The Delphine: Full Steam Ahead

Luxury Cruises: When you think of steamboats, relics from the past chugging up and down the dirty Mississippi River may come to mind. Certainly these former glory day liners were comfortable and even considered luxurious for their passengers.

But it's highly unlikely that early 20th century steamboat patrons dunked themselves in a private swimming pool with jet streams, or a luxurious Turkish bath and sauna. You can also bet that there weren't four flat screen TVs on board or en-suite bathrooms and mini-bars, stand-alone music systems and private telephones enabling both intercom and satellite use. And no one had heard of WiFi (you can bank on that one).

These revelations come as no surprise but what is unexpected is that one, there is a modern-day steamboat that offers all of these amenities. Calling it a steamboat is a bit of an understatement though, think of it more as a steamyacht. Despite its progressive accommodations, the Delphine, an impressive 258-foot vessel, built in 1920 for Horace Dodge, the youngest brother of the sibling auto manufacturer team, is not a product of modern craftsmanship. Even way back then, the facilities on board the Delphine were grand: besides the large owner's stateroom with its own "facilities," there were also nine guest staterooms.

Also on board were three lounges, a music and card room, and dining and smoking room. Since September 2003, the SS Delphine has been available for charter in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and is able to accommodate up to 28 guests. Contact your yacht broker for details.

For LxM Amy Covington