For information on the Delta Queen’s cruises along the Gulf lntracoastal Waterway, call 800-543-1949 or visit www.deltaqueen.com . Another cruise line, RiverBarge Excursions, which bills its Explorer as “the first and only hotel barge on America’s waterways,” also follows that route. Unlike its counterparts that ply European rivers and canals, it uses three vessels at once. One, holding spacious accommodations, is tied to another used for meals and socializing, and a small but powerful towboat moves the whole operation along (888-282-1945; www.riverbarge.com ).