Mamma Mia In Marietta!

[HostDave]

When we created the American Queen Steamboat Company to return the stunning American Queen to the rivers, we made a pledge to ourselves and to our guests that we would strive to provide the best possible value. There were several keys to achieving this goal, and foremost on the list was giving those who travel with us far more than they ever expected. We looked at what we could do on board the American Queen and considered the extra expenses that travelers compile on their vacations. We then tried to eliminate many of those. On a voyage with us, complimentary wine and beer are served with dinner, the cuisine is authentic and Southern but with a contemporary twist found only in the most creative and acclaimed restaurants, and there’s never a charge for cappuccino, espresso, bottled water and soft drinks.

Unlike most travel companies, we extended that value ashore as well. We bring along our own fleet of luxury motor coaches to ensure our guests can experience every port in a friendly and familiar way. We also offer a deluxe hotel stay before each voyage as part of the fare, and we even include breakfast, taxes, porterage and transfers to the American Queen. And last but by no means least; we offer complimentary shore excursions in every port with our hop-on, hop-off tours.

Our guests rave about these free shore excursions, and the discerning members of the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society voted our shore excursions #1 out of any cruise line. The carefully planned routes provide freedom to explore the sites at whatever pace is most comfortable, knowing the next coach is never more than 20 minutes away. But we acknowledge that as esteemed as our complimentary shore excursions are, some guests prefer to explore specific sites in even greater depth. That’s why we offer Premium Choice shore excursions as well as our complimentary tours. From the feedback we’ve received, the Premium Choice offerings are well worth the nominal cost.

To better understand what the Premium Choice shore excursion program is all about, we’re taking a look at a 7-day Good Old Summertime journey between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati beginning August 9, 2013 with stops in Wheeling, WV; Marietta, OH; Point Pleasant, WV and Portsmouth, OH. Not only is this a great voyage, if you book before May 31, 2013, you can save up to $750 per stateroom.

What makes a Premium Choice shore excursion special? It’s a full, in-depth experience that is truly unique. One of our favorites takes place in Marietta, OH. Interested in improving your cooking skills, learning a new technique, or just having a fun morning with your new American Queen friends? We’ve teamed up with The Cook’s Shop and a famous founder of a local product for an exclusive hands on learning experience.

You don’t have to go to a cooking school in Florence to learn how to make great pasta. John Rossi, founder of Rossi Pasta, teaches our guests the secrets of handmade pasta during an intimate class session at The Cook’s Shop. Using seasonal fresh ingredients, John takes participants through the steps of creating pasta dough and making hand-rolled ravioli. Learn to make a homemade ricotta filling and a cream or tomato based sauce. And in a nod to the 21st century, also learn to make quick and delicious Italian yeast bread using a food processor.

A few members of each class are invited to help John in the process of making the pasta, and everyone on the tour gets to sample the raviolis and bread. Not only are the recipes provided to everyone, as a bonus guests receive a sample of wine from Marietta Wine Cellars, Marietta’s local winery. To keep things intimate, the class is limited to 20 participants and everyone on the tour is extended a 10% discount on any purchases made in The Cook’s Shop on the day of the class. After the class, guests can visit John’s art gallery on Front St. to get a personal look at his extraordinary art. Directly next to John’s gallery is Rossi Pasta’s factory store where participants are welcome to stock up on their favorite pasta before leaving Marietta.

What’s the difference between traveling and exploring? Sometimes it’s as simple as a Premium Choice shore excursion.