock refit into the French-themed riverboat Louisiane. The 150-passenger vessel was officially inaugurated in August 2016. She operates paddlewheel cruises on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

Louisiane was built in 2000 using the hull of a former casino ship. The refit was completed at Leevac Shipyards Inc. (Jennings, LA) for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. MV Columbia Queen herself was completed in Portland, Oregon, at Cascade General Inc. and operated by Delta Queen on the Willamette, Columbia, and Snake rivers. The vessel later passed to Great American River Journeys and subsequently to Majestic America Line (defunct in 2008).

In 2016, the ship underwent a full bow-to-stern refurbishment, with new public spaces and accommodations added across her four passenger decks. Louisiane features two open-seating dining venues (located aft on the upper decks), the French Quarter sidewalk-style Veranda, and the more formal Orleans Room, which offers a club setting with live entertainment. The onboard cuisine highlights French and Creole specialties. Additional public areas include the French Quarter Lounge & Bar (with soft jazz), the Great Rivers Lounge (a quiet retreat), the Library, and Bar Royale adjoining the Orleans Dining Room.

The ship offers 75 staterooms across seven cabin categories, ranging from two Richelieu Suites (25 m² / 267 ft²) with large panoramic views and verandas opening onto the wraparound promenade, to 22 Veranda Staterooms, 13 French Balcony Staterooms, and 20 Inside cabins.

Along with the French America Line’s enrichment program, complimentary inclusions feature shore excursions, wine, beer, soft drinks, spirits, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water, plus bicycles (with helmets) available in select ports.

In 2017, MV Louisiane began her inaugural season with itineraries between Memphis, TN and New Orleans. During the summer, she offers sailings between Saint Paul and Saint Louis, MO before returning to the Deep South for the winter season, which also features festive-period “celebration sailings.”

Note: CruiseMapper’s full list of river cruise ships and riverboats is available in the “itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.