NEWS

Queen of the Mississippi visiting Henderson riverfront this week

Douglas White
Henderson
The Queen of the Mississippi riverboat sits docked along the riverfront in Henderson, Ind., on Wednesday, June 21, 2017. Passengers got off the ship, which is traveling from St. Louis to Pittsburgh, to explore downtown Henderson by foot or tour bus until about 12:30 p.m. when they embarked for their next stop in Louisville.

HENDERSON, Ky. - Want one last chance this season to see a stately riverboat tied up at the Henderson riverfront?

Well, get your cameras ready -- Thursday is your opportunity.

Abby Dixon, executive director of the Henderson Tourist Commission, said the Queen of the Mississippi will be docking very early Thursday morning.

The big boat is expected to arrive at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday and then leave around 1 p.m. the same day.

The weather is supposed to be a beautiful, clear and cool 60 degrees, so expect to see lots of passengers strolling downtown to visit local shops and restaurants.

Because of high, fast water on the Mississippi River where riverboats usually cruise late in the year, Dixon has been surprised by a few recent shore calls by riverboats. For example, earlier this month, the riverboat America stopped in Henderson twice within six days -- with two different loads of passengers.

But, she said, this should wrap it up for 2019.

"I can pretty confidently say this is the last one!" she wrote in an email to The Gleaner.

About the boat

According to Wikipedia, the Queen of the Mississippi is owned and operated by American Cruise Lines.

She entered service in 2015 and was built by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland for overnight river cruising within the continental United States. The vessel accommodates 150 passengers in 84 staterooms.

All guest rooms have private baths, windows, Wi-Fi, and interior entrances.

The ship's deck plans:

  • 1st Deck - double and single occupancy staterooms; dining room
  • 2nd Deck - double and single occupancy staterooms, all with private balconies; three lounges
  • 3rd Deck - owners suites, double and single occupancy staterooms, all with sliding doors to private balconies; library
  • 4th Deck - owners suites, double and single occupancy staterooms, all with sliding doors to private balconies; two lounges
  • 5th Deck - Pilot house, double and single occupancy staterooms, promenade, shaded public area, sundeck, putting green

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