River Cruise Ships on US Rivers

River cruising on the US inland rivers started, when Greene Line bought the historic Delta Queen in 1945, brought her from California to the Mississippi River system with service starting in 1948. For a long time she was the only river cruise ship in the US.

Today, there are plenty of river cruise ships on the Mississippi River system as well as on the Columbia, Willamette and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Cruise lines actively operating ships on the US rivers are American Queen Steamboat Company and American Cruise Lines, while Delta Queen Steamboat Company has announced to bring back the Delta Queen some time soon and Viking plans to start in August 2020.

This is an overview of existing cruise ships, whether they operate with paddle-wheels or do have other propulsion.

American Queen Steamboat Company

cruise line: American Queen Steamboat Company

American Queen – passengers: 417

American Queen
American Queen

American Countess – passengers: 245

American Countess (© American Queen Steamboat Company)
American Countess (© American Queen Steamboat Company)

American Duchess – passengers: 166

American Duchess (© American Queen Steamboat Company)
American Duchess (© American Queen Steamboat Company)

American Empress (Columbia & Snake Rivers) – passengers: 223

American Empress (© American Queen Steamboat Company)
American Empress (© American Queen Steamboat Company)

American Cruise Lines

cruise line: American Cruise Lines

Queen of the Mississippi – passengers: 150

Queen of the Mississippi (© American Cruise Lines)

America – passengers: 185

America (© American Cruise Lines)

American Harmony (switching to Columbia & Snake Rivers in 2021) – passengers: 190

American Harmony (© American Cruise Lines)

American Jazz (announced for September 2020) – passengers: 190

American Jazz (© American Cruise Lines)

American Pride (Columbia & Snake Rivers) – passengers: 150

American Pride (© American Cruise Lines)

American Song (Columbia & Snake Rivers) – passengers: 184

American Song (© American Cruise Lines)

Queen of the West (Columbia & Snake Rivers) – passengers: 100

Queen of the West (© American Cruise Lines)

American Melody (announced for summer 2021)- passengers: 190

preview: American Melody (© American Cruise Lines)

Delta Queen Steamboat Company

cruise line: Delta Queen Steamboat Company

Delta Queen (not operating yet)

Delta Queen
Delta Queen

Viking

cruise line: Viking

Viking Mississippi (announce for August 2022) – passengers: 386

Viking Mississippi (© Viking)
Viking Mississippi (© Viking)

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