With all of the different river cruise lines vying for your attention, it is often the little touches that separate them. These small, but important, additions can turn a good cruise holiday into a great one and they are usually the things you remember most when you return home with wonderful memories filling your head.

The American Queen Steamboat Company have a fleet of three authentic paddle wheelers sailing on the Mississippi, Ohio, Snake, Tennessee and Columbia Rivers. Having recently launched the all-suite American Duchess and with the largest overnight paddle steamer ever built at their disposal, in the form of American Queen, here are some fantastic little touches you’ll enjoy when sailing with them through the USA.

Relaxing On The Front Porch

The Front Porch Café, found on board the American Queen, is the perfect spot from which to admire the fantastic scenery of the Mississippi River. Here, you will find rocking chairs and porch swings facing out over the side of the ship, allowing you the opportunity to relax with uninterrupted views. At certain times, snacks are also offered in this part of the ship, providing an al fresco dining experience that is very popular.

A Drink In The Engine Room Bar

The Engine Room Bar (called the Paddlewheel Lounge on board the American Empress) gives you a great view of the paddlewheel in action. This historic propulsion method is used for 60% of the ship’s power and you’ll really get a feel for it in this part of the ship. Whether you grab a drink from the bar or curl up with a book, this is an interesting and relaxing area of the vessel.

Coaches That Look Like The Ship

When you arrive in port and are greeted by a whole host of different coaches that are operated by different companies and are going to different attractions, you will usually look for any way to distinguish your coach from the rest. There’s no need to worry about this with American Queen Steamboat Company, though, as the livery on their buses looks like the outside of their paddle wheelers. It may sound like a small detail, but it’s one for which you will definitely be grateful. It also helps to add character to an otherwise unremarkable vehicle.

Butler Service In Luxury Suites

If you decide to splash out on a Luxury Suite, you will receive some fantastic additional benefits. These include a laundry service, afternoon tea in your suite and the option to have breakfast or dinner on your veranda. You will also have your own butler to ensure you are looked after for the duration of your Mississippi River cruise. They will unpack/pack your bags for you, shine your shoes and even personally escort you to your reserved spot on the balcony of the Grand Saloon theatre.

Included Food Options

Whichever river you choose to explore, you will be able to get a taste of the region during mealtimes. On the Mississippi, this means fantastic Southern comfort food which is sure to be just one of the highlights of your day. As well as the main meals, there are many other things included in your cruise fare when you journey on board American Queen. You can help yourself to speciality coffees, soft drinks, popcorn and even refreshing ice cream at whatever time of day you like.

As you can see, there are many great advantages to choosing American Queen Steamboat Company for your US river cruise. Our experienced team can help you decide which ship to sail with and which itinerary to choose, so give them a call on 0800 954 0064.