Back From AQ Cruise April 13-20

A group of five of us with a range of steamboating experience (I have been on 20 cruises, my mom 19, my aunt 2 and two first timers) just returned from the AQ cruise from New Orleans to Memphis. To me, most of the other passengers were first timers, who all seemed to be having a wonderful time. Overall, we had a wonderful time, but there were some disappointing situations.

Arrival- No formal greetings when we arrived, expect by TSA to look at our IDs. We had to find our own way to the boat. Once at the boat, only the photographer greeted us. In the past, there was always great fanfare at our arrival. My aunt's luggage was lost. The pursers were very dismissive over her concerns. They called our hotel twice to see if it was there. Considering I saw the bags being unloaded from the cab, and headed to the boat, I wished they would have stopped wasting time calling the hotel, and started looking on the boat for her bag. They found it two days later in an empty room. Her bag was clearly marked with the luggage tag they provided.

Food- Much more gourmet than in the past, but very good. The waiters were really great. Really missed the fried green tomatoes, mud pie, picnic and second line.

Entertainment- Phil and Jackie were back, and were has wonderful as always. The Grand Saloon had only 2 entertainers, who did 3 out of the 7 shows. Steve did a ragtime show, and Phil did his show on the other nights. The last night there was no show. For me, this was the first time there was no show on the last night. I normally don't go to the shows, so it was no big deal to me, but others really missed having a show. I also missed no past passenger party. Majestic did not buy the rights to the Paddlewheel society.

Condition of the Boat - The wood floors in the public rooms gleamed. The white linens were great. I had a single room that was next to loud transformers. Besides the loud room, the room also had lots of paint stains on the carpet. The head purser was very nice to switch me to another room, but the room I got really had issues. The contrast of the clean white linen was sharp to the carpet that was so dirty, I had to lay down towels to walk on it. I could not believe they did not change the carpet. The used dental floss in the bathroom was also a turn-off. The drawer handles were either hanging by a thread or not there. Hard to open a drawer with no pull. I was up the entire first night just thinking of the dismal state of this room. Nothing was done the first day about it, but after I submitted a detailed list of repairs, and a staff member I knew stepped in, the room was finally repaired. The pool area did not have cushions for the furniture or an awning for shade. Disappointing to us since we like to sit out on the top deck.

Staff- Not too many familiar faces. The company did a lot of recruiting in Minnesota and Ohio at least for the wait and bar staff, who were very delightful and willing to go the extra mile.

After Hours - I was used to the Pursers Office being opened 24 hours a day. It was comforting to know someone was around. In the room, between my mom and aunt, a woman fell. No idea how long she was down, but when we returned from the Engine Room bar at Midnight, my mom heard a faint "help." My mom didn't know what to do, so she called the pursers office, to only get a message it was closed. My mom thought to call 911, but another passenger said no that won't work. I guess he thought it would go to central network, not to someone on the boat. My aunt then spotted a crew member, who then called for help. Point being, when we asked around, no one thought to call 911, they thought to call the purser.

Tours- I didn't go on any tours, except to buy a shuttle pass for St. Francisville. I recall, paying $10 for all the port shops. Now it is $10 for each port. And in one port, they didn't even check for a ticket. Pete's idea of renting a car, is a good one.

Luxury Travel - Not from the shampoo and soap in the rooms. I loved the DQ soap from before. When I got home and opened the extra boxes I took home, it would bring me back to the boat. On this trip, some of the rooms had H2O products, which are nice. While other rooms had Clariol Herbal Essences, not a luxury product. One room I had had a robe, the other did not. The new towels and pillows are really nice.

Leaving the boat - One great change, is how concerned the company is about getting you where you want to go when you leave the boat. This saved us an expensive cab ride.

I ran into one corporate executive on the boat, and I said how great the crew was, but I had some technical problems with the room. He replied "we are getting it." Later I thought, I didn't pay for getting it, I paid for "got it."

I was disappointed not to see any swans on the trip. Since I was told swans are on all the rivers the boats travel. Maybe I'll see on our next AQ trip in 2008.
LeAnne