BB Riverboats and the American Queen Steamboat Company will have a Riverboat race — bringing the region back to memories of Tall Stacks.
The Spirit of Cincinnati will square off against the American Duchess. It will be the first Belle of Cincinnati race since 2006.
The race will be held on Monday, July 15th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cincinnati Serpentine Wall and will start at the Purple People Bridge.
Belle of Cincinnati
“This is going to be something to see in person and will bring back many memories of the years surrounding the Tall Stacks event held here in Cincinnati,” says Captain Alan Bernstein, owner of BB Riverboats.
Captain Bernstein added that he has a history with the American Duchess, “Their ownership had me arrested by their security officers two years ago in Louisville and missed my cruise.”
The race will start at the Purple People Bridge and head up river just below St. Rose’s Church and conclude back at the Serpentine Wall.
“People along the riverbank on both sides will have great views of both vessels,” comments Capt Bernstein.
With the history of the American Duchess’ crew, Capt Bernstein stated, “there will be rules in place for this event.”
Tickets can be purchased for the Belle of Cincinnati by calling BB Riverboats at 1-800-261-8586. The tickets on the American Duchess are sold out.
BB Riverboats operates two sternwheelers – the 1,000-passenger M/V Belle of Cincinnati and the 500-passenger M/V River Queen – from its riverfront wharf at 101 Riverboat Row in Newport.
BB Riverboats began operation in Covington in 1980 with cruises on the M/V Betty Blake, a 400-passenger sternwheeler operating from the Mike Fink Restaurant. BB Riverboats moved its operations to Newport in 2005.
In addition to riverboat cruises, Current Catering, formerly known as Benson’s Catering, started in 1981 out of Covington. With the third generation of the Bernstein family firmly implanted in the day-to-day operations, the company is primed for a vault into the future.
For more information, visit BB Riverboats where you can purchase tickets to be on the Belle of Cincinnati for the big race.
American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC), a leader in U.S. river cruising based in New Albany, Ind., was founded in 2011. The company’s fleet of U.S. flagged riverboats sail America’s heartland and the Pacific Northwest on itineraries from six to 23 days.
AQSC’s flagship vessel, American Queen, launched in 2012 and offers authentic and timeless experiences inspired by the palatial Mississippi steamboats of the Mark Twain era. In April 2014, AQSC christened American Empress to sail the Pacific Northwest with the same opulence and grandeur, followed by the American Duchess, a unique boutique paddle wheeler in the U.S., which set sail in August 2017. The new American Countess, currently under construction in Louisiana, will debut in April 2020, joining the American Queen and American Duchess on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
For more information on American Queen Steamboat Company or to book a cruise on the American Queen, American Duchess, American Empress and upcoming American Countess, please visit the website.
