[Bill McCready]

Greetings riverboat cruise fans.

Hundreds of us have enjoyed an overnight riverboat cruise on the Mississippi, Ohio or Columbia rivers.

Question: How many of us will go again in 2009?

Answer: Zero. For the first time in nearly 200 years, for 2009 it's impossible to book an overnight riverboat cruise on any American River. Really! With up to a half-dozen US riverboats operating in recent years, 2009 is one for the record books. For riverboat cruise fans this year will be worse than at any time during the Great Depression, World War, or aftermath of 9/11.

Will US river cruising make a comeback? Sure. Which of the six boats will return to service first? Last Friday someone announced plans to get one of Majestic America's boats back on the river in 2010. While the 167 passenger Queen of the West is not nearly as "special" (to me) as the 176 passenger Delta Queen, she is a real sternwheeler.

Moreover, by my reckoning the re-launching of the Queen of the West bodes well for those of us who dream of cruising again on the Delta Queen. To learn the latest news and conjecture on both boats, click over to Franz's "Save the Delta Queen" message board and spend 30 minutes reviewing the latest developments on the "optimistic" thread. After studying recent posts there, YOU might be able to help us devise a strategy that could allow you to book a future cruise on the Delta Queen.

Sincerely,

-Bill McCready

(Who has great personal memories of cruising on both of these Queens)