HANNIBAL â Fans of the riverboat cruise ships that dock in Hannibal during the summer months and early fall will have a new boat to see in 2021. The American Queen Steamboat Company has announced the addition of the American Countess to its fleet. The American Countess was built using the existing hull of a former gaming vessel, the Kanesville Queen. The American Countess was lengthened by 60 feet and underwent a total renovation in the Gulf Island Shipyard located in Houma, La. The American Countess features an 80-foot panoramic view, four decks and 123 state rooms. Following its formal christening and inaugural VIP cruise in the spring of 2021, the paddlewheeler will be utilized during six- and 15-day cruises along not only the Mississippi River, but the Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland rivers.