On this 14 Day holiday you will travel on both the Ohio River and the Mississippi River. Enjoy stops in historic ports of call such as Cincinnati, OH and Louisville, KY as you make your way from Pittsburgh, PA to St. Louis, MO.
It’s Included:
- Complimentary shore excursions in every port
- Complimentary overnight stay in a select luxury hotel before your voyage – includes breakfast, taxes, porterage and transfers to the American Queen
- Complimentary wine and beer with dinner
- Complimentary cappuccino, espresso, specialty coffees, bottled water and soft drinks throughout your voyage
- The family recipes of acclaimed Southern chef Regina Charboneau
- The only steamboat with multiple specialty dining options, all at no additional charge
- Gracious service from a friendly all-American staff
- Casual elegance abounds, no formal wear required
- Daily lectures by the Riverlorian, our onboard historian
- Professional showboat-style entertainment and dancing nightly
- Our own dedicated fleet of Steamcoaches
- The most all-inclusive American river voyage
- The only authentic steam-powered overnight paddlewheel riverboat in America
- The greatest vacation value in America
DAY 1: Hotel Overnight - Pittsburgh
We will reserve a room for you at one of these properties: Omni William Penn Hotel or The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh or Sheraton Station Square Hotel. Tomorrow, you will board the American Queen to begin your voyage.
DAY 2: Pittsburgh, PA
Departure: 6:00 p.m.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of Pittsburgh. This afternoon, you will board theAmerican Queen to begin your voyage. As your ship leaves Pittsburgh, envision the adventures that lie ahead. The Welcome Aboard Dinner gets your journey off to a festive start.
DAY 3: Wheeling, WV
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Start the tour with a fantastic visit to trendy shops, eateries, entertainment and more at the Centre Market. Venture out and discover the story of West Virginia’s relationship to the Civil War at the West Virginia Independence Hall.
Then, take a gander at the delightful decorated living quarters of the grand Victorian Eckhart House. Final option for the tour: a stop at the Capitol Theatre, host to a variety of Broadway shows and theater productions.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Facial, Massage anyone?
DAY 4: Marietta, OH
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Begin this journey with a walking tour of Front Street. Then explore the opulent Gothic Revival architecture and art collection of The Castle.
The Mound Cemetery is home to the largest number of American Revolutionary War officers buried in one location. Later, check out museums around the area. The Campus Martius Museum showcases the history of America’s migration west, and the Ohio River Museum lets you discover the golden age of the steamboat and learn about the ecology of the Ohio river system.
Make a shopping, shopping and more shopping stop at Downtown Shopping Center. The Historic Harmar Village has plenty to offer, from eateries to boutiques, museums and more.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Handmade Pasta on the Levee!
DAY 5: Point Pleasant, WV
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Start with a walking tour of Point Pleasant Riverfront Park, where floodwall murals depict scenes of local history, the most popular being the Battle of Point Pleasant. Next to the list is the four-acre Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, which commemorates the October 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. Visit the Mansion House, erected in 1796 as a tavern and now preserved as a museum with displays of period antiques and heirlooms.
The Point Pleasant River Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage and way of life on the Ohio and Great Kanawha Rivers. Enjoy some shopping time downtown at the Twin River Area.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Fort Randolph - In a Rumble Seat?
DAY 6: Portsmouth, OH
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Portsmouth's roots began in the 1790s when the small town of Alexandria was founded just west of where Portsmouth is today. Alexandria was flooded numerous times by the Ohio River and the Scioto River. In 1803, Henry Massie spotted a place to move the town away from the flood plains. He began to plot the new city by distributing the land and mapping the streets. Portsmouth was founded in 1803 and was established as a city in 1815. Alexandria soon disappeared. Portsmouth quickly grew around an industrial base with the completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal, and the construction of the N&W rail yards and the B&O junction.
DAY 7: Cincinnati, OH
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Board your hop-on hop-off Steamcoach for a narrated tour of Cincinnati’s many attractions. Enjoy the storied history of the Cincinnati Reds at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum for a small admission fee, a place where the story of Reds baseball comes alive each day. Established in 1958, the Reds Hall of Fame is the largest in all of baseball. Your next stop is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, honoring courageous ideas and African- American history. Entry fees are additional.
