NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson said he looks forward to Natchez next year being able to simultaneously accommodate riverboats from three cruise-line companies that could bring more than 2,000 visitors per week.
“We’re excited about the cruise lines, ” Gibson said. “They will be seeing Mississippi and seeing Natchez in first-class style.”
Gibson said he’s finalized negotiations with American Cruise Lines, the American Queen Steamboat Coand Viking Cruises for them to build docks on the city’s Silver Street riverfront.
By autumn 2022, the three cruise lines together are projected to bring up to 2,000 passengers per week to tour Natchez, the mayor said. ACL, AQSC and Viking are building boat-docking facilities for each at their own expense.
After a year of no river cruises because of COVID, ACL and AQSC resumed their Natchez visits last month.Viking plans to inaugurate its Mississippi River cruises in August 2022.
With the city charging the riverboats a $2-per-passenger docking fee, Natchez could receive up to $4,000 a week in revenues based on maximum passenger counts. This is on top of money generated for Natchez shops and tourism venues that passengers visit.
The riverboat companies have also committed to give the city $500,000 to help Natchez build an elevated street where the river frequently floods Under-the-Hill. ACL and Viking are putting up $250,000 each, Gibson said.
An additional $250,000 is needed for this street-raising project, Adams County Supervisor Angela Hutchins said Wednesday at a meeting city and county officials had with Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann to present their wish list for state funds.
The rebuilt street will be atop a levee-like formation at Silver Street’s lower section before it converges into D.A. Biglane Street leading up to Canal Street. Gibson has said the section would be built up enough to avert the river’s high rises to the record height it reached in 2011. The river has flooded more frequently in recent years to make accessibility for Under-the-Hill businesses and riverboats more difficult.
Gibson noted that Viking and ACL have specified the separate spots they’ll anchor at to ensure there’s enough space between the two when their riverboats dock at the same time. The Natchez Board of Aldermen on Tuesday voted to confirm those locations and get final leases drawn up for approval.
Viking and American Cruise Lines plan to build their docking facilities 100 feet apart at the end of Silver Street by the boat ramp where the Isle of Capri floating casino was formerly berthed.
The American Queen Steamboat Co. plans to dock its boats by the ramp in front of The Camp restaurant and Under-the-Hill Saloon.
Gibson said the ACL dock will be open to the general public for viewing the river and sunsets but not for fishing. The Viking pier will not be accessible for the public.
In addition to being scrutinized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – which regulates river structures — dock designs will be reviewed by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Natchez Preservation Commission because of the site’s historic setting.
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