Delta Queen stops in Cape during trip to St. Louis

The Delta Queen steamboat, which usually makes a brief stop in Cape Girardeau as it cruises the upper Mississippi River, will be docked along the downtown waterfront through Wednesday afternoon.

The historic boat arrived Monday morning on its way to St. Louis, but strong river currents and heavy traffic meant the luxury cruise vessel would not have reached the destination in time to make its scheduled disembarkation of passengers, said Vanessa Bloy, manager of public relations for the Majestic America Line.

Passengers from the boat will be taken to St. Louis today and busses will bring the passengers booked for the downstream voyage here to board, Bloy said. The departure is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, she said.

The Delta Queen, originally built in 1927, may be making its last voyages as an overnight excursion boat. The owners and supporters of the boat are seeking a Congressional exemption to maritime laws banning boats with wooden superstructures.

Chuck Martin, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he hopes to put together a farewell event for the Delta Queen when it makes its final stop here for the year Oct. 28. "I plan to ask our mayor and some other local dignitaries to deliver some remarks, and we have a little souvenir-type thing for the crew and passengers to thank them for all the dockings."

Majestic America Line is also planning a commemoration event for that stop.

While the Delta Queen is docked in Cape Girardeau, it will not be open to public tours, Bloy said.