ON THE OHIO RIVER_As our river cruise on American Queen concludes, listed below are some total impressions — our first time to cruise a U.S. waterway — that may hopefully assist determine if this cruise is best for you.
Primarily based on our conversations with different friends, and the very fact American river cruising has been one of many trade’s fastest-growing segments over the previous couple of years, it’s clear the recognition of touring one’s personal nation’s waterways is on the rise. A part of the rationale you may most likely attribute to COVID, and the reluctance of vacationers to face the uncertainty of going abroad. We heard that greater than as soon as.
Then there’s the attract of recreating that Golden Age of steamboating, when it was the preeminent solution to go from one city to a different. American Queen has embraced that need and introduced it up-to-date with trendy facilities and know-how. However the fundamental thought stays the identical: A leisurely trip on a river the place, in case you like, you may sit in a chair and watch the world go by.
That’s the essence of a river cruise, and American Queen delivers that have.
Some takeaways:
— We favored {that a} pre-cruise resort evening was included within the cruise. You not solely get an opportunity to fulfill your fellow passengers, but additionally they care for your switch to the boat. Your baggage is prepared and ready to unpack in your room, making boarding is a breeze.
— Most of our fellow vacationers are all senior residents, a number of with mobility points. The boat is nicely outfitted to assist those that want it, and even accommodates service canines, of which we’ve seen a number of, all well-behaved. It appears most friends hail from the mid-West and plenty of are repeat clients. The temper is pleasant and it’s simple to strike up conversations.
— Our room is a junior suite, and accommodates a queen mattress. The vintage furnishings, fixtures and work mirror the “Golden Age” motif. The bathtub is roomy however may use an up to date bathe head. Storage was enough however it may very well be difficult if we needed to pack for an extended time aboard (they do have a laundry). It was good to have a writing area for my PC. There are two USB plugs and further plugins bedside, however we all the time want extra, so pack an extension wire. Rooms even have a choice of music channels you may play by twisting a knob to the music of your selection. As talked about earlier than, most rooms don’t have non-public balconies, however have two chairs and desk in a communal sitting space on the deck. Once more, it promotes meet and greets.
— We discovered the service excellent. Pleasant, environment friendly, accommodating. Particular shoutouts to Richard, our room attendant, Daniel, the Meals and Beverage Supervisor, Jasmin, Sherman and Shelly on the eating room wait workers and Manuela, the Chief Purser.
— The meals has been wonderful total. The Entrance Porch Cafe (it actually does resemble a traditional entrance porch) and the J.M. White Primary Eating Room serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The previous serves its meals buffet-style, whereas the latter has buffets for breakfast and lunch, with a extra formal seating at dinner. Nearly all of friends on our crusing opted for early eating, which stars at 5:15 pm (for us, that’s like a late lunch). We select late eating, which begins at 8 pm. In between, the Entrance Porch presents tasty cookies, popcorn, self-serve ice cream and all of the fixings, plus fruit and different snacks. Pam liked the espresso stations positioned across the boat. Room service can also be free and out there till 11 pm. After the eating room closes, that’s just about your solely meals possibility in case you crave a late-night snack.
— Drinks, alcoholic and in any other case, are included in your fare, together with the fundamental excursions, meals and WiFi. There are some premium, extra-charge drinks, however we didn’t go there. You’ll discover bars on the Entrance Porch, the Captain’s Bar, exterior the principle eating room, the Engine Room Bar on deck 2 (the place you get a view of the spinning paddlewheels by way of the port holes) and the River Grill and Bar, aft on deck 5. A few of the bartenders may use a bit of mixology assist, however in order for you it executed proper, see Soli on the River Grill. She’ll take nice care of you.
— The leisure within the Grand Saloon earns an “A.” They’re a small however mighty group that is aware of how you can sing, dance and hold an viewers engaged with out the good thing about flashy productions and surroundings modifications, with assist from lighting and sound guru, Mike. Norman Bergen leads the Steamboat Syncopators home band, with Jay, Sean and Logan on piano, guitar and keyboards. I discovered the every day lectures by ship Riverlorian Chris Westey informative and attention-grabbing.
— One of the spectacular points of the cruise are the excursions. Nicely-organized and executed, the “hop on, hop off” buses take friends to locations of curiosity at each port cease. The buses truly observe the boat, so you may have the identical drivers, which is good. Native guides and docents have been on website to offer knowledgeable insights, and all of it ran like clockwork, beginning with getting eight tour instances to select from. Premium tour choices are additionally out there for an additional cost.
— The principle attraction for almost all of friends is the boat itself. Faithfully modeled after the grand steamboats of the 1800s, and 60 % powered by steam, it’s the biggest steamship working on the earth. Hanging on its partitions are traditional steamboat work, and river-related memorabilia are on show within the Mark Twain Gallery and different public areas. Its six decks are simple to navigate, and the preferred gathering areas are the entrance Porch ahead on deck three and the remark space on deck 4. Leisure is featured within the Grand Saloon and movie show. There’s a small pool and health heart, designated areas for people who smoke, a small spa and a library within the Chart Room. Adjoining to the Mark Twain Gallery are Girls and Gents sport rooms. Apart from the TVs within the rooms, you might simply see your self transported again in time.
— Don’t count on the free WiFi to be all the time out there. As I’ve famous, our room occurred to be positioned in a lifeless spot, so we hardly ever bought service there. There are computer systems and a printer within the Mark Twain Gallery, and that’s the place I went to ship these missives. I wager even Mark Twain would have favored to have had that out there for his use.
— Although ours was the final cruise to require pre-cruise COVID testing, the boat highlights well being consciousness by putting sanitizing and hand washing stations all through. Masks usually are not required, however a number of friends have been carrying them. There was just one cease on the excursions we took that required a masks — The Citadel in Marietta, OH. Every room can also be given two refillable water bottles to chop down on plastic waste. Refill stations are positioned by all of the elevators.
Backside line: I requested one visitor who had taken nearly 20 river cruises why he and his spouse hold coming again to American Queen. In a phrase, he stated, “Custom.” Principally, it’s the one solution to expertise the sort of romantic journey that enraptured People greater than 150 years in the past.
If you need an actual break from the hectic, workaday world, and don’t thoughts in case you can’t test your e mail each 10 minutes, embrace settling again in a chair with the drink of the day, take pleasure in being pampered by an attentive workers and wish to get misplaced in thought when you watch the world slowly go by, that is the cruise for you. For those who strive it, I feel you simply may prefer it. We did.
PHOTOS by Gerry Barker
- Night time view of the Chart Room (Cowl Picture)
- American Queen Steamboat
- The deck exterior the staterooms
- Reboarding at considered one of our tour stops
- The Grand Saloon
- The Gents’s Card Room
- A river sundown
- Contained in the Chart Room
- Work beautify the hallways
- Our Riverlorian
- Water refill station
See American Queen and different steamboat cruises right here American Queen Voyages (cruisecompete.com)
See all of our earlier American Queen steamboat cruise posts right here:
