NEW ORLEANS, May 7 -- Delta Queen Coastal Voyages, featuring a
new concept in cruise vacationing, has embarked on its inaugural season. The
company's first ship, the newly built 224-passenger cv Cape May Light,
departed Norfolk, Va., on Saturday, May 5, 2001, bound for Philadelphia, Pa.,
on a weeklong sailing showcasing "The Charms of the Chesapeake Bay." The
journey is one of 12 inaugural vacation itineraries for this new American
cruise line featuring the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritime Provinces, U.S.
Eastern Seaboard, Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and Panama.

Roderick K. McLeod, president and chief operating officer of Delta Queen
Coastal Voyages' parent company, American Classic Voyages Co. (Nasdaq: AMCV),
said, "Cape May Light vacations enable passengers to discover the colorful
heritage and picture-book scenery of diverse coastal destinations aboard an
intimate, specially-built U.S.-flag ship that offers enriching shore
experiences and the opportunity for personalized adventures."

The Cape May Light, designed to resemble the famous coastal packet ships of
the late 1800s, is named for a historic lighthouse in Cape May, N.J. The
vessel has 113 staterooms, furnished in Federal decor and equipped with modern
conveniences such as TV-VCR units with satellite service and radio, ship-to-
shore telephones, and individual climate controls. Cuisine in the Rosecliff
Dining Room often features regional specialties including fresh seafood and
produce from the itinerary ports.

A christening ceremony in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday, April 25, 2001,
featured keynote remarks by Elaine L. Chao, secretary of the U.S. Department
of Labor, who assisted in the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle on
the ship's hull. In keeping with the cruise line's Americana theme, the
christening included performances by the 75-member United States Naval Academy
Men's Glee Club, and the presentation of colors by a fife and drum trio in
colonial costume.

The Cape May Light was built by Atlantic Marine, Inc., in Jacksonville, Fla.
The shipyard has a sister vessel, the cv Cape Cod Light, under construction
and scheduled to enter service later this year.

Delta Queen Coastal Voyages is a subsidiary of American Classic Voyages Co.,
the largest owner and operator of U.S.-flag, U.S.-crewed passenger vessels.
AMCV's cruise lines explore the inland rivers and coastal waterways of the
Americas, and sail throughout the Hawaiian Islands. For more information,
visit
www.amcv.com.

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