<BR>Sad news. American Classic Voyages (American Hawaii, Delta Queen Steamboat) has cancelled the contract with the American shipyard that is in the process of building two new ships. <BR> <BR>The first ship was 40% complete with 91% of the remaining supplies paid for. <BR> <BR>U.S. taxpayers will be responsible for $400 milllion in government loans. <BR> <BR>So now we will have half a ship rusting in Mississippi. <BR> <BR>Some good news is that the Delta Queen Steamboat Company will continue to operate it's river cruises. <BR> <BR>The ships are the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen, American Queen and Columbia Queen. All paddlewheel steamboats. <BR> <BR>Delta Queen Coastal Voyages will trim it's schedule by only 11 cruises through 2002. The only ship is the Cape May Light. A new ship under construction in Jacksonville called the Cape Cod Light will enter service in April. <BR> <BR>All ships are registered in the USA, sailinng in the USA and are manned by U.S. crews. <BR> <BR>Paul

Hate to disappoint you Paul and other cruisers, but the only boat that Delta Queen Steamboat Co. is going to continue to operate is the Delta Queen. Mississipppi and American Queens are cancelled as is the Columbia Queen doing the pacific west coast. This is first hand knowledge from the company itself and AAA national because I had a client on the American Queen. He is having to decline his credit card charge.

<BR>Hi Laura, <BR> <BR>Apparently my sources may be incorrect. <BR> <BR>I was told the American Queen was to be laid up for an extended period and was to re-enter service on March 16th. Eight cruises are affected. <BR> <BR>The Mississippi Queen will re-enter service from its January maintenance lay-up with a cruise on Feb. 5th following it's Super Bowl charter. <BR> <BR>The Columbia Queen was to maintain its original 2002 schedule. <BR> <BR>My guess is things have changed again in the past three weeks. <BR> <BR>Do you have additional news on the Cape Cod Light currently under construction in Jacksonville? <BR> <BR>Paul

Paul~ <BR> <BR>I read the press release dated October 26 on the American Classic Voyages website and they mention that only Mississippi Queen will resume again in spring 2002, all other cruises have ceased. Here is a direct quote "Although the legendary Delta Queen steamboat will continue to cruise America's Heartland, without interruption, we regretfully announce the following this weekend, we will cease all Hawaii cruises and all other Delta Queen riverboat cruises and coastal voyages." I haven't heard about the construction about Cape Cod Light but my guess is that's it's suspended indefinetly.

<BR>Thanks Laura. I did call the line and found out exactly what you stated. <BR> <BR>Paul