American Queen Cabins

Most of the 202 stateroom and suites onboard American Queen are identically decorated with a melange of polished wood, colorful Victorian patterns, black-and-white photos and vintage(y) furniture. Thankfully, beds are more Laura Ashley than Ashley Wilkes, adorned in plush duvets and high-thread-count sheets. Most cabins have two twin beds that can be converted into a queen.

Cabins range from the 22 relatively airy suites with verandahs (with about 500 square feet of space) to the eight minuscule inside singles (80 square feet), but the fact that there are accommodations for solo travelers will come as a relief to those who wish to travel so. The rest of the cabins are small by industry standards, from 130 square feet for the24 inside cabins to 190 square feet for the 95 deluxe outside staterooms with verandahs. There are 25 superior outside staterooms with verandahs located on the top deck; though they have a bit more space (230 square feet), the decor is largely identical to that found in the deluxe outsides.

For those who want a view but don't care so much for an outdoor area, the 24 deluxe outside cabins (190 square feet) have large bay windows instead of the al fresco space.

While the suites have more breathing room, of course, much of the space in each is occupied by a sitting area with a cocktail table and sofa-bed, and there are a separate tub and shower. Ornate antique beds are the rooms' centerpieces, and there are wardrobes for extra storage. All have private verandahs.

About the boat's verandahs: In most cases, a "verandah" is a portion of the side promenade that your cabin opens onto, a shared space with your neighbors in the style of the old steamboats. Instead of being bothered by the lack of privacy, most passengers use the setup as an opportunity to socialize.

The deluxe outside staterooms with verandahs -- namely the "A" category units on Deck 3 -- have balconies similar to those on oceangoing ships.

In any event, every cabin is furnished with the same two comfortable plastic-mesh chairs and small table for drinks and books, placed outside the exterior double doors.

The single cabins are comfortable and cozy, with the same decor as their brethren. All have ensuite baths. According to a company spokeswoman, four outside singles will be introduced in 2013.

We were in a outside stateroom with a verandah on Deck 5. Though the queen-sized bed took up the lion's share of the cabin, there was plenty of space to walk and enough room for a comfy chair. Storage was tricky, but by creatively using the space in the desk/bureau, closet and the bed stand, we got everything hidden.

There's plenty of space under the beds for luggage. All cabins have a safes, free bottled water, hair dryers and flat-screen TV's (which feature a decent number of basic cable options and, oddly enough, New York City network affiliates). The boat's free Wi-Fi wasn't always functional, but when it was, we were able to access it in the cabin. (The best location for reception is the Mark Twain Gallery, which has electrical outlets and tables for laptops.)

Bathrooms are blackand-white-tiled affairs that are more than adequate, but beware: Though company literature promises that all outside cabins have showers and tubs, some have only a large walk-in shower. If a tub is important to you, be sure your cabin has one when you book. We loved the big mirror, the stand-alone shelves that could hold way more toiletries than we carried onboard and the gargantuan tubes of American Queen-branded lotion, soap and shampoo.

We were particularly fond of the self-regulated air-conditioning that was so powerful that it kept our bottled water chilled -- a good thing for muggy days on the Big Muddy. Sound-proofing is decent, but if you're a light sleeper you may want to avoid a cabin near the stern: you'll feel the tug and pull of the steel arms controlling the paddlewheel.

ADA-accessible cabins are available in all catories except for singles.

Next: American Queen Dining

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