The Delta Queen in St. Louis in 1997
Posted on 03/07/2015 2:05:19 AM PST by iowamark
There was a time when the Delta Queen was a showpiece of the Mississippi River, a legacy of sorts for the towns and cities nestled on its shores...
Much still has to happen before the 1920s-era vessel takes another cruise down the Mississippi River, sounding its steam-powered calliope. But a pair of recent developments has made the journey a little more likely.
The biggest, at least from the perspective of the boat’s new owners, is the fact that it now has new owners.
And they’ve committed themselves to reversing the fortunes of a boat that, over the past seven years has gone from cruising vessel to floating hotel to potential derelict — after a disastrous 2014 winter at its home in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The purchase — for an undisclosed price — was a significant move for the group of supporters and former employees trying to save the boat.
“We were walking around with plans and ideas, but we didn’t even own the boat. So that uncertainty is resolved,” said Cornell Martin, president and chief executive of Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
Among those plans is the possibility of picking St. Louis for its home port and corporate headquarters, which could bring 170 jobs and $4 million in annual wages...
The group tried unsuccessfully last year to gain an exemption to the Safety of Life at Sea Act, a federal law that prohibits overnight excursions on wooden vessels. The 285-foot-long boat, with 88 cabins, had an exemption for some 40 years before losing it in 2008.
Last year’s effort made it through the House but failed to gain the Senate’s approval in time.
“We have a new Congress, so we’re starting all over again,” said Martin, who hopes to see new legislation introduced soon.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Speed isn’t the goal. With riverboats it isn’t the destination that’s important, it’s the getting there.
Interesting.
My step-daughter’s father in law was the principal booking agent for trips on the Delta Queen for many years. He sold the trip packages, arranged events and entertainment, etc. He would travel on the boat along with the passengers to ensure their satisfaction.
Unfortunately, he died of cancer around ‘90. Fortunate in a way, I guess, as he did not have to witness the demise of the Delta Queen.
Always wanted to take a ride on a steamboat.
I know people who have done the Delta Queen cruise back in the day. Very relaxing but crazy expensive.
Good luck to the new owners.
Love riding on the steamer paddle wheels. Going to the boiler rooms and watching the pistons drive the wheel is an experience you soon don’t forget.
I put heavcy fuel oil on the Delta Queen when she visited St. Paul two or three times each year.
As an FYI, the original owners lost the exemption because they were Republican donors. The democrats refused to continue the exemption as political payback.
And were quite vocal at the time, bragging about it.
“’He’s not optimistic’ ...Driscoll said. ‘It’s a relic.’”
Mr. Driscoll, sir...that’s the point.
Go to New Orleans and take a cruise on the Natchez. You can tour the steam room and they even have a calliope.
Thank you for the tip. I would get a lot from that.
Yep, very expensive. My wife and I with our four year old daughter rode the Delta Queen for a few days. My sister-in-law was a maid and relatives of the crew could ride for $10 each per day in unbooked cabins.
We were treated like full paying guests who were paying $180 per day each. That was in 1975 when we bought a new car for $4,000. $360 per day would not have been a consideration.
Had one of the best Bloody Mary on the Natchez.
One of my fondest childhood memories from the 1950s is of watching rats jump off the Delta Queen at Cincinnati’s Public Landing.
My recommendation to get this boat moving again.
-Keep the name Delta Queen.
-Paint it all pastels with lots of lacey trim.
-Have Obama featured in the ads saying that if he and Michelle had a paddle wheeler it would look like this one.
-Have a it captained by a transgender with a continuously evolving sexual identity. Give “him/her/it” the title Captain Buffet, as every night you won’t know what will be served in the Captain’s cabin.
-Have it crewed by a diverse body of rivermen, er, sorry, riverpeople known as the “Queens” or the “Piston Rams” to stimulate recruitment.
-Have it stop for every Dike it passes along the river.
-Return to wood fired boilers so the passengers and crew handle faggots daily.
-Advertise long “steamy cruises” with lots of snug harbor docking along the way.
-Advertise free same sex marriages with friendly receptions on the poop deck.
-Since it passes predominantly through the Bible Belt, there will be lots of Christian owned businesses along the way to patronize, entrap, mock, sue, then ruin.
-Employ border coyotes to recruit a fresh staff of pregnant illegal aliens for housekeeping on each trip. They can be loaded on board by crane directly via CONEX container from the truck they were smuggled in on.
I could go on, but finally…..
Flag it in Mexico, but don’t register it in the US.
Declare it a “Dream Ship” and you won’t need an exemption since you don’t intend to obey US law anyway!
No. I am not bitter. Why do you ask?
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