For many travelers, a cruise conjures up images of a huge ship sailing from one tropical island to another. However, there is another more intimate type of cruise that is just as popular with tourists - a river cruise.

The boats for these cruises are typically much smaller than giant ocean liners, and they mostly travel along the river from one interesting city to another. Let's look at the most popular river cruises in the world:

The Douro River may not be famous or as popular as some other European cruise destinations, but that's not because it isn't interesting. This is a wonderful little cruise that takes tourists wishing to travel through Portugal and Spain, among picturesque vineyards and medieval villages and towns. This cruise is especially suitable for those who like to venture into the wilds of the Douro. A river cruise itinerary usually starts at the river's outlet in Porto and may include visits to local vineyards, castles and cathedrals.

The mighty Mississippi, the fourth longest river in the world, cuts through the heart of America and through some of this country's most beautiful landscapes. Many of the ships that ply this river have an old-fashioned appearance with steamboat wheels that give the traveler the feeling of being in the last century, when life was more leisurely. Depending on the route, travelers on the Mississippi River may float past quaint towns as well as larger cities such as St. Louis and Louisville. Again, depending on your itinerary, the excursion tour may include a visit to the plantation as well as the battle sites of the Battle of New Orleans. Mississippi cruises can range from just a few hours to three weeks or even more.

Travelers wanting to experience the beauty and charm of India should book a cruise through the amazing Kerala region of India. The voyage takes in the region's canals and the beautiful lakes that form the backwaters of Kerala, allowing cruisers to experience vibrant life. The Kerala region boasts of a unique ecosystem with fresh water from rivers mixing with salt water from the Arabian Sea. Travelers can choose from several types of boats, which use rowers or motorized thatched boats.

The Volga River is the longest in Europe and is often considered as the national river of Russia. Depending on the route, Volga cruise travelers can visit St. Petersburg and Moscow or the cities of the Golden Ring. A trip along the Volga River is a great way for a traveler to experience both modern and old Russia. Again, depending on the route, a Volna river cruise may offer excursions to the ballet, circus, or visit one of Russia's magnificent palaces.

It's no surprise that a trip along the Rhine River is one of the most popular cruises in Europe. The Rhine River leisurely passes through a number of countries that are popular tourist destinations, including Switzerland, France, Germany and Holland. Many consider the part between Koblenz and Bingen in Germany to be the most beautiful part of the Rhine River. Here travelers can see some of Europe's most beautiful landscapes and magnificent sites, including medieval castles, lush vineyards and pass through picturesque towns that look like they came straight out of a fairy tale. Trips down the Rhine can range from half a day to 11 days or longer.

The Mekong River passes through China, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. As they travel down the scenic Mekong, travelers will find an interesting mix of modern cities and villages of the past. Depending on your itinerary, your cruise may include visits to sites such as the stunning ancient temple complex of Angkor Watt in Cambodia or a visit to the floating villages and colorful markets of the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. A Mekong River cruise is one of the best ways to experience and see the real Asia.

For many, a cruise on the Danube is a dream. The Danube, which is the second longest river in Europe, passes through nine different countries, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine. Depending on the route, which can last from one day to a week or longer, a trip along the majestic rivers of the Danube can take the traveler to castles and fortresses, and some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. For example, some Danube river cruises visit three European capitals, Budapest in Hungary, Vienna in Austria, and Bratislava in Slovakia.

The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world and also the longest in Asia. The cruise passes along interesting and famous places, including the stunning Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges). On the Yangtze River, travelers will sail through some of the most beautiful scenery in this vast country of China, and may also have the opportunity to take shore excursions to a variety of interesting sites, including ancient temples and ancient ghost towns. The Yangtze River is home to a number of the country's endangered species, including the Chinese alligator and river dolphin. The Yangtze River cruise is very long, usually lasting between four and thirteen days.

The wild and untamed Amazon River has long captivated explorers who have longed to discover the secrets hidden in the dense jungle. In the past, only the bravest visited these lands and swam the Amazon, but fortunately this secretive world has become accessible to travelers. Some boats have cabins that even boast large panoramic windows so travelers can view their surroundings from the comfort of their air conditioning. Although the Amazon spans eight South American countries, the routes of most large ships are limited to the area between the Brazilian ports of Manaus and Belem. Smaller cruise ships can sail further upriver to Iquitos in Peru, including stops in the more undeveloped regions of the Peruvian Amazon.

