NEW ORLEANS, April 9 -- In 1976, as America celebrated its
200th birthday, the oldest U.S. cruise line launched the biggest steamboat
ever built. This summer, The Delta Queen Steamboat Co.'s magnificent
Mississippi Queen turns 25 -- and although she's no longer the largest
steam-powered paddlewheeler, she's one of the most famous, having carried
nearly half a million passengers on river cruise vacations through the
nation's Heartland and South.

(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010409/DAM044)

To commemorate her christening, calliope music filled the air, steamboat
whistles sounded loudly and hundreds of colorful balloons were released from
her Sun Deck. The Riverboat Ramblers played a jazzy tune as a jet painted in
red, white and blue dipped from the sky and flew close overhead. John Warner,
chief administrator of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration,
traveled from Washington to officially incorporate the vessel into America's
Bicentennial celebration, citing the important contribution that steamboats
had made to the development of the Heartland.

The Mississippi Queen was designed by well-known ship designer James
Gardner, who also designed Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2. The riverboat was
built for $27 million at one of America's most famous shipyards: Jeffboat,
Inc., formerly Howard Shipyard, in Jeffersonville, Ind. It was there,
beginning in 1834, that more than 4,800 steamboats were built, including the
renowned J.M. White of 1878. That vessel's claims to fame included having hot
and cold running water -- and, while the Mississippi Queen features the more
modern amenities that today's travelers expect (a bathing pool, exercise room,
beauty salon, movie theater and elevators), she is still pure American
riverboat, dressed in 19th century fru-fru from her tall twin stacks to her
big red paddlewheel. That 70-ton wheel, powered from steam produced by
tandem, compound, condensing steam engines and oil-fired boilers, actually
propels the vessel along the river; there's no hidden screw-type propeller.

Despite the fact that the Mississippi Queen is 382 feet long, 68 feet wide
and weighs 3,364 tons, she floats in only 9 feet of water. She accommodates
416 passengers in 208 suites and staterooms, most of which feature a view of
the river from a private veranda, large window or porthole. Her custom-built
calliope, or steam-powered piano, is the world's largest; it features 44 gold-
plated, solid brass pipes. Passengers can try their hand at playing a few
notes -- for which they receive a special certificate, suitable for framing,
from the vessel's captain.

Famous Mississippi Queen passengers have included dancer Ginger Rogers;
actor Jerry Lewis; boxer George Foreman; country music singers Tammy Wynette,
Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty; astronaut Michael Collins; talk show host Phil
Donahue; Senator Barry Goldwater; former Texas Governor Ann Richards; and
actress Helen Hayes, who vacationed on board 14 times and called the crew her
"steamboat family." Other memorable guests included a large group of Avon
ladies who transformed the vessel's old-fashioned Paddlewheel Lounge into a
modern disco, complete with a revolving disco ball in place of the room's
signature large crystal chandelier.

All vacations on the Mississippi Queen feature daily lectures by a
riverlorian, or historian of the rivers, award-winning entertainment, fun
onboard activities, nightly dancing and the service of American officers and
crew. Numerous theme cruises throughout the year include Big Band, '50s Hit
Review, Fall Foliage and Southern Steamboatin' Christmas.

The Delta Queen Steamboat Co. has recently launched "Paddlewheel Deals," a
pricing program that offers discounts of up to 50 percent or more off brochure
fares on most river cruises aboard the company's paddlewheelers from June
through December 2001. Paddlewheel Deals start as low as $355* per person,
double occupancy, for 3 nights on the Mississippi Queen, including all onboard
meals, entertainment and activities. Cruises of up to 14 nights are featured.

Round-trip air add-ons are available from more than 80 U.S. gateways and
start at just $195 per person, plus air taxes and charges. Hotel extension
packages are offered in ports where the Mississippi Queen cruises begin and
end, including New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville and Chattanooga.

For reservations, contact your travel agent. For a complimentary full-
color brochure or more information, call The Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
toll-free at 800-543-1949. Visit the Web site at
www.deltaqueen.com.

The Delta Queen Steamboat Co., which traces its roots back to 1890, also
operates the legendary Delta Queen, a National Historic Landmark, and the
grand American Queen, which now holds the record as the world's largest
steamboat. The company is a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages Co.
(Nasdaq: AMCV), the largest owner and operator of U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed
cruise vessels. AMCV's cruise lines explore the inland rivers and coastal
regions of the Americas, and sail throughout the Hawaiian Islands. For more
information, visit
www.amcv.com.

* Paddlewheel Deals are subject to cabin availability and do not include
port charges or taxes. This offer is capacity controlled, is not combinable
with other offers, and may change or be withdrawn at any time. Other
restrictions may apply.

/NOTE TO EDITORS: Visit the following Web site for press kits, press
releases and high-resolution, downloadable photos:
www.deltaqueen.com./