From staff reports

Two of the largest sternwheel boats on the Ohio River system are scheduled for stops in Marietta this summer, and in July they’ll be docked at the city on two of the same days.

The Queen of the Mississippi, launched in 2015, is a 150-passenger riverboat that cruises the Ohio, Mississippi and Cumberland river systems, operated by American Cruise Lines. It is scheduled to stop in Marietta on four days: June 24, June 28, July 14 and July 18.

The American Queen, promoted as the largest steamboat ever built, will arrive in Marietta on July 14 and July18.

Both vessels will spend several hours in port, according to a news release from the Marietta-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The bureau said having the giant sternwheelers in Marietta will create numerous marketing opportunities for local merchants and expects to start promotions May 1. The bureau also noted that the presence of the two ships on those dates, two of which fall on weekends, is expected to bring many visitors to town.

Some passengers, the release said, will be taking prepaid shore tours of local attractions such as museums.

“We will be setting up a ‘welcome tent’ at the top of the levee to greet the passengers as they come off the boats, and we’ll be distributing our promotional materials — educating them on where they can shop, dine, or take in an attraction within walking distance of the boat,” the release said.

Tours of the boats, the release said, are not available — only paying passengers have access. The release also noted that weather and river conditions could affect the schedule of stops.

At a glance

Schedule of arrival, sternwheeler boats:

¯ June 24: Queen of the Mississippi.

¯ June 28: Queen of the Mississippi.

¯ July 14: Queen of the Mississippi, American Queen.

¯ July 18: Queen of the Mississippi, American Queen.