Majestic America Line has announced the farewell tour for the fabled riverboat.

Last August, Congress did not extend the boat a statutory exemption from a 1966 law banning passenger vessels with wooden superstructures. The law prohibits wooden vessels from carrying 50 or more people on overnight trips. Built in 1926, the Delta Queen has a steel hull and a wooden superstructure.

While efforts continue to extend the congressional exemption beyond the October 31 expiration date, Majestic America Line is planning the ship’s 2008 departures with the fanfare of a farewell season. The 176-passenger Delta Queen will sail from April 18 through the end of October. The itineraries are based around America’s Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers.

Tributes to communities that the Delta Queen visits will be conducted on special dates during selected sailings of the season and feature a presentation to each city, medley of river music by the Delta Queen Band and remarks by Delta Queen’s Captain from the bow of the boat. A calliope concert will follow as Delta Queen departs.

Delta Queen Tribute Events

Day Event Time Location
  April 20, 2008 Noon St. Francisville, Louisiana
  May 10, 2008 5 p.m. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  May 14, 2008 4 p.m. Maysville, Kentucky
  June 3, 2008 5 p.m. Nashville, Tennessee
  June 21, 2008 4 p.m. Henderson, Kentucky
  July 7, 2008 Noon New Madrid, Missouri
  July 17, 2008 Noon Cape Giradeau, Missouri
  July 27, 2008 Noon Madison, Indiana
  August 3, 2008 Noon Wheeling, West Virginia
  August 12, 2008 5 p.m. St. Louis, Missouri
  August 13, 2008 Noon Alton, Illinois
  August 17, 2008 4 p.m. Clarksville, Tennessee
  September 3, 2008 Noon Dover, Tennessee
  September 21, 2008 4 p.m. Paducah, Kentucky
  October 2, 2008 4 p.m. Marietta, Ohio
  October 7, 2008 Noon Point Pleasant, West Virginia
  October 21, 2008 4 p.m. Cincinnati, Ohio
  October 24, 2008 Noon Louisville, Kentucky
  October 25, 2008 Noon Grandview, Indiana
  October 30, 2008 TBD Memphis, Tennessee
  November 1, 2008 4 p.m. Helena, Arkansas
  November 2, 2008 4 p.m. Greenville, Mississippi
  November 3, 2008 4 p.m. Vicksburg, Mississippi
  November 4, 2008 4 p.m. Natchez, Mississippi
  November 5, 2008 4 p.m. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  November 6, 2008 4 p.m. Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana
  November 7, 2008 TBD New Orleans, Louisiana
  *schedule dates and times subject to change

Information on the “Save the Delta Queen” campaign can be found at www.majesticamericaline.com.