Topic starter
22/04/2007 9:13 am
Just back from New Orleans, here are some pictures from aboard the AMERICAN QUEEN, showing some changes since MAL took over. Thanks to Keith Tinnin, hotel manager of the AQ, for showing us around on the boat about two weeks ago and for pointing out the changes.
The following pictures show some samples from the new color scheme, which also shows that the color of the paddlewheel isn't that bad, best to bee seen on the close-up where you see the old and the new color in the same picture.
There are two more pictures showing the color scheme in the photo album:
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=61
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=62
And you probably don't want to miss the night shot of the AQ when she was leaving New Orleans on April 6th:
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=64 
Topic starter
22/04/2007 9:20 am
American Queen - pictures: bedding and TV screens
In the AMERICAN QUEENs photo album you'll find some examples of the new bedding and the set up of the TV screens in different cabin categories. From what we've seen, they did a nice job with this installing the screens in a way that they're not intrusive if you don't like them, but being very useful and good quality (e.g. including a Bose sound system in the better cabin categories) for passengers who appreciate this additional cabin equipment.
The beds have been described here before and I think the pictures show everything you want to know. They're meant to fit in the picture of good hotels and will accomodate passengers used to these standard.
To view the pictures, either start here and use the forward/back arrows:
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=23
Of click on thefollowing links:
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=23
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=24
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=25
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=26
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=27
http://www.steamboats.org/php-scripts/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=28
Topic starter
22/04/2007 9:27 am
American Queen - pictures: various
Two more snap shots from the AQ:
no. 1 shows the "Compass Point", which formerly was the "Steamboatin' Times", but this is about all the changes they did with this.
no. 2 shows the Front Porch of America area of the boat where MAL has added a soft dring machine which means soft drinks for free all day long and also they've added a very nice coffee machine where you get all kinds of coffee, flavorings etc.
22/04/2007 1:57 pm
"Compass Points" is an interesting choice for the newsletter title, since a compass isn't used on the river... obviously they were just trying to get rid of anything steamboating, so anything else would be ok in their eyes, whether it pertained to the boats or not.
22/04/2007 2:06 pm
Franz,
Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures of my beautiful boat. OK, I'm now officially homesick.
Paul
22/04/2007 2:10 pm
...and did you notice all the postings about the picnic lunch, and Liability Leonie didn't post any of them! That is obviously a favorite meal!
22/04/2007 2:30 pm
Franz Neumeier;5211 wrote:
no. 2 shows the Front Porch of America area of the boat where MAL has added a soft dring machine which means soft drinks for free all day long and also they've added a very nice coffee machine where you get all kinds of coffee, flavorings etc.
I applaud MAL for this...
For as much as these cruises cost today, and what was charged for a simple Diet Coke in the past...
I purchase cased 12oz cans of soda from the local Coca-Cola distributor for my employer's soda machine, I get monthly price lists from them, denoting my cost, and a suggested retail price.... the amount of potential markup on bulk product especially or even canned/bottled product is far worse than at an import car dealership!
Many of these dispensing machines can be leased for next to nothing as long as you commit to buy their product. My employer got a new machine for free, as long as I purchase product from them!
Beverages, especially fountain-type like pictured when in the past DNC & it's previous companies were charging upwards of $2 for a simple 6 ounce soda at the bar....pure profit for the business, pure rip off for the customer.
Now I know the cost of handling, having a bartender serve it and alike...one reason I try to never purchase any food or drink at a large sports event, quicky marts or an airport.
Is this the case on the DQ now as well???
22/04/2007 3:36 pm
The only difference on the DQ is that soft drinks are only available from the Texas and down in the Orleans at meal time. So, in essense, soft drinks are free anytime after 10 am...
22/04/2007 3:45 pm
Judy Patsch;5215 wrote: ...and did you notice all the postings about the picnic lunch, and Liability Leonie didn't post any of them! That is obviously a favorite meal!
:O)
Liability Leonie. Now THERE's a memory
Paul
22/04/2007 4:37 pm
Annie (Texas bartender) was always happy to give me a club soda, although she didn't find the Ginger Ale (that's OK, it wasnt Vernors anyways 🙂 ), and I imagine she would have given me any flavored soda. The Coffee machine had pretty good hot chocolate too, except they would shut it off too early for me (I'd come in from being on deck enjoying the night cruising, and watching the searchlights work--I know, I got it REAL bad! Either that, or it's really easy to entertain me; hmm I think they're unloading the fresh fruit downtown, gotta go!) 🙂
S'
David D.
22/04/2007 4:57 pm
The wheel color is not be that bad, but it's not that good either (IMHO). The color looks more like a dirty red; and the peeling paint makes it look worse. At least, that's what I thought when I saw it. Ah well, it's mostly there for pretty; you'd think a boat the size of the AQ would have a wheel more the size of the Sprague's. Wow, that would be something to see!
S'
David D.