If you saw a large riverboat parked at Allen Park in Ottawa, that’s part of the annual river cruises done by American Queen Voyages. The boat stopped in Ottawa as part of a trip that started in St. Louis. Cruise Director Clark Roberts says the “American Countess” is the newest ship in fleet of riverboats so it has a modern interior. But it has a classic exterior.
He says tourists love to stop in the Ottawa area of the river. There were 130 people on this part of the tour and ninety crew members. Although the ship can hold up to 250 people. Passengers Norm Johnson and Cindy Britton say it’s a beautiful boat. They came on the cruise because they have family in Ottawa.
Passengers were able to hop on tour buses which made stops at different historical landmarks like the Reddick Mansion, Heritage and Scouting Museum, and the I&M Canal passageway. Roberts say starting Tuesday a new group of people will board and head back down the Illinois River to St. Louis. Riverboats from American Queen Voyages have been stopping in Ottawa for many years. They were not allowing tours like they have in the past because of COVID protocols.