About American Queen Voyages
American Queen Voyages operated a four-ship paddle-wheel fleet — the iconic American Queen, American Empress, American Countess and American Duchess — across the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Columbia rivers. The brand suspended operations in 2024; ship profiles remain published for historical reference.
Today the line operates a fleet of 4 ships ranging from 166 to 417 guests. The newest vessel in service entered the fleet in 2003, while the oldest still sailing under the brand was launched in 1995.
The brand currently sails 3 distinct waterways. Each river demands a slightly different vessel — Rhine and Danube longships are typically 0 ships at roughly 135 metres in length, while the line's Douro, Loire, Mekong and Nile vessels are purpose-built for shallower waters and tighter lock chambers.
Rivers sailed
Mississippi Columbia & Snake Ohio, Tennessee & Cumberland
Complete fleet listing
Every active ship in the American Queen Voyages fleet, sorted by launch year. Click any vessel for the full profile, including cabin categories, deck plan and signature itineraries.
| Ship | Class | Launched | Guests | Cabins | Decks | Length | Primary river |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Queen | Heritage Paddle-Wheeler | 1995 | 417 | 222 | 6 | 127 m | Mississippi |
| American Countess | Heritage Paddle-Wheeler | 1995 | 250 | 125 | 5 | 90 m | Mississippi |
| American Duchess | Heritage Paddle-Wheeler | 1995 | 166 | 83 | 5 | 87 m | Mississippi |
| American Empress | Heritage Paddle-Wheeler | 2003 | 223 | 112 | 5 | 108 m | Columbia & Snake |