ACL new boat article - Maysville

I thought ACL was reorganizing, which led me to believe the building of the boat had been derailed. Guess I was wrong.

Well,
First off, it's not steam---so I'm prejudiced right from the start. But, you read the boat description and it's all about deluxe staterooms, private balconies, etc. All the stuff that I don't really want on a riverboat. I want great group areas, nice views from the dining room (one thing the DQ didn't have. . . .But she had/has other charms). I like my cabin door opening onto the deck, where others are walking by, or sitting. Where I can make a quick trip to the calliope, if necessary--or anywhere else to see what's happenin' on the river. I like the feeling of being part of a big family that you get onboard. Who the heck needs a private balcony, where you'd have to invite your friends over for a chat, etc., when you can just holler over, "Hey Burno! Grab Debbie and lets watch the river (or fly a kite, or. . .)" IMHO, that's what Steamboatin' is all about.
But, as is said often here, "What do I know?"
David D.

So....when you look in the dictionary under "buzz kill", there's a picture of David Dewey? :O)

Paul

Hi Paul,
Hmm, didn't mean to be a big "Buzz Kill" just am afraid they are trying the same stuff that MAL tried, and the rivers ain't the ocean! Blue water success does not necessarily equal "brown water" success.
And, as I said, "But what do I know?"
I may be the only one left wanting "my kind" of stuff--and for right now, I can't afford a trip anyways!
Steamcerely,
David D.

*RE: ACL's new boat/Amenities etc.*
Hi, Paul & steamboating colleagues:
Thanks to Paul for giving 'heads up' on the ACL squib in the Maysville paper. This squib word for word appearing in other travel business 3=letters. I too was drawn to the design specifications [i.e. bow ramp, elevators, modern engineering etc.]. That told me all and more. The lower passenger rate also in keeping with articles RE: other river vessels in Europe now planned or under construction. They too focus on the 'luxury' angle with fewer passengers, fine high quality bed linens, towels etc. What you get is what you pay for. In some ways that's what the market is calling for. May we all assume the passengers will be drawn from the high end, 'niche' markets? Hold on to you wallets with this new baby.

Years ago a well-heeled couple had just arrived in New York aboard the old QUEEN MARY. They boarded the

*No. 2 ACL's new boat/Amenities etc.*
Sorry, something went PFFT! here with one of those power failures in the neighborhood.
To continue: The couple boarded the DELTA QUEEN

*Power issues in the nieghborhood*
Things going PFFT! here left and right. Crews working on the transformers on the street. I'll chill a bit and click back on later. Sorry

R. Dale Flick

David Dewey;23981 wrote: Hi Paul,
Hmm, didn't mean to be a big "Buzz Kill" just am afraid they are trying the same stuff that MAL tried, and the rivers ain't the ocean! Blue water success does not necessarily equal "brown water" success.
And, as I said, "But what do I know?"
I may be the only one left wanting "my kind" of stuff--and for right now, I can't afford a trip anyways!
Steamcerely,
David D.

Yo, Dave. I was just bustin' your chops, buddy.

Paul

Paul,
Sarite!
Steamcerely,
David D (I had to write 25 characters!)

Let's give the new boat a chance before we condemn it. Sure we would like to see the DQ back steaming on the rivers of America, but that ain't gonna happen. Operating a profitable cruise operation with the DQ would be like starting an airline using Ford Tri-Motor airplanes.
Having taken a couple of trips on European river boats, I must say they were just fine, flat screen tv's and all. I got the same feeling of intimacy with my fellow passengers as I did on the DQ. And no matter that the boats are ugly as sin, they were very pleasant to live on...like Alan Bates says it's form following function.
Let's give ACL a chance before we write off the whole affair.
P.S....I hope I have to eat my words about the DQ.

I think there's room for both. And maybe they won't actually be competeing with each other since they are so different. Even though a lot of people poo-pooed it, the MQ had it's loyal following. And, yes, those European riverboats make the MQ look like the
J.M. White.

Chris, it was Cruise West that has been reorganized (and eventually went bancrupt), not ACL. American Cruise Lines (ACL) is a very healthy small ship cruise company and seams to have found the right formula to make money in this segment.

Though my experience is from a very different industry (i.e. publishing), a healthy competition usually helps all participants. Especially in a market that has yet to be developed (at least, in this case, in a modern way). If there is a potential in the river cruises market in the US, ACL and DQ will both help develop the market with their marketing efforts, hence potential customers will have a better chance to find out about paddlewheeler river cruises. And that's what it's all about - getting as much people as possible to find that river cruising is a great experience.

So in conclusion, I'm convinced, the new ACL ship will tremendously help the DQ, too, when she returns to the rivers.

*RE: ACL's new boat*
Hi, Jim & steamboating colleagues:
I too applaud and eagerly look forward to ACL's new boat. If you haven't yet gone on your computer search engine and typed in ACL etc. and hit 'GO' you must. More boats under their flag than I thought. My posting wasn't in any stretch a criticism. At one time--like music--all boats were new and state-of-the-art for their time; not quaint, picturesque, romantic as our view today. As for the DQ's future I'm a realist--but still keep my fingers crossed. The recent article appearing in the Little Rock newspaper RE: the DQ also appeared here. It gave me pause as to the actual source of the story or the by-line. Well, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Thanks for the correction, I should have gone back through the archives and looked it up, but I was being lazy