The Heart is Beating

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By Tim Rubacky, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development

American river cruising aboard the American Queen with the Great American Steamboat Company is many things. In previous blogs, on our website and in our brochures we walk you through those distinctions.

There is, of course, the sense of community that develops on a riverboat. From the shared experiences of a limited number of guests, lifelong friendships develop and we hark back to the days of comfort and security we knew as children. There’s something about a Mississippi river cruise that makes it seem like everything in the world is just as it should be.

And part of that nostalgia trip is the cuisine by acclaimed Southern chef Regina Charboneau. She has a habit of taking traditional Southern dishes and giving them a slight tweak that keeps the history but makes them relevant today. Crabcake Benedict, for example, is not an item that should be missed. And if you don’t die for the taste of her Butter Biscuits with Orange Marmalade, then you might not be alive at all. From the new River Grill on the top deck to the casual Front Porch of America and the Victorian finery of the J.M. White Dining Room, the cuisine on the American Queen is an integral part of the experience that weaves a common and delicious thread through every day’s adventures.

There are the river towns and cities themselves that take you back to everything that is good about America. It’s everything we’ve forgotten in a world of texting, reading online news and listening to the latest mishaps of some erstwhile celebrity who is famous for, well, being famous. There’s the unapologetic joy of New Orleans’ French Quarter, the antebellum mansions of historic Natchez, the wilderness vibe of cosmopolitan Chattanooga, the blues and barbeque of Memphis, the proud traditions of Louisville and the main streets of Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Minnesota’s frontier Red Wing and Kentucky’s colorful Maysville. Yes, American comes alive around every bend in the river.

And, of course, there’s the American Queen herself - the grandest and most elegant steamboat ever to grace America’s rivers. She’s a Victorian mansion that floats, a quaint B&B with a paddlewheel for a backyard. From the filigree in the dining room to the mahogany paneling in the Mark Twain Gallery to the delicate lace of the Ladies’ Parlor, she sets the stage for a remarkable journey. And with theme cruise lectures and headline entertainment in the Grand Saloon, she helps bring the past alive in so many ways.

But there’s one other element we haven’t spoken about. It’s the one element that is perhaps more important than any other. A vacation isn’t just about the sights, sounds and tastes that surround you. And a steamboat isn’t a living being because of her steam engines, paddlewheel or all the Victorian wallpaper on the planet.

None of these things matter without the crew.

And I’m thrilled to announce that our newest hires are now joining our old stalwarts who have been aboard the American Queen for months polishing, refurbishing, replacing and repainting. The refurbishment is ending and the training is beginning. Looking at the fresh faces and the young, eager smiles, it’s easy to wonder what these folks know about Steamboating. Well, not only would you be surprised to learn that they know much more than what one might think (following in the footsteps of friends or family members who have served aboard riverboats in the past), they are drawn to the Great American Steamboat Company because of the chance to bring back an era from the past but give it a distinct modern flair that makes everyone feel welcome today.

We were all fresh-faced kids once. And while the American Queen’s new crew members are looking forward to new experiences, forging friendships with guests and learning how to create an atmosphere that is casual and convivial but also elegant and refined, they will be under the guidance of our old stalwarts who have been living and breathing riverboats since before they were born.

The true heart of the American Queen is now beating.

We have an ideal combination of crew and officers who are already bonding as a team. The excitement is palpable. This group of dedicated individuals can’t wait to welcome aboard our first guests to experience the cuisine, the Victorian décor, the superb entertainment, the new friendships and the wonderful destinations.

In short, they can’t wait to share their river with you.