A cruise is one of the best ways to see Egypt and all its glorious ancient monuments, including the Pyramids and Sphinx. It is believed that there are over 400 cruise ships plying the mighty Nile River, so travelers will have plenty of boat choices to choose from. Some of these cruise ships offer amenities such as swimming pools, bathtubs and spas. Meals and some excursions are usually included in the cost of the cruise. The average Nile cruise lasts from three to seven days, and travels between Luxor and Aswan.

Mississippi towns retain their colonial flavor

Mississippi Cruises Online

The Mississippi is the main cruising river in the United States, a legendary waterway that crosses a dozen states. The Mississippi River serves as the natural border of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The banks of the Mississippi - here you can find historical monuments from the Civil War, the birthplace of the blues and attractions that are mentioned in classic American literature, including Mark Twain's famous novel On the Mississippi.

Over the past few years, cruises on the Mississippi have been considered a rather rare and inconsistent occurrence. Due to a number of natural disasters, chief among them the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as the global financial crisis, the river cruise industry on the great American river fell into decline. However, since 2009, cruise traffic on the Mississippi has shown signs of recovery.

And 2012 promises to be a landmark year for cruises on the Mississippi. This year the first cruise of the American Queen steamship after large-scale reconstruction work is planned. This ship was built in 1995, and in 2011 it was completely modernized. Today, the American Queen is known as the largest river steamship in the world. Mississippi cruises on American Queen start at $990 for a three-day trip.

Another ship that is in some ways the American Queen's namesake, the Queen Of The Mississippi will set off on its debut Mississippi cruise in 2012. This ship is half the size of the American Queen. It will offer seven-day cruises.

A distinctive feature of Mississippi cruises is the abundance of vintage ships on the routes and small family businesses that are cruise operators. Among the companies offering unique signature Mississippi cruises in 2011 are Seattle-based Cruise West and Blount Small Ship Adventures, formerly known as American Canadian Caribbean Line.

The main ports on the Mississippi are considered to be the cities of the traditional American South, where the most striking are the “city of Elvis” Memphis, the capital of country music, the city of Nashville and the famous port at the mouth of the river, carnival New Orleans.

The Indians call the Mississippi the “Big River,” and traveling along it can transport a person back in time: a real paddle steamer, which Mark Twain called “The Wedding Cake,” allows you to see America one hundred and fifty years ago. On board this one, completely unconsciously, the eyes of Thomas Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn begin to look out. And the landscapes off the coast, where they have not been touched by civilization, greatly contribute to such expectations.

Prices for cruises on this river are quite reasonable. For example, a short trip lasting two days will cost about $400. A 7-day round trip on the American Queen costs $1,700 per person based on double occupancy or $2,500 per person based on single occupancy. Its route is not very busy, but impressive: New Orleans - Oak Alley - St. Francisville - Natchez - Vicksburg - New Orleans.

Of course, it's not just the American Queen that cruises Mississippi. There are other equally beautiful ships. “The Queen of the Mississippi,” an eight-day journey along the route: Memphis – Helena – Vicksburg – Natchez – St. Francisville - Baton Rouge - Oak Alley - New Orleans will cost between $4,000 and $4,700 per person.

There is also the “Grande Caribe”, for 8 days on which you will pay about $2,400, route: Nashville – Clarksville – Kuttawa – Memphis. The price for a tour on the Memphis - Greenville - Vicksburg - Baton Rouge - New Orleans line, for 12 days on the same ship, is $3,700. If you were expecting insanely cheap prices, then you were clearly not pleased with the prices. However, there are options here too. the fact is that recently cruise companies in this region have become concerned
increasing demand, which means that various discounts and special offers on cruises appear quite often.

Mississippi Cruise capable of creating a triple surprise. The first is the river. Full-fledged transport communications of the country, a true gift of Providence. It is 4000 years old, it was formed during the Ice Age and is the main supplier of fresh water in the country.

The second unforgettable experience is a journey that can better be called a close acquaintance with America. You will be able to visit the capital of jazz, New Orleans. The main river ports are Vicksburg, Greenville and Natchez. And, of course, you will visit Memphis, the capital of the blues. It is not by chance that it is named after the Egyptian city. The namesake is located on the Nile, and the Mississippi is to the Americans what the Great River is to the Egyptians.

The seven-day cruise includes visits to the plantations where Uncle Tom was oppressed and trips to the sites of famous Civil War battles. The meeting with the amazing culture of the Creoles will be crowned with a delicious lunch, the dishes of which are not served in any restaurant in the world. The cruise organizers carefully keep all the surprises prepared for their travelers and subsequently ask to keep them secret, but the impressions are stronger than the promises.

