Crusing the Rivers-another option

Mary,

I am glad you liked the cruise on the BELLE OF CINCINNATI. Capt. Alan Bernstein has a great boat there and I agree he should do more town hopping cruises with her. I know, I would love to ride one of them! The Chattanooga idea is good...imagine seeing that beautiful river territory again! My heart warms just thinking about it!

Watch their site...cause things sneak up on the BB Riverboats site. I know the 3 July cruise I took this year was a last minute thing for me...and I am looking forward to doing it again next year!

BB RiverBoats :: Cincinnati's Premiere Riverboat Cruise Line

I remember a time you were a bit of a disgruntled pax on another boat....wanna see?

Travis

Oh, you mean thing! That is my patented sneer--guaranteed to scare off unwanted advances--if I had any! Sure would work right??

Mary, I was hoping you would give us an account of that trip. Two more questions: What was the cost per person and how many pax on the boat?

And another question: Who was the riverlorian? You, Perhaps?

John, I have to be honest--I don't know the price of the trip! Maybe someone else can chime in here. I just looked at the website, and it has been taken off the site. And yes, I was the Riverlorian. ;0) But "Banjo Bob" Poe, who does commentary on their harbor cruises and short trips, also chimed in, as he knows a LOT about the river. And Captain Alan, who is missing his calling as a comedian, could talk the entire time, and tell you something about every inch of the river! My philosophy about the river: it teaches you new things every day, no matter who you are.

Travis Vasconcelos;19332 wrote: Mary,

I remember a time you were a bit of a disgruntled pax on another boat....wanna see?

Travis

Trav, that was cold. Just cold. :O)

Paul

Cost of trip

John Fryant;19334 wrote: Mary, I was hoping you would give us an account of that trip. Two more questions: What was the cost per person and how many pax on the boat?

http://www.steamboats.org/forum/river-talk-cruises/2874-bb-riverboats-river-hop.html
John, here's the posting I did about the trip back in February. It was $995/$1195. Thanks to Bill Judd for alerting us to this so early. You can't have too many options on the river!
To jog a few memories, the BELLE OF CINCINNATI was originally the EMERALD LADY, a gambling boat operating out of Ft. Madison, Burlington, and Keokuk Iowa. Bernie Goldstein took her and her sister boat, the DIAMOND LADY, to every new gambling place he could so he could be the first casino in operation. From Iowa she went to Biloxi and then to several other spots before Capt. Alan saved her and restored her to elegance.
When she was built, the Iowa law allowed only 30% of the space for gambling. So all the gambling was on the main deck - you'll note the windows are too high to look out of, didn't want to distract gamblers. The second deck was her dining room, complete with booths surrounded by etched glass. On the 3rd deck was a lounge, an area for the entertainment(a Southern Belle storyteller was one), and an area for the kids - yes, kids could be on the boat, just not in the gambling area.( On the PREZ, the kids' place was on the Main Deck). There was outside seating on the top deck. I want to say the gift shop was forward of the dining room, but my memory isn't real clear on that. Her trim was of course emerald green instead of today's red, the DL's was blue. These boats were fast and great handlers. Propulsion was by both the paddlewheel and a couple of props - can't remember if they were z-drives, Capt. Bill???

The Belle of Cincinnati has a conventional shaft and propeller system. No Z drives. The boat has five (5) 3412 Cat engines. Two are hooked to the props, one drives the sternwheel and the other two drive 500 kw generator units. When the boat is light on fuel and passengers it will really make quick time.

Hey all,

As I was reading this thread I remembered about American Canadian Carribean Line and their NIAGRA PRINCE. So I went to their website and it turns out they have a rather unique cruise planned for next April. How I wish I had the money for this one ('cause it is gonna be a first time for them and a first time in my life time this route is offered)! Having cruised most of this route, I have to say it wil end on one of the most beautiful and scenic of the eastern rivers.

The cruise? New Orleans, LA.. to Knoxville, TN via the Mississippi, Intracoastal Waterway, Tenn-Tom and Tennessee Rivers. True, the first part ain't much to look at...but, all day in Chattanooga to visit the DELTA QUEEN...and the trip to Knoxville? Last overnight boat to Knoxville was the Str. GORDON C. GREENE in the late 1940's.

American Canadian Caribbean Line · The Small Ship Cruise Line

Now if we could just get them to come up to the Ohio River and do a Pittsburgh cruise! True she ain't a paddlewheeler...but, what other options do we have for true overnight anymore?

And no, I don't work for ACCL...but, if they need a Riverlorian I would be there in a moment!

Travis

Travis really hit the goldmine. There are at least two other legs to this trip. The one Travis described and then a Knoxville to Chicago and a Chicago back South. It's kind of ironic because some of us were just discussing how long it would take for the Blount family to move into the Western Rivers. I bet they sell out, pax at least get to really see the river from the boat and not a motorcoach. Our friend Bill Bowell was just twenty years too soon with his VIKING EXPLORER. This will be interesting to watch.

I'll vouch for the good time Mary! Capt. Al sure knows how to have a good time! It was nice to be a crewmember with you again. It was also nice to get to work again onboard one of Iowa's old casino boats. It helped keep me from getting homesick:) Especially the old Emerald Lady!

The murder mystery on Halloween was awesome! And I noticed not one mention of the Greenup caper, Mary. I guess that's about as far as we can go on those stories without violating the captain's rule #2. Oh, and how about that beautiful evening dinner cruise on the Kanawaha! Remember when we took down the Pirate's flag and put up the Bengals flag declaring war!? I think the lockman thought he would fire the first shot when he saw the flag and determined that our crew could get our own lines off the wall! Ahh, more good times on the river!

Yes, Captain Mike Blitgen, thanks for reminding me--we did take a dinner cruise up the Kanawha, a first for me. Even dipped our "toes" in the Muskingham, just to say we did--and went up the Allegheny and Monongahela a bit (even if it was just to a bridge!), just to add that to "rivers done." Captain Alan has a great sense of adventure and color, and enjoys every minute of the river. It is clear that his passengers love him, and not only does he enjoy what he does, he is very good at it.
As for the ACCL cruise, it's been on their books for awhile--another option for river cruising, too, although a little different for those who like the sound of a paddlewheel. I, too, would love to do that trip! But I am hopeful that Captain Alan will be able to do more of these longer trips with the Belle, so that those of us who like the slap of the bucket boards will continue to have that option on America's rivers. In two years, we'll celebrate Nicholas and Lydia Roosevelt's trip down the OH and Mississippi Rivers with the first steamboat down those rivers. I'd like to have an overnight paddlewheeler around then--even if the "overnight" is a hotel.
And Paul, thank you. I needed that.

Paul,

I don't understand, good buddy (,he says angelically)....what do you mean?

Travis

Capt Bill,

Perhaps they might buy the QUEEN OF THE WEST from the group who owns American Cruise Line...'cause the scuttlebutt is they don't want her now. Blount is known for providing a good product at a reasonable price....sounds like what the rivers needs about now. If we can just get the family to embrace a paddlewheel design!

Travis

Mary,

What'd you need form Paul?

Guess who's in your neighbourhood till late Friday?

Travis

Mary Sward Charlton;19349 wrote:
And Paul, thank you. I needed that.

Forever at your service, m'lady.

Travis Vasconcelos;19350 wrote: Paul,

I don't understand, good buddy (,he says angelically)....what do you mean?

Travis

Cold, very cold. That's all.

:O)