As your journey continues, you will stop at Fountain Square, the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Located at the corner of Fifth and Vine Streets, Fountain Square is a public space where Cincinnatians gather, celebrate and connect as a city. You will then Steamcoach to scenic Eden Park and enjoy the included attractions. The Cincinnati Art Museum houses an unparalleled collection of more than 60,000 works spanning 6,000 years and hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year. Enjoy some green space at The Krohn Conservatory, where a variety of floral plants are displayed in the Palm House and Desert House, including bonsai and orchid displays. You will also enjoy the Eden Park Observation Point, where you will view landmarks including Hinkle Magnolia Garden, a picturesque gazebo, Mirror Lake, Bettman Fountain and a spectacular view of the city.
At the final stop on your hop-on hop-off experience, you will enjoy, for additional admission, the Newport Aquarium which showcases thousands of animals from around the world in one million gallons of water. You will be amazed at all of the fun and interactive activities, like touching a shark or meeting a penguin. You may also want to take advantage of the many shops and restaurants in this very vibrant area of the city.
DAY 8: Louisville, KY
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 5:00 p.m.
From its frontier founding at the time of the American Revolution, to the heyday of Steamboat transport in the early 19th century, through the city’s importance as a Union base during the Civil War, Louisville has always balanced a sense of history with an ability to re-invent itself as the city of originals.
Included Tour: Board our Hop On-Hop Off Steamcoach for a narrated tour of attractions throughout the journey. Places for you to sightsee includeLouisville’s Visitor Center; boxing cultural attraction Muhammad Ali Center; Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts, which promotes the area’s rich crafts heritage; and the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory. For those with a taste for glass artwork or handmade candy, The Glass Work and Muth’s Candy Store are sensory delights. Your tour also includes the Frazier International Military Museum, home of the Royal Armouries USA.
Head down to Fourth Street Live for premier dining, entertainment and retail all in one place.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Louisville Fast Horses, Food, and Fun
DAY 9: Steamboating
Settle into a rocking chair and just let the scenery glide by. Or join in the fun of our numerous onboard activities. Your full day of leisurely steamboating on the river sets the tone for an unforgettable vacation.
DAY 10: Henderson, KY
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 1:00 p.m.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Henderson, the hometown of famed naturalist John James Audubon. Reminders of his famous bird paintings are around every corner. See if you can find all eight of the town’s bronze bird statues. With a growing population, thriving downtown, historic turn-of-the-century mansions overlooking the river, and a recently renovated riverfront, Henderson exhibits the best qualities of an historic southern river town.
DAY 11: Paducah, KY
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 5:00 p.m.
Known as the city of art, rhythm and rivers, Paducah boasts a lively Lowertown Arts District, the renowned River Heritage Museum, a Save America’s Treasures project, and tours via foot, trolley or horse-drawn carriage reveal its charm. OR Elegant displays at the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society highlight the vigorous rebirth of quiltmaking. It’s just one of the colorful attractions in a lovely city of 19th century architecture, specialty shops and one-of-a-kind eateries.
Included Tour: Once you board your Hop On-Hop Off deluxe Steamcoach, a few stops may capture your attention. You’ll find the finest quilts made by today’s quilt artists at the National Quilt Museum. Then, visit some museums dedicated to preserving the heritage of the river, railroad and highlights of western Kentucky role in the War Between the States: the River Discovery Center, Paducah Railroad Museum and Paducah Civil War. Or visit the William Clark Market House Museum, which narrates the history of Paducah’s growth.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Art a la Carte & Stitch-in-the-Ditch
DAY 12: Cape Girardeau, MO
Arrival: 10:00 a.m. — Departure: 5:00 p.m.
Included Tour: Start the tour with visits to several different houses and museums that cover much of Cape Girardeau’s history. Riverfront Murals is a concrete and granite cobblestone amphitheater that provides seating for a scenic look of the Mississippi River.
Red House Interpretive Center shows an exhibit reflecting the lives of those who called the Old Cape Girardeau District home. The Old St. Vincent's Church displays Renaissance architecture in English Gothic Revival style. Next is the Glenn House, a museum that features architecture, furnishings, clothing and more from the Victorian era.
Check out spectacular vistas of historic landmark houses and views from the Mississippi River at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University, Old Bridge Overlook and Park, and the Crisp Museum. Then, you’ll make one last stop at the Cape River Heritage Museum, located inside an old fire station built in 1908, which houses river-related artifacts and historical items.