The third surprise of this cruise - only if you choose the American Queen - is the steamer. It is capable of changing the vision of the world around it for its passengers. Today it is the largest wheeled ship, for which it is respectfully included in the Guinness Book of Records. Its construction cost 65 million dollars, and when it was launched from the shipyard into the water, it was not champagne that was broken on the side. It's hard to believe - a huge bottle of Tabasco ketchup, which is the pride of the state.

The cruise ship seems to have sailed out of the 19th century. The two-tiered saloon, the huge red wheel and the captain's bridge under two huge black pipes are striking. They are impressive in size, but are decorative in nature. You have to believe this when approaching the first low bridge hanging over the river. Black giants obediently fold up, like a piece of a children's construction set.

The comfort on board awaiting participants of the vacation called a Mississippi cruise exceeds the wildest expectations. The cabins resemble a boutique hotel with their unobtrusive luxury, expensive furniture and high-tech equipment. And the individual arched veranda becomes a meeting place for the sunrise and seeing off the sunset. I often dream about them later, reminding me of the amazing experience of the Big River cruise.

Along with this material you usually read:

Cruising the Thames on a chartered yacht is an amazing experience at very reasonable prices. The best time to go on a river trip is a short vacation. You will only need one free week, but it will be very busy.

You can get acquainted with the cities and historical sites in the United States not only during a river trip along the Mississippi. At your service are also magnificent cruise ships plying the waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

August 11th, 2013 , 05:37 pm

A river cruise is a great way to see the country from the inside. And this fully applies not only to Russia, but also to America.

The map shows the main cruise lines of the United States - part of the Mississippi River system. Cruises operate on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland and Missouri rivers, and cover fourteen US states.

Of course, it is impossible to visit all these waterways on one cruise: it would take about two months. Typically, cruises take a week or a little more, and take place along one of the sections of the “cruise system”. The most popular cruise in late fall, winter and early spring is on the lower Mississippi between Memphis and New Orleans. And in the summer season, the most popular route is along the upper Mississippi between St. Louis and St. Paul.

This summer, the Mississippi is experiencing unusually high water levels, causing a bridge in Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal to become an insurmountable obstacle for a cruise ship. Therefore, the itinerary of some cruises has been changed. In my case, the new route was this: from Cincinnati to St. Louis along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Well, it happens. The route with stops is shown on the map.

Cincinnati (Ohio), a fairly large city on the Ohio River. Heat.

The history of Cincinnati is inextricably linked with the history of inland navigation in the United States. The first steamship arrived here in 1811. Now, next to this place, there is a monument in the form of a paddle wheel of a rear-wheel steamer - a copy of the wheel of the American Queen steamer, on which we will go on a cruise.

Probably, many have heard that there are dozens of historical steamships preserved on the Mississippi and its tributaries, which are still in operation. This is a beautiful misconception: there are almost no historical courts left in operation in the United States. There is only the pleasure steamer Belle of Louisville, which will turn one hundred years old next year. There is also a 1924 Delta Queen that is used as a hotel and is ready to return to service as a cruise ship. And it's all. Most of the old ships have long been dismantled, and new ones have been built in their place - the same classic look and with a rear-wheel design. Some veterans, however, are lucky enough to survive as floating museums, restaurants and even theaters.

And I will return to the two mentioned historical ships later in the course of my story.

The local steamboat Belle of Cincinnati makes pleasure trips throughout Ohio. It has a classic exterior, but was built in 1988.

The American Queen is moored on the right bank of the Ohio River. There are no cruise ship berths on US rivers; they come straight to the shore.

On this ship we will take a week-long cruise to St. Louis. American Queen Interiors: I recently posted photos and commented on them.

We set off around 6pm and turn around to head down the Ohio. The ladder is attached to the forecastle - this is a traditional American design, with the only difference from tradition: on the American Queen there are two ladders instead of one.

The imagination pictures dozens of cruise ships sailing up and down the Mississippi and its tributaries, stopping in the towns of “one-story America.” The reality is that there are only two cruise ships operating on the Mississippi, plus there are periodic visits to the Mississippi by expeditionary cruise ships of mixed navigation. Moreover, over the past decade there were years when cruise ships did not sail on US rivers at all. Unfortunately, river cruises in America are unfairly underrated.

