THE GATEWAY CLIPPER FLEET

The Gateway Empress has the honor of being the longest serving vessel ever at the Gateway Clipper Fleet. The Empress has been sailing the three rivers since 1966! She is 212 feet long and 50 feet wide. As part of the Gateway Clipper’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2008, this vessel was re-christened the “Empress” – she was formerly know as the Party Liner. A little known fact about the Empress – she is actually a barge that is pushed by a towboat named the “Empress II.”

The Gateway Clipper Fleet has a new addition! The Three Rivers Queen was christened into our Fleet in a joyous ceremony which took place in May of 2013. Since then she’s been busy servicing passengers who are anxious to see our new “Queen”! She features two enclosed decks, large flat screen TV’s and large beautiful windows! The best feature of our new vessel? The fact that she has a mezzanine deck with panoramic windows & a fantastic view of her paddle wheel! Come see the Queen!

The Gateway Princess is a 120 feet long, 35 feet wide all-steel traditional paddle wheel style riverboat. With floor to ceiling windows, the Princess allows her passengers to have a superb view of our skyline. The Princess, formerly known as the Keystone Belle, joined the Gateway Clipper Fleet in 1999 after 15 years of service in Moline, Illinois on the Mississippi River. A little known fact about the Princess – she hosts more weddings than any other boat in the fleet!

The Gateway Duchess was built in Dubuque, Iowa in 1965. She is 125 feet long and 35 feet wide. This vessel operated in both Cleveland and Philadelphia before it was acquired by the Gateway Clipper Fleet in 1975. When this vessel arrived in Pittsburgh, she was christened the “Liberty Belle” in honor of our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. In 2008, the Liberty Belle was rechristened the Duchess in celebration of the Gateway Clipper Fleet’s 50th Anniversary. A little known fact about the Duchess – 9 times out of 10 when you cruise aboard the Gateway Clipper’s “Good Ship Lollipop”  Cruise you are actually aboard the Duchess?!!!

The Gateway Countess is the smallest boat of the Gateway Clipper Fleet measuring 55 feet long and 14 feet wide. She is the fleet’s only open air riverboat. The Countess began service in Pittsburgh in 1979 under the name “City of Champions” in honor of the Steelers and Pirates Championships. In 1982, she was renamed the Good Ship Lollipop and she was rechristened again in 2008 as the Countess. A little known fact about the Countess – she is the fastest boat of the fleet!