The Delta Steamboat Company is one of the largest American cruise lines. In 1890, river captain Gordon Christopher Green bought the H.K. Bedford at an auction and founded The Green Line Steamers. The ships were put into service on the Upper Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The company grew and its fleet was increased in the course of time. Captain Gordon skillfully managed to solve all the problems the green Line faced and due to his wise management it flourished at the time when many of his rivals went bankrupt. Captain Gordon always counted on the help and support of his young wife Mary, who turned out to be a talented assistant and one of the first captains to be a woman.
At first, the ships of the Green Line steamers were freight vessels. However, to sustain the growth of his business, Captain Gordon decided to use them for carrying passengers down the Ohio River to the St. Louis World's fair. The idea was a great success.
Gordon's sons, Chris, and later, Tom succeeded him. The company survived during the days of World War II and its ships were even extremely popular with Americans as a getaway place.
The Green Line Steamers saw the difficult times of the economic downturn in the50s, but, fortunately, it was saved and renamed the Delta Queen Steamboat Company in 1974. As millionaire Zell of Chicago acquired the company in 1980, its headquarters were moved from the original place in Cincinnati to the New Orleans riverfront. A new threat to the cruise line's existence arose in 2001, when its parent company, American Classic Voyages, was ruined. In spite of everything, the Delaware North Companies purchased the Delta Queen Steamboat Company and, thus, prevented the bankruptcy. Today, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company is again in business and hundreds of people spend holidays aboard its ships.
The Delta Queen Cruise areas are America's heartland, old South and Wilderness Rivers. Three cruise ships carry passengers along the central and southern rivers of the United States - the Delta Queen, a National Historic Landmark, which is included in the national register of Historic Places, the Mississippi Queen and the American Queen, the largest river steamboat.
There is a number of cruise packages. "Adventure America Vacations" is three or four-night cruise with a three or four night stay in New Orleans, Cajun country or the Gulf Coast, where the passengers will stay for three or four nights. "Cityscapes" offers a combination of a river cruise and staying in one of the cities, located along the Mississippi River. And, finally, "Family Riverventures" is intended primarily for families - it includes excursions and activities ashore.
Hospitality and cordiality have always been the essential characteristics of the Delta Queen River Cruises. However, the main entertainments are river-oriented concerts (Stephen Foster, the ragtime of Scott Joplin, Dixieland Jazz), lectures on a wide range of topics and demonstrations are in the itinerary. In addition, you can go on some shore excursions at an extra cost.
Most of the passengers aboard the ships of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company are pensioners. However, the cruises are for everybody, who would like to spend his vacations in the atmosphere of relaxation, to see the beauties of America's nature, to get acquainted with new people and to learn many interesting things. Unfortunately, there are no special programs for kids during the Delta Queen River Cruises, thus, you would better leave them at home.
Combine the pleasure of having excellent vacations and the use of land exploration cruising with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company.