American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi Construction Ahead of Schedule

American Cruise Lines, a leader in small ship cruising, has announced a significant milestone in the construction of its brand new 150 passenger sternwheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, currently being built in Salisbury, Maryland, and ahead of schedule for its summer 2012 inaugural season. Weighing at approximately 500 tons apiece, both halves of the hull have been moved from the fabrication buildings to the launchway where they were joined last week, making way for the next important steps in the construction including the completion of sections of the fourth and fifth decks. Illustrated here is the lower bow section of Queen of the Mississippi being rolled out of the fabrication building.

At nine weeks ahead of schedule, the construction progress is giving shape to the first riverboat built for the Mississippi River in nearly 20 years, and also the grandest ever. It will boast oversized staterooms larger than those of any former Mississippi riverboats, with private balconies and all of the amenities today’s travelers expect, while maintaining the traditional style and feel of the Victorian riverboats of the past.

“We have magnificent plans for this ship. From the inside out, Queen of the Mississippi will exemplify the highest level of quality,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President, American Cruise Lines. “Building a riverboat of this class is no easy task, but we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of experts who know how to build with meticulous attention to detail.”

American Cruise Lines operates the newest fleet of small ships in the industry and offers more than 25 unique itineraries along the inland waterways and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the Mississippi River System, Alaska, and East Coast of the United States, from New England to Florida. Visit their website to learn more.

Photo Courtesy of American Cruise Lines