EXCLUSIVE PALMER HOUSE PACKAGE

[HostDave]

At the American Queen Steamboat Company, providing extra value and hidden surprises is a hallmark of who we are and what we do. In the South, such largesse of spirit is called lagniappe (pronounced lan-yap). The word began as a term for a shop owner who provided an extra gift with a purchase. The practice likely originated among bakers who might provide, for example, a 13th doughnut with an order for a dozen. The word’s origins are with the Quechua people in the Andes Mountains and made its way to New Orleans with Spaniards who had conquered the area and then the word evolved with the Spanish creoles who settled in Louisiana. But the term first had a pit stop among the French-speaking people of the bayou. That explains how a Spanish word from South America, “la yapa,” arose from the Quechua word “yapay” and morphed into the French Creole term “lagniappe.”

Thankfully, this tradition of adding something extra is an important part of business in the South and we’ve found a way to bring the concept to one of our September voyages on the American Queen. On our 8-day September 6 cruise from St. Louis to Memphis, we’re offering the opportunity to begin your vacation two days earlier in enticing Chicago with our Exclusive Palmer House Package. Though valued at more than $500, we’re offering a two-night stay at the famed Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago, a special dinner at historic Lawry’s The Prime Rib, and all transfers throughout the itinerary for just $199 per guest. This voyage is also our annual Delta Queen Steamboat Company reunion cruise where not only can you learn about the history, legends and traditions of the company that originally built the American Queen, but hear tales firsthand from the many guests that sailed over the years and are rekindling their love of riverboats with this year’s voyage on the grand lady.

It seems fitting that your vacation begins in Chicago’s grand lady, the Palmer House Hilton. As the hotel’s own website attests, the hotel is one of the oldest in the nation in continual operation. “The Palmer House Hilton was originally a wedding gift from business magnate Potter Palmer to his wife Bertha, a legendary socialite, arts patron and philanthropist. The Palmer House first opened its doors in 1871, just thirteen days before the Great Chicago Fire that destroyed the original building. Determined to rebuild, Potter constructed a second hotel across the street from the original, with the first guest registering on November 8, 1873.

“Almost immediately, the Palmer House became the favored spot of the city’s cultural elite and arts community. The Palmer House is filled with artistic treasures, striking examples include the Red Lacquer Room with garnet-draped chandeliers and the world-famous lobby topped with a magnificent ceiling of Grecian frescoes by French muralist Louis Pierre Rigal. Other jewels include the lobby’s Tiffany 24-karat gold chandeliers and majestic Winged Angels (weighing in at 1.25 tons each, these two bronze statues are the largest he ever made), Tiffany brass door handles, wood hinges and hardware throughout the hotel, and the signature French Havilland bone china.”

Now imagine a trip that begins September 4 in Chicago with two nights at the Palmer House Hilton followed by a fascianting trip on the Lincoln Service train from there’s even more lagniappe in store with a complimentary one-night stay at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark on September 6 before boarding the American Queen the next day for the river passage to Memphis. You’ll even return to Chicago from Memphis on the special City of New Orleans train.

The voyage along the Mississippi River is full of delights. Sail from beneath the spectacular curve of the Gateway Arch and visit Cape Girardeau, MO. In each port of call, we offer our complimentary Hop-on/Hop-Off tours and in Cape Girardeau, admire the riverfront murals and the Red House Interpretive Center’s exhibit reflecting the lives of those who called the Old Cape Girardeau District home. The Old St. Vincent's Church displays Renaissance architecture in English Gothic Revival style. Next is the Glenn House, a museum that features architecture, furnishings, clothing and more from the Victorian era. Check out spectacular vistas of historic landmark houses and views from the Mississippi River at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University, Old Bridge Overlook and Park, and the Crisp Museum. Then, you’ll make one last stop at the Cape River Heritage Museum, located inside an old fire station built in 1908, which houses river-related artifacts and historical items.

At the stop in Cave-In-Rock, IL, discover the legend of the robbers and pirates who hid in a cave next to the river to steal from passing steamboats in the 1800s. In Paducah, KY view the finest quilts made by today’s quilt artists at the National Quilt Museum. Then, visit some museums dedicated to preserving the heritage of the river, railroad and highlights of western Kentucky's role in the War Between the States: the River Discovery Center, Paducah Railroad Museum and Paducah Civil War Museum. Or visit the William Clark Market House Museum, which narrates the history of Paducah’s growth. In New Madrid, MO, stroll the 120-foot observation deck and view the 20-mile-long Bessie Bend. Shopping is next in downtown New Madrid. Then, see how culture from the Mississippian Indian period is reflected in this ever changing river town at the New Madrid Historical Museum. Other places you may want to see along the way include Veteran’s Park, the New Madrid County Courthouse, the cypress-framed antebellum mansion of the Hunter-Dawson State Historical Society, and the oldest house in New Madrid, the Hart-Stepp House Art Gallery.

But if you’re not yet ready for your journey to end, it doesn’t have to! You can extend your voyage to Chattanooga with 2-for-1 cruise fares and receive a Travel Credit of $199 per guest. Just join us for the September 13 voyage from Memphis to Chattanooga and receive the special discount on this cruise. Unique dinners, train transfers, hotel nights at great discounts and special offers to extend your vacation are all part of our lagniappe philosophy at the American Queen Steamboat Company. For more information on our Exclusive Palmer House Package, click here for details, terms and conditions. We can’t wait to welcome you aboard!