American Queen is, one might say, a floating palace, the hallmark of Mississippi. A ship that has gone through three owners due to its less-than-ideal economics. Now the ship is operated by the Great American Steamboat Company, created specifically to organize cruises on this ship.

The second vessel operating on the Mississippi, Queen of the Mississippi, was recently built and was not designed to impress. Small size, small selection of public spaces, many cabins with balconies, and, of course, the traditional rear-wheel layout. But, it’s true, there is not that external grace inherent in palace ships.

In the dead of night we moor to the shore about five kilometers above Louisville (Kentucky). In Louisville itself that day there was a rock festival, the stage was right on the river bank, and the captain decided that it would be too noisy for elderly tourists if the ship stopped in the center of the city.

Now I will talk about organizing excursions for American Queen tourists. Usually I am reluctant to write about how and what is organized on board; I am more interested in the ship itself and the route. But here it is a completely different matter.

During the entire voyage, the ship is accompanied by several buses, which take tourists on excursions at the parking lots. As in Russia, there are basic excursions, included in the price of the cruise, and additional excursions for an additional fee (usually one, maximum two excursions per stay).

So: buses serving the main excursion run at intervals of ten minutes along a specific route, stopping at various attractions. Each bus has a guide who provides information along the route. The excursion participant can get off at any place, spend as much time there as he wants (within the limits of the ship’s parking), and board another bus to continue the route. Visiting most museums is free.

That is, this is the classic hop on - hop off scheme, popular in many countries around the world. But I have never seen anywhere where this system is used as part of the service for cruise tourists. It justifies itself: each person is completely free to plan what to visit during the excursion and how much time to spend at a particular interesting site. Moreover, the person plans the duration of the excursion himself. Theoretically, such a system can be tried on river cruises in Russia. For some reason, in my mind I always try on this system for Kostroma.

Buses in the branded steamship livery look stunning.

On the way to Louisville, we pass a former railroad bridge, which, after the dismantling of the railroad tracks, was left as a monument to itself, converted into a pedestrian bridge.

Louisville is not “one-story America” yet. It's a typical mid-sized American city.

City Hall:

And this is a monument to firefighters who died in the line of duty:

For me, the main attraction of Louisville is the Belle of Louisville. I mentioned it above: it is the world's oldest operating steamship, and the only historic riverboat remaining in service in the United States. Built in 1914 in Pittsburgh as Idlewild, the ship first operated as a passenger ferry in Memphis before changing port to Louisville in 1931. After being sold in 1947, the steamship changed its name to Avalon and operated in various cities in Mississippi and Ohio for the next fifteen years. When it was decided to decommission the old steamship in 1962, a person was found who purchased it at auction, and after repairing the mechanisms and restoring the interior, the ship, now under the name Belle of Louisville, became a pleasure boat in Louisville.

It is interesting that the steam engine and the paddle wheel of the steamship were made much earlier than the steamship was built. They were used on another ship built at the end of the 19th century, and in 1914 they were transferred to the Idlewild under construction.

Belle of Louisville sometimes leaves Louisville to participate in various events in other cities, where she always becomes an honored and welcome guest. Steamboat annually competes in the Great Steamboat Race, part of the famous Kentucky Derby, and often wins it. The main rival of the Belle of Louisville for many years in a row was the legendary steamship Delta Queen, which I will discuss below. Now, instead of the retired Delta Queen, the American Queen is participating in the race.

Before the day's outing begins, the Belle of Louisville fills the area with the sound of a unique musical whistle. Many people come from other cities to take a ride on the historic ship by booking a ticket online.

For me, participation in the walk means the risk of being late for the departure of the American Queen, but the thought of abandoning the trip on the historical steamer did not even arise because of this.

At the entrance, the ticket office where tickets used to be sold has been preserved. Now tickets are sold in a small building on the pier, and mainly on the Internet, but the ship's ticket office has been preserved for history.

The main gangway leads from the working deck to the ship's passenger quarters.

A significant part of the middle deck is dedicated to the dining room (you can buy a ticket with or without lunch).

At the bow of the same deck there is a souvenir kiosk and bar. In this part of the ship, the ceiling decoration attracts attention. It is almost a hundred years old: it has been preserved since the ship was built.

On the upper deck there is seating under a canopy; Seats on the middle and upper decks are also located on open promenade terraces.

The small interior spaces on the middle deck are partly for service purposes and partly for events.

During the two-hour walk, Belle of Louisville reached the American Queen parking lot, after which it returned to the central city embankment.

