Smart Travel: Vintage steamboat vacations offer relaxation, nostalgia

Linda and Dr. Don Overend are principals in The Travel Group, a full-service travel agency.

Missing from the Mississippi River since October 2001, the three proud sternwheelers of the Delta Queen Steamboat Company are again making their presence known up and down the river.

The original Delta Queen, now 75 years old, is the smallest of the fleet and a genuine link to the America's riverboat past. Carrying its 174 passengers on the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers for the last 54 years, she serves up cruises that feature jazz, big bands, musicals and Hollywood music.

She and her sister ships also serve food with a frontier flavor. Spareribs, gumbo, chicken wings, mudpies, and biscuits and gravy are part of the fare on board as she passes sleepy landings and peaceful fields.

The trips last from seven to 12 days, and some cruises travel up the Ohio and Missouri rivers.

The Delta Queen's two partners, the American Queen and the Mississippi Queen, are considerably larger, newer and more luxuriously appointed. They still, however, continue the flavor of their older sister, but with larger cabins and grand lounges.

But the vintage ship still has one up on them. She sports a real, old-fashioned steam calliope to salute the towns she passes with piercing steam-driven tunes, mostly from a bygone era.

The boats get preference in entering the locks along the river. They get this preference not because of the passengers, but because each of the ships is also a registered U.S. Post Office, carrying mail up and down river.

The newer of the ships have diesel thrusters to assist the paddlewheel, but the venerable Delta Queen depends on her steam-powered sternwheel for all her power and maneuverability.

At nine miles per hour (knots are not used on the river) time still passes quickly with all the activities on board from meals to entertainment to sightseeing. There will be long spans of river with no sign of habitation, then around the bend will appear a bridge gracefully spanning the river.

The strings of barges that move cargo on the water are another diversion, and their crews often salute the sternwheelers with whistles and waves.

The passage of the ships causes nostalgia along the way, too. Scores of townspeople come to the river to wave and enjoy this unique American sight.

The true age of the riverboat may be gone, but you can still experience the majesty, ambiance and the thrill of some days on the river on these showboats.

You will find relaxation, good music, excellent food and a sense of old-time adventure on board any of the Three Queens of the Mississippi.

Have your travel agent book you on one of these voyages. You will never forget the days you spend on the river.