Ports big and small eager for Mississippi revival

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Posted on: May 15, 2012 email the editors email a friend small medium large View Comments Home News By Michelle Baran

With the launch of two paddlewheelers on the Mississippi River System this year, the cities and towns that dot the riverbanks are anxiously preparing for the boost in visitors, and visitor spend, the vessels will bring.

According to Sally Durkin, media liaison for the Natchez (Miss.) Convention and Visitors Bureau, "The return of the American Queen to the Mississippi River is a huge boon for Natchez in that it brings back an average of $50,000 per docking into the local economy, monies we have certainly missed."

Last month, the Great American Steamboat Co. relaunched the 436-passenger American Queen, and in August, American Cruise Lines is launching a newly built, 150-passenger paddlewheeler, the Queen of the Mississippi, bringing back to life a Mississippi River cruise market that had slowed to just a trickle of vessels.

Baton Rouge, La., for instance, reports that with the two new vessels, there will be four river cruise lines docking there this year, with a total of 26 stops scheduled in Baton Rouge between April 19 and Jan. 2.



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