U.S. river cruises dwindle

While home ports have many advantages — and Seattle is a base for Alaska cruises — the Northwest has lost some locally based cruises with the shutdown of Majestic America Lines in December. Less than two years after the Seattle-based company tried to corner the market on U.S. river paddle-wheelers, the company closed because of financial problems and will offer no cruises this year. That sidelines the Columbia Queen (which sailed out of Portland on Columbia River cruises), American Queen, Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and the Empress of the North (which sailed in Alaska) to languish. The loss is a big blow to U.S. river cruising, says Paul Motter, editor of the Web site Cruise Mates.