Pair of stately queens glides into river port Thursday

Two riverboats stopped to live music and fanfare from spectators Thursday as they pulled into Cape Girardeau.

The Queen of the Mississippi riverboat, which can carry about 150 passengers, pulled in to Cape Girardeau on Thursday morning and left about noon. The boat is traveling from Cincinnati to St. Louis.

The American Queen, which can carry about 400, pulled in about 1:30 p.m. Thursday and stayed for a few hours before continuing its journey to St. Louis.

Chuck Martin, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors' Bureau, said The Queen of the Mississippi came into port a bit ahead of schedule, and the American Queen came in about 90 minutes later than expected.

Riverboats are "a piece of Americana you just don't see everywhere," Martin said.

Al and Rosemary Bruzan wave goodbye to the Queen of the Mississippi after spending most of Thursday morning docked in Cape Girardeau. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Both boats were greeted by the Jerry Ford Orchestra playing near the river wall.

Many residents go to downtown to see the boats when they are docked, including Amy Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau, who said her family tries to go at least once a year to see them.

"It's a neat experience," Seabaugh said.

Jean and Jack McLain of Cape Girardeau said this was the third time this year they came to the river to see the riverboats.

"It's a twofold benefit," Martin said, in that boat passengers and area residents benefit from the stops.

Among those stopping from The Queen of the Mississippi was Esther Mardeu of Coral Gables, Florida.

"It's a very pretty city," Mardeu said, noting it was "surprisingly huge."

"I enjoyed it," Bobby Stinnett of Lakeland, Florida, said. "If we drive through, we'll definitely stop."

Riverboat passenger John Trerotola of Minneapolis said he "didn't really know what to expect," but thought Cape Girardeau was a nice town.

"After being here with [the American Queen], I would come by again," Trerotola said.

Some residents said they would be interested in going on a similar river cruise in the future.

"It'd be really cool to get a different perspective on [the Mississippi River]," Seabaugh said.

"I'd love to," said Gloria Hassemer of Cape Girardeau. "It would be lots of fun."

"It would be fun to get a chance to meet all the different people in the different communities," Martin said.

Rates on the American Queen start at $2,549 for a nine-day trip from Cincinnati to St. Louis, according to American Queen Steamboat Co. website. Rates for the Queen of the Mississippi start at $4,320 a person for a weeklong trip from Cincinnati to St. Louis, according to American Cruise Lines' website.

Pertinent address: Cape Girardeau, Mo.