If you want to pick up any brochures for information or as souvenirs, Cape Girardeau Visitor's Center will help make your "Escape to Cape" a memorable experience.
Premium Choice Tour #1 - Afternoon Tea with a Touch of Crafts
DAY 13: Chester, IL
Arrival: 8:00 a.m. — Departure: 5:00 p.m.
Samuel Smith built the first home in Chester, established a ferry system, and began the construction of a mill in 1829. He is said to be the town's founder. It was his wife Jane Thomas, a native of Chester, England, who gave Chester its name as a tribute to her home town. The Chester area includes a number of state parks and historic sites. The Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site has a beautiful overlook of the Mississippi River. Down the hill from the park is the Pierre Menard Home, an unusually fine example of French Creole-style architecture, which was built around 1815 and was the home of the first lieutenant governor of Illinois. Across the river from the fort is Kaskaskia Island, the only part of Illinois west of the current channel of the Mississippi River. The island was the site of the first state capital of Illinois. A historic church founded by French explorer Pere Jacques Marquette still holds weekly mass on the island. The Liberty Bell of the West, older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, is located near the church on the island and was a gift from King Louis XV of France.
DAY 14: Disembark in St. Louis, MO
After breakfast, keep an eye out for St. Louis’ Gateway Arch. This iconic landmark is a symbol of America’s frontier journey. Bid your fellow travelers adieu as you make your way home.
STAR-STUDDED LINEUP OF HEADLINING ENTERTAINERS
Night after magical night, top entertainers will bring down the house in the American Queen’s majestic Grand Saloon. Two decks tall, the Grand Saloon is absolutely palatial, the most elegant showplace on the river. Every evening, guests will be treated to a different celebration of America’s best music, from Broadway hits to Dixieland Jazz, big band to bluegrass, ragtime to rock and roll. Showboat-style cabaret acts and old-fashioned radio shows add variety and charm to the evening lineup.
The Return of the Riverlorians
While the entertainment in the Grand Saloon will have guests’ toes tapping, the enrichment and historical aspects will have their senses piqued. As the American Queen carries forward the 100+ yearlong legacy of the fabled Delta Queen Steamboat Company, it is only fitting that a much-loved Delta Queen veteran serve as the inaugural Riverlorian. Mary Charlton, who has served as Riverlorian aboard the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen in the past is returning in her starring role.
Glenn Miller Orchestra– The big band show, with a sound of its own, draws rave reviews performing original arrangements of classics that defined a generation. Swing, sway or just tap in time with nostalgic tunes like In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo and many others.
Voyage dates: July 27, August 3, December 28
Rat Pack Show – Guests will close their eyes and swear it’s Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. Amazing performers evoke the sounds and memories of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, backed by our onboard orchestra. Enjoy hits that include Fly Me to the Moon, That’s Amore, Everybody Loves Somebody, New York, New York, When I Was Seventeen and others.
Voyage Dates: June 28, July 18, October 22, December 14
B.J. Thomas – The voice is unmistakable and the audience will return to the late 60s and early 70s as the legendary B.J. Thomas sings his chart-topping songs, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, Hooked on a Feeling, I Just Can’t Help Believing, Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song and others.
Voyage Dates: July 11, July 18, July 22
The Lovin’ Spoonful – Playing the hits that put them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the band will transport the Grand Saloon to the 60s with their great songs, including Do You Believe in Magic, Daydream, Summer in the City and Nashville Cats.
Voyage Dates: July 11, July 18, July 22
The Platters – The original doo-wop act brings back the sound of the 50s with the songs that became classics: Only You, The Great Pretender, My Prayer, Twilight Time, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and others.
Voyage Date: September 7
Bill Haley’s Comets – The genesis of rockabilly and early rock, Bill Haley’s Comets will have guests moving to energetic hits like Rock Around the Clock and Shake, Rattle and Roll.
Voyage Date: September 7
Annie Moses Band – This incredible classically trained family will have everyone in the holiday spirit performing seasonal music. Featured are violin, viola, cello, harp, guitar, piano and stunning vocals.
Voyage Dates: November 19, December 9, December 14
Juggernaut Jug Band – Steamboaters will delight in the authentic form of river music known as “jug music.” Rooted in the port towns of the Deep South, jug music includes styles of swing, jazz and bluegrass, performed by Juggernaut’s amazing artists.
Voyage Dates: September 28, October 12
