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                                                                  Exhibit 99.(i)


                            ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS OF
                          AMERICAN CLASSIC VOYAGES CO.

         The undersigned shareholders, owning beneficially and of record in the
aggregate 7,405,747 shares or 51.8% of the outstanding shares of the Common
Stock of American Classic Voyages Co., a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby adopt, by this unanimous written consent (which may be
executed in counterparts), in accordance with Section 228 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the following resolutions, with the
same force and effect as if they had been unanimously adopted at a duly convened
meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, as of the date consent to the
following actions by the shareholders of Directors of the Corporation:

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has approved a
resolution amending the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation to provide that the maximum number of shares of capital stock
which the Corporation is authorized to have outstanding at any time is
45,000,000 shares of which 40,000,000 shall be Common Stock and 5,000,000 of
which shall be Preferred Stock;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation directed that said
amendment be submitted to the undersigned for approval;

         RESOLVED, that Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended and restated in its entirety to
read as follows:

         "FOURTH: The maximum number of shares of capital stock which the
         Corporation is authorized to issue or to have outstanding at any time
         shall be 45,000,000 shares of which 40,000,000 shall be Common Stock of
         $.01 (one cent) par value, and 5,000,000 shall be Preferred Stock of
         $.01 (one cent) par value. The Preferred Stock may be issued from time
         to time in one or more series, upon resolution or resolutions providing
         for such series adopted by the Board of Directors, with such
         distinctive designations as shall be stated in such resolution or
         resolutions. The resolution or resolutions providing 
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         for the issue of shares of a particular series shall fix, subject to
         the applicable laws and provisions of this Article FOURTH, the
         designation, rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each
         such series. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to
         each series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of
         the following: 

         (a) The number of shares constituting such series, including the
authority to increase or decrease such number, and the distinctive designation
of such series;

         (b) The dividend rate of the shares of such series, whether the
dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date from which they shall be
cumulative, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends
on shares of such series;

         (c) The right, if any, of the Corporation to redeem shares of such
series and the terms and conditions of such redemption including the redemption
price;

         (d) The rights of shares in case of a voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, and the relative
rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of such series;

         (e) The voting rights, if any, for such series and the terms and
conditions under which such voting rights may be exercised;

         (f) The obligation, if any, of the Corporation to retire shares of such
series pursuant to a retirement or sinking fund or fund of a similar nature and
the terms and conditions of such obligation;

         (g) The terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such series
shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any other class
or classes or of any other series of preferred stock, including the price or
prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the terms of
adjustment, if any; and

         (h) Any other rights, preferences or limitations of the shares of such
series as may be permitted by law."
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         FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Corporation are hereby
authorized and directed to (i) file with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware a Certificate of Amendment to the Corporation's Certificate as soon as
practicable on or after, but in no event before, 20 calendar days following the
mailing of the Information Statement, and (ii) provide prompt notice to the
Corporation's shareholders of the taking of corporate action described herein;

         RESOLVED, that the officers of the Corporation are hereby authorized
and directed to do and perform, or cause to be done or performed, all such acts,
deeds and things and to make, execute and deliver, or cause to be made, executed
or delivered, all such documents, instruments or certificates in the name of,
for and on behalf of the Corporation or otherwise as he or she may deem
necessary or appropriate to effectuate or carry out fully the purpose and intent
of the foregoing resolutions and to comply with all applicable laws and rules in
connection therewith.

         This Written Consent may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken
together will constitute but one and the same instrument.
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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Action as of the
22 day of February, 1999.

EGI HOLDINGS, INC., an Illinois corporation

  (3,641,873 shares)

By: /s/ SHELI Z. ROSENBERG
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Name:  Sheli Z. Rosenberg
Its:  Vice President

EGIL INVESTMENTS, INC., an Illinois corporation

  (3,641,874 shares)

By: /s/ MARK SLEZAK
   ---------------------------------- 
Name:  Mark Slezak
Its:  Vice President

SAMSTOCK, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
  (52,500 shares)

By: /s/ SHELI Z. ROSENBERG
   ---------------------------------- 
Name:  Sheli Z. Rosenberg
Its:  Vice President

ANDA PARTNERSHIP, an Illinois general partnership

   (52,500 shares)

         By:  Ann Only Trust, a general partner

         By:   /s/ MARK SLEZAK
            ------------------------------------
         Name:  Mark Slezak
         Its:  Trustee

         By:  Ann and Descendants Trust, a general partner

         By:   /s/ MARK SLEZAK
            ------------------------------------
         Name:  Mark Slezak
         Its:  Trustee

ANN LURIE REVOCABLE TRUST

  (17,000 shares)

By: /s/ ANN LURIE
   -------------------------------
Name:  Ann Lurie
Its:  Trustee