NOLA’s newest luxury riverboat

The American Duchess, a new paddlewheel riverboat, has begun sailing Mississippi River cruises to and from New Orleans. The riverboat will do regular trips to from New Orleans to Memphis this year as well as longer hauls with stops in Nashville, St. Louis, and as far north as Ottawa, Ill. (near Chicago). American Queen Steamboat Co. of Memphis, Tenn., christened the Duchess on Aug. 14 in downtown New Orleans. The 166-passenger riverboat's inaugural long-haul trip began Aug. 14 from New Orleans to Red Wing, Minn. The next cruise departing from New Orleans is Sept. 24. Personnel from Bollinger Shipyards in Morgan City, La., reconstructed the riverboat from a 340-foot hull built in 1995. (Source: NOLA.com 08/14/17)