The Mighty Mississippi’s royal family just got a bit bigger this week as the American Duchess riverboat made its maiden voyage last week.

The Duchess, owned by the same company that owns and operates the American Queen vessel, made its Natchez debut on Friday.

During the stop, the riverboat’s owners helped show off the boat and allowed residents and local dignitaries to see the vessel for the first time.

In a time when air travel has become ever more complicated with time delays and security concerns, the lazy days of cruising America’s greatest waterway seem attractive.

Natchez’s tourism community is delighted to have even more out-of-town guests royally delivered to our community’s front door.

A healthy stream of riverboat passengers visiting our area has the potential to be a boon for Natchez and particularly for Under-the-Hill businesses.

Those visitors will see Natchez in a unique light having arrived through river travel. Like so many of our city’s early residents, the magic of the river and Natchez’s charm is likely to lure some to have deeper interest in our community.

We hope the city’s tourism leaders create a marketing plan to invite those guests to come back — and not just for a visit.

Natchez has learned through the years that having retirees relocate to the area can be a huge plus for the community and the countless volunteer hours those newfound residents can provide.

The Duchess — and her sister vessels — can play be a good recruiter for Natchez, if we take advantage of the regular visits.