LIFE ON THE RIVER

[HostDave]

Traveling on the American Queen is like no other form of transportation on earth. We put a lot of effort into getting that message across through our advertising, brochures, direct mail campaigns, emails, and social media posts as well as this blog. Although we provide a good idea of what life is like on board, our guests always come back telling us that the experience far exceeded their expectations.

Our guests come from a variety of different backgrounds and prior travel experiences. We find that those who have been on ocean voyages appreciate the smooth waters of the rivers and the smaller 400-guest capacity of the American Queen compared to megaships carrying thousands of passengers. It’s easier to make friends and it’s more fun to feel as though one is part of a community rather than a nameless traveler among a sea of people. American Queen guests who have taken river cruises before, whether in the United States or Europe, generally all reach the same conclusion about the American Queen: there is nothing else like her. She feels authentic and her antebellum décor is warm and inviting.

We could go on and on about these differences but, as we mentioned a moment ago, you have to experience our elegant lady and her ports of call to truly understand why an American Queen Steamboat Company vacation is so highly acclaimed and so beloved by so many. The closest we can come is by putting you in the shoes of one of our guests for the day.

Pretend you are aboard the American Queen and today is going to be spent on the river. What wonders await? First, you have to decide when to arise. Today, you’ve decided to get up before dawn and greet the sunrise on deck with a cup of coffee from Front Porch Café. You sit in a rocking chair as the horizon brightens and listen to the sounds of the river. The gentle shushing of the paddlewheel echoes off the tree-lined banks of the river and you hear a splash as a catfish jumps from the water as the American Queen heads downriver. There are a few other people up and although everyone is sociable, this morning is a time for quiet and watching the world unfold around you.

Next, you head down to breakfast in the dramatic two-deck J.M. White Dining Room. This morning, a buffet is set up on the granite counters at the entrance. You fill your plate with cheesy grits, cola-glazed ham, crab cake benedict, fresh fruit and some stuffed French toast in a bourbon maple syrup. You could choose to sit at a smaller table but opt for a larger one where you meet a couple whose son is attending the same college as your daughter. Despite the fact you are from opposite sides of the country, you’re soon laughing and sharing parenthood stories as if you’ve been friends for years.

After breakfast, a work-out in the fitness center and a dip in the pool, you head to the Grand Saloon for a “Reading the River” chat with Travis, the onboard Riverlorian who serves as part host, part historian and part spinner of tales. You hear about some of the legendary captains of the riverboats from 150 years ago and then later in the Chart Room sit down with a handful of other guests to learn more from the Riverlorian on the challenges of navigating the river before today’s modern aids.

It’s just a quick walk down a flight of stairs to the Front Porch Café for a casual lunch of crab and corn chowder, a plump po’ boy sandwich and a warm praline pecan cookie. While the area is busy, it’s not at all crowded and you run into the gentleman and his granddaughter you met last night. You smile and sit for a bit, sharing both a meal and memories of last night’s performance by the band Storefront Congregation. Bingo in the Grand Saloon is up next and afterwards you’re delighted you don’t even have to leave your seat to enjoy a talk called “Flatboat to Steamboat and Their Influence on Southern Development” with a professor from a university in Memphis. While the American Queen’s version of the New Newlywed Game sounds like fun, you decide to grab that book you’ve been meaning to finish and head to the chairs outside the French doors that lead to your stateroom. You prop up your feet, soak in the afternoon sun, and start to read for a few moments before dozing off as the gentle breeze on the river lulls you to sleep.

Fortunately, you wake in time for the Afternoon Tea in the Main Deck Lounge, enjoying a lovely chamomile blend and some scones. Afterwards, at the Captain’s Bar, Phil the pianist is tickling the ivories and guests are joining in an impromptu sing-a-long led by some of the ship’s performers.

After changing for dinner, you return to the J.M. White Dining Room for a true Southern feast. Your table mates are two couples you met yesterday afternoon playing bridge in the Mark Twain Gallery and with a choice of complimentary wine or beer with dinner, you opt for a light but fruity chardonnay to accompany your stuffed sole entrée. By the time your Mississippi Mud Pie arrives for dessert, you find you can’t stop smiling. Whether it’s the jokes told at dinner, the savory meal or the delightful company, you feel at ease.

Passing through the Captain’s Bar where Phil is serving up a medley of Broadway tunes, you enter the Grand Saloon for tonight’s one man show, “Marking Twain,” an evening of stories and anecdotes that makes you feel as if the gentlemen impersonating Mark Twain on stage is the real article. Following the show, the Steamboat Syncopators take to the stage; the dance floor fills as a rendition of a big band hit brings everyone to their feet, swaying and spinning to the songs you remember from your youth.

It’s been a full day, but a nightcap in the Engine Room Bar, where Jackie and Bob are playing hits from the 1960s and the red paddlewheel spins just outside the windows, seems like the perfect spot to spend some time before you head back to your stateroom for the evening. There, you find the provided terrycloth robes have been laid out for you, the bed turned back, a chocolate sits on the pillow and a copy of the River Times details the adventures for tomorrow. As you sink down into the cushioned comfort of your bed, sleep envelopes you and your mind looks forward to another day on the American Queen and a vacation you’ll not soon forget.