The steamers greeted each other with whistles.

This was not the only meeting of passenger ships of the day. Just before the departure of the American Queen, the second cruise ship of the Mississippi River system, the Queen of the Mississippi, passed us first down and then up. I believe he was waiting for us to make room near the shore. By the way, he also had to change his route due to high water in Hannibal.

It seems to have everything with it - balconies, and the rear wheel, but how different they are from the American Queen. I have no doubt that Queen of the Mississippi is much more successful commercially, but in terms of external beauty... However, this is a subjective opinion.

We slowly set off towards Louisville and the McAlpine lock, already the second on our route. But we passed the first lock at night.

In the approach channel (built to bypass local rapids that once impeded navigation) we passed a pusher with twelve barges loaded with coal. Such a number of barges on US rivers is not the exception, but rather the rule.

We go into the gateway...

... and, having dropped a little, we leave it.

All the locks I have seen on Ohio are two-chamber; I have never seen any queues for locking. But the intensity of the fleet’s movement cannot be compared with the same Volga: the fleet is small, and mostly these are rare pushers with numerous barges.

Along the route of the ship, such industrial landscapes are sometimes encountered.

Cruise ships on the Mississippi continue to operate at night. In this they are similar to Russian cruise ships, and in this they differ from the river cruise ships of most other countries. But that night we made a stop right at the wild coast. It's time to talk about steamboat racing.

I have already mentioned the traditional steamboat races in which the Belle of Louisville takes part. In the 19th century, racing did not have a traditional entertainment value, but was an element of fierce competition between different vessels. After all, at that time the steamboat was the only way to reach many places in America, and speed played a big role.

One of the most striking events in the life of Mississippi was the race of two passenger steamships Robert E. Lee and Natchez. These were first-class ships for those times - both in terms of technical equipment, and in terms of amenities for passengers, and, of course, in terms of speed. The captains of both ships were very jealous of each other. Competition between ships was intense. This led to the famous race of 1870.

No announcements were made about the upcoming race. Both ships departed from New Orleans on the same day according to the schedule: Natchez - to St. Louis, Robert E. Lee - to Louisville. There were no announcements, but everyone knew about the race. The captains took a small number of passengers on these flights and refused to take cargo - so as not to make unnecessary stops. From New Orleans, the ships saw off thousands of people, including from the decks of pleasure boats, who came out to wish good luck to the race participants. Passengers on the ships did not leave the decks almost around the clock, rooting for the success of their ship, because for a significant part of the journey the distance between the ships was minimal.

Natchez jumped out to the lead several times. But once he was interrupted by a minor car breakdown, which took half an hour to repair. Another time, a long stop was required to receive coal. John Cannon, captain of the steamship Robert E. Lee, acted more cunningly: having agreed in advance, he accepted coal from a self-propelled barge right on the move! Wanting to end the race in St. Louis, the captain transferred all the passengers traveling to Louisville to another ship at the mouth of the Ohio River and continued up the Mississippi. Further movement of the ships was greatly complicated by thick fog.

Robert E. Lee came to St. Louis first and was greeted with great jubilation. Natchez was able to reach its final destination only after six and a half hours. Although the winner was determined, the townspeople showed great honor to both captains, and the race went down in the history of Mississippi shipping.

The day is on the move! In America it is called the old-fashioned word Steamboatin'. A day of admiring the river, and, in fact, the real America, not the way many imagine it from overseas.

Taking advantage of the day of doing nothing, I bought the first batch of books about the Mississippi in the ship's store; there will be a second and a third. My friends always wonder why I bring so many books from every trip when everything can be downloaded from the Internet. But you can’t download a lot of things anywhere, and besides, it can be nice to hold a real book in your hands, especially a book about steamships. By the way, the most sensible book on the history of the Delta Queen steamship turned out to be... the cookbook The Delta Queen Cookbook. In addition to a collection of recipes for the ship's restaurant, it contained a lot of valuable information about the work of the ship.

In the evening we pass Evansville (Indiana). Evansville is on the next day's agenda.

And I'll tell you about the iconic rear-wheel steamer Delta Queen. Passengers remember him fondly; he is remembered fondly by former crew members, many of whom now work for American Queen.

The Delta Queen at the start of the race in Louisville. 2004 Photo by Joe Schneid

The Delta Queen, unlike many ships, is not "native" to the Mississippi. Together with the sister ship Delta King, it was built in 1927 to operate on the Sacramento River (California). The ships served the night line Sacramento - San Francisco. For those visiting Sacramento or San Francisco for the day, the cabin was available for the entire day. It was very convenient, and steamboats were very popular. Saturday and Sunday flights were especially popular, when there was live music on board.

