The Str. American Queen was retired to the reserve fleet in Violet, Louisiana, on 20 November 2008. Due to the failure of Majestic America Line (her owner) she was returned to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) who held her $30 million mortgage. As of April 2011 American Queen is under contract for $15.5 million to HMS Global Maritime, based in New Albany, Indiana. The new operator, The American Queen Steamboat Company announced plans to return her to Mississippi River service from a port in Memphis, Tennessee. She rejoined her fellow sternwheeler steamboats Natchez, Chautauqua Belle, Minne-Ha-Ha, and the Belle of Louisville. She is currently in service.
In April 2012, the 436-passenger American Queen began a season of three- to 10-night voyages out of a variety of southern and Midwest homeports, including Saint Paul, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Memphis.
In 2012 the American Queen participated for the first time in the Great Steamboat Race. It came in second place.
Famous quotes containing the words american and/or queen:
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They will cast out the dead
A sight for Priams queen to lament
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—Hilda Doolittle (18861961)