Cruising America's Waterways

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Charlie and I have been on more cruises than we can count – all of them either ocean-going cruises or river cruises in Europe.  Until today, we have never been on an honest-to-goodness steamboat in the United States.

Our journey began early on this morning, July 5^th, as we flew from Nashville to St. Louis to embark on the American Queen, a step back to the days when riverboats were the mode of transportation on the rivers of the U.S.  We arrived late-morning, and went straight to the Downtown St. Louis Hilton within walking distance of Cardinals’ stadium.  July 5^th happened to be the hottest day on record in St. Louis at 106 degrees, which was 3 degrees cooler than Nashville’s hottest day the previous Friday.

After checking in at the American Queen Steamboat Company’s desk, we had lunch and at 3:00 departed on the “Steamcoach” for the boat.  It’s been really difficult for me to call the vessel a boat because all other vessels we have sailed on have been called ships.  This boat was built in 1995 by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company.  There are 222 staterooms and suites on the boat, and she holds 436 passengers.  There is a crew of 172.

Here's some things that distinguish the American Queen from other cruises we've been on:

• She is the only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America
• The acclaimed cuisine of famed American chef, Regina Charbonneau from Vicksburg, MS
• She is the only steamboat with multiple specialty dining options, all at no additional charge.
• Complimentary specialty coffees, cappuccino, espresso, soft drinks and bottled water throughout the voyage
• Complimetary wine and beer at dinner
• Southern hospitality style service from a professionally trained all-American staff
• Casual attire throughout the cruise = no formal wear reuired
• Daily lectures by a Riverlorian, an onboard river historian
• Professional showboat-style entertainment and dancing nightly
• Calliope concerts and a opportunity for guests to play.
• Complimentary shore excursions
• All-inclusive packages that include an overnight stay in a select luxury hotel in the city in which the cruise originates, plus transfers to the boat

We opted not to take the pre-cruise hotel night, and boarded the boat the day we arrived in St. Louis.  At the hotel, we met the shore excursion manager, the maitre’d, the boat’s ambassador, and others, all who made us feel welcome and special. 

Our cabin was a Category B stateroom.  It was approximately 175 square feet.  The wallpaper, furniture, and other décor are all reminiscent of the 1800s, when paddlewheelers cruised these rivers.  The bathroom was black and white tiled, but surprisingly, had a full-size bathtub.  The sink was a pedestal sink, like those that I remember from my grandmother’s house when I was a child.  We enter our cabin from the promenade deck, rather than from a hallway.

We met our friends, Linda and Jim Tidwell, who are cruising with us after we got to our cabins and immediately went to the Front Porch of America at the bow of the boat where there we could have soft-served ice cream, coffee, soft drinks, hot dogs and popcorn!!  How American is that?  All of this is included in the cost of the cruise.  And, this is open 24 hours a day!!  Can’t sleep?  Just go down to the Front Porch, and sit in one of the rocking chairs or porch swings, and enjoy cruising down the river.

Dinner tonight was open seating and was a buffet that was wonderful!!  From now on, we will have assigned seating at one of two dinner times – 5:15 or 7:45.  We opted for the later seating and will have a table of eight.  Linda, Jim, Charlie and I will meet four new folks who will be cruising with us.

Because we have late seating, we are able to attend the earlier show each night.  Tonight’s performance was called “ Showboat Jubilee”, and four very talented singers entertained us with music from the musical, “Showboat”, from Stephen Foster, and taking us to present day ending with “Proud Mary”. 

Our cruise is scheduled to stop at Cave-in-Rock, IL, Henderson and Brandenburg, KY.  We will end in Louisville and will have travelled 586 miles on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

After dinner, we sat on the Front Porch and rocked ourselves almost to sleep.  We have a day of cruising the Mississippi and Ohio tomorrow and are scheduled to arrive Cave-in-Rock on Saturday morning.