NATCHEZ — It looks like Natchez will be going back in time — in a good way.

Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines recently announced its plans to begin Mississippi River cruises on a new 140-passenger paddle wheeler boat.

The boat, an American Cruise Line press release said, is currently under construction at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md.

The boat will run routes similar to those of the popular Delta, Mississippi and American Queens. The first trip is scheduled to depart Aug, 11, 2012, and will leave from New Orleans and make six stops before arriving in Memphis, Tenn.

Natchez is the scheduled fourth stop on that tour. Other trips are from Memphis to New Orleans and round-trip to and from New Orleans with stops up the river.

Natchez Tourism Director Connie Taunton said while the passengers will not be lodging in Natchez, the shore visits will still be a great asset to the city.

“We have greatly missed the Queen visits,” Taunton said. “This will bring that type of visitor back to Natchez.

It also gives another attraction for our other visitors to see while they are in Natchez. People come here and want some interaction with the river.”

Currently, American Cruise Line is booking nine trips featuring stops in Natchez.

American Cruise Line is the second cruise company to announce Mississippi River cruises with stops in Natchez.

In June, Seattle-based travel company Cruise West announced the addition of Mississippi River cruises to its selection of destinations.

Cruise West’s trips are slated to begin in March 2011.

Passengers from the newly developed trips would be the first commercial vessel river-transported visitors to Natchez since the American Queen and Delta Queen made their last stops in Natchez in November of 2008.

The Delta Queen docked in Natchez for the last time on Nov. 4, 2008, and the American Queen docked for the last time in Natchez on Nov. 10, 2008.

The Delta Queen was decommissioned after losing her exemption from the Safety of Life at Sea Act of 1966.

The Delta Queen was later leased to a hotel operator in Chattanooga, Tenn., to become a floating hotel.

The American Queen did not book any voyages after 2008.

The Mississippi Queen was sold for scrap metal to a private buyer in May.