American Cruise Lines · Paddle-Wheeler

Queen of the Mississippi

Queen of the Mississippi is a 150-passenger Paddle-Wheeler river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines. Launched in 2012, she measures approximately 82 metres in length and offers 75 staterooms and suites across 5 passenger decks. Queen of the Mississippi primarily sails the Mississippi, with seasonal repositioning to additional waterways.

Launched2012
Guests150
Cabins75
Decks5
Length82 m

About Queen of the Mississippi

Queen of the Mississippi belongs to American Cruise Lines's Paddle-Wheeler series and entered service in 2012. Built to navigate the lock systems and bridge clearances of European waterways, she measures roughly 82 metres in length and accommodates up to 150 guests in 75 staterooms across 5 passenger decks.

American Cruise Lines is the largest US-flagged river-cruise operator, with a fleet of more than fifteen modern paddle-wheelers and Coastal Cats sailing the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Columbia and Snake rivers, plus the New England coast and the Inside Passage. Queen of the Mississippi reflects that brand DNA — from the design of her public spaces to the inclusions in her base fare.

The ship's typical home waters are the Mississippi, where she runs 3 distinct itineraries during the operating season. Repositioning sailings, themed wine cruises and Christmas-market voyages may be added in autumn and early winter.

Background reading: our long-form explainer of the American Cruise Lines fleet philosophy covers the design choices that distinguish Paddle-Wheeler ships from the rest of the European fleet.

Cabin categories

The following stateroom and suite categories are offered onboard. Square-foot figures are quoted from the operator's published deck plans and exclude balcony floor space.

CategorySquare feetDeckWindow / viewMax guests
Standard Cabin 195 sq ft Main Deck Picture window 2
Veranda Stateroom 225 sq ft Cabin Deck Open-air balcony 2
Owner's Suite 525 sq ft Sun Deck Open-air balcony 2

Deck plan

Queen of the Mississippi is laid out across 5 passenger decks plus the open-air sun deck. Public spaces, cabins and crew areas are arranged in the configuration described below.

Sun Deck
Open-air sun deck with putting green, walking track, herb garden and shaded lounge.
Upper Deck
Most premium staterooms and suites, plus the panorama lounge and library.
Middle Deck
Mid-tier staterooms with French balconies and the main restaurant.
Main Deck
Standard staterooms with fixed windows, the reception, the gift shop and the spa.
For cabin-selection strategy across this class, see our deck-by-deck guide to choosing a cabin on a Paddle-Wheeler-style vessel.

Onboard amenities

  • Sun deck with shaded lounge area
  • Panoramic lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Main restaurant serving open-seating regional cuisine
  • Casual bistro for breakfast, lunch and late-night snacks
  • Reception with 24-hour staff and concierge service
  • Lift between most passenger decks
  • Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi throughout the ship
  • Hair salon and small fitness room
  • Heated whirlpool on the sun deck
  • Open-air promenade decks on every passenger level

Featured itineraries

The voyages below are representative of those Queen of the Mississippi sails during her primary season. Exact ports, departure dates and durations vary by year — consult the operator for current schedules.

ItineraryLengthSample portsRegion
Lower Mississippi Heritage 8 nights New Orleans · Oak Alley · Baton Rouge · St. Francisville · Natchez · Vicksburg Mississippi
Upper Mississippi Cruise 8 nights St. Louis · Hannibal · Burlington · Davenport · Dubuque · La Crosse Mississippi
Complete Mississippi 22 nights New Orleans · Natchez · Vicksburg · Memphis · St. Louis · Hannibal Mississippi
Planning notes: our pre-departure logistics guide for Mississippi river cruises covers visa requirements, port-of-embarkation transfers and pre-cruise hotel options.

Sister ships in the American Cruise Lines fleet