The steamships operated successfully on their line even during the Great American Depression of the 1930s. It was only in 1940 that the line was stopped. The ships were converted into floating hospitals. Interestingly, in 1943, it was the military that carried out a major overhaul of the Delta Queen, which the ship was in dire need of.

It would seem that with the end of the war, the ships could return to peaceful work. But it turned out differently: the ships were no longer needed on the passenger line, and in 1946 they were sold at auction. Delta King later worked as an excursion boat on the Hudson River, and now serves as a hotel in Sacramento.

The fate of the Delta Queen turned out to be more interesting: the ship was towed by sea and through the Panama Canal to New Orleans, and from there along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati. There his cruise work began, which lasted until 2008. The Delta Queen, from its first year on the Mississippi River system, carried tourists throughout the system from New Orleans to St. Paul and from Pittsburgh to Chattanooga. However, during the first years, cruises began and ended at the base port of Cincinnati.

At that time, the Delta Queen had a wonderful owner - Captain Mary Green, the first woman on the Mississippi to receive pilot and captain certificates. She loved the steamboat very much; she was loved by the crew and passengers. After death, the captain’s soul did not want to leave the ship (she died during the voyage). The ghost of Captain Mary lived on the ship until at least the early 1990s. This could be considered a beautiful legend, if not for dozens of testimonies from a variety of people. Almost all authors who write about Mississippi and have traveled on the Delta Queen more than once testify to meeting the ghost of Mary.

One of those who encountered the ghost of Captain Mary was a young sailor named Mike. In the winter of 1982, the Delta Queen was undergoing repairs, and one night Mike remained on duty on the ship. He dozed off, but was awakened by a whisper. There was no one else on the ship. Mike listened. Whispers came from the next room. Moving around the ship, the source of the sound led Mike to the boiler room. There the sound disappeared, but a serious water leak was discovered. Water flowed through the broken pump at such a speed that the ship was in danger of imminent flooding. If Mike, attracted by someone's whisper, had not ended up in the boiler room, the consequences could have been very sad. Mike subsequently served on the Delta Queen for many years and became the ship's captain. With all his sobriety, he has no doubt that Mary Green saved the ship that night.

Another captain of the Delta Queen, Doc Howley, also met the ghost of Mary Green more than once. The crew members of the ship were never afraid of this ghost, knowing that Mary had no intention of harming anyone, but simply continued to take care of the ship. The ghost disappeared in the early 1990s and has never been seen again. Mary Green probably decided to leave the earth.

The Delta Queen is preparing to depart from Paducah, Kentucky. 2007 Shadle Photo

In 1966, the US Congress adopted a new navigation safety convention, according to which ships with a wooden superstructure were prohibited from carrying out long voyages with passengers. For the ship Delta Queen, which has great historical value, an exception was made, that is, a so-called exemption from the convention was issued. Subsequently, this withdrawal was extended with a certain frequency and even with apparent ease.

Inspired by the success of the ship, Delta Queen Cruises built a large steamer Mississippi Queen in 1975, and in 1995 an even larger American Queen, the journey on which is the subject of my story.

The brilliant trio of steamships operated on the Mississippi River system until 2001. After the September 2001 terrorist attacks, when panic gripped America and people began to refuse to travel, Delta Queen Cruises went bankrupt. The ships missed the 2002 navigation, then the ships went into operation with a new owner, then did not work again, and finally in 2007 they passed to a third owner - the Majestic America Line company. This company soon realized that they had gotten involved in a business that, although beautiful from the outside, was difficult and unprofitable, and began to lose interest in steamships.

In 2008, Majestic America made no serious attempt to extend the Delta Queen's exemption from the convention, and in October 2008, the ship, having made its last voyage, was laid up - first in New Orleans, and then in Chattanooga, where the new owner, a steam ship enthusiast , uses it as a hotel. At the same time, all the mechanisms of the ship are maintained in working order, and the ship is always ready to sail. This is being done for a reason: now a serious struggle has flared up in the US Congress to formalize another exemption from the convention for Delta Queen. After all, this ship has the status of a historical monument, and many people, including Ohio congressmen, would like to see the ship set sail again. But the American system works the same as in our country: if you miss the renewal of a permit once, then it will be extremely difficult to issue it again... We'll wait.