DQ return to NOLA...

Return to NOLA

The Redhead and I are going to be making the trip but on the MQ instead of the DQ. Mostly because the Redhead has never been on the MQ. We booked back when there was the talk of a grand return but apparently that has gone by the wayside. Still any time on the river should beat time in the office.

Bear

Say hi to Mary the Riverlorian. Give a hug to my friend Jacque although she is the crew HR person so you may not even see her.

Time on the river is never wasted and I am sure there will be others whose names will ring a bell. Hope you and Deb have a fabulous time as I know you will anyway!

Cheers
Elaine

Bear;2064 wrote: The Redhead and I are going to be making the trip but on the MQ instead of the DQ. Mostly because the Redhead has never been on the MQ. We booked back when there was the talk of a grand return but apparently that has gone by the wayside. Still any time on the river should beat time in the office.

Bear

Hey Bear,

Make sure you slide by the Paddlewheel Lounge and say hello!

Paul

pat traynor

A lot of us booked back when it was supposed to be a big thing - actually the 3 Queens were never scheduled to be in NOLA at the same time. It was all just a figment of BRUCE"S imagination. And now NOLA isn't even the home port any more - not quite sure where they're going to be headquartered when they come out of lay-up in March. But it will be a fun trip anyway - especially since it appears both boats will be traveling together from Memphis to Natchez. See you all in Memphis in 2 weeks!

Sorry, but I've got another question, the steamboat adrenelin is kicking in and I'll need to bump this thread to the top. When it gets this close to the time for us to see brown water again and smell soot, I go a little crazy. My apologies to all...

Does anybody, especially any crewmembers of the DQ or the MQ, know if the two boats will be rafting together next week and if so, which days it will be? Both boats leave Memphis at the same time, will the boats be cruising together? Or is that an Upstate New Yorker's never to come true dream? I still remember a very late night which I stayed up to the wee, dark hours as the DQ chased the AQ into NOLA, I was in seventh heaven. I watched until the young girl's slightly faster bell made her just a barely seeable dot in front off the bow of the DQ. I can still see AQ's sign board with her very unique font, all lit up, as a picture in my mind. As we twisted/turned in the river the AQ would dance out of sight, always to return to the picture a little smaller. I cursed the power of her Z-drives... Ah, good, good memories!

But I digress...It appears from the website that the MQ will not arrive in NOLA the same time as DQ due to an additional stop at Oak Alley. However it also appears that we will be stopping at the same ports, I ASSUME, on the same days. I would really love to have some quality time on the MQ and I'm looking for any options. I also see that the DQ has 4 planned stops for six nights, and I suspect we may stop in Oak Alley, too, on a whim? Paul, Phil, Jim Davis are you guys lurking? Mary? Matter of fact, I would reeaally like to be up and close to the MQ's calliope in action again, but I can't figure out a way to do it short of leaving Deb alone on the DQ and me sleeping on the MQ's deck for a night. Something about Homeland Security would probably nix that idea. I also want to stop over to the MQ and see/hear what this Paul Penta guy is all about...Does anybody have the official port schedule for both boats?

And of course, if there are any dot. orgers on board either boat, introduce yourselves to me and Deb (or to other dot.orgers that will also be on board the DQ). If the boats are rafting on some of the days, I suspect Deb and I will at least be over for a hot dog and a soft serve...Bear, I'll buy you a hot dog...I'd buy you a drink, but the MQ won't accept my DQ swipe card...Bear and Paul, you too, stop over to the Texas if you've got the time...

And Elaine, if this up coming cruise is like the end of October cruise, Mary will be greating passengers as they first come on board, with hugs from the Krause's...

Thanks all,
Bruno and Debbie Krause

Bruno,

According to my schedule you´ll both boats are steamboating the first day down to Vicksburg where you´re docking together on Day 2. Day 3 is Natchez for both of the boats. Day 4 is St. Francisville for the DQ and Baton Rouge for the MQ, Day 5 is Baton Rouge for the DQ and St. Francisville for the MQ. Day 6 is New Orleans for the DQ and Oak Alley for the MQ, Day 7 the MQ arrives in NOLA.

And: Hot dogs are for free on the MQ :-)!

Carmen

PS: I think this year I even had to pay cash in the DQ´s steamboutique as they weren´t able to swipe any credit cards. Might be the same for those visiting the MQ.

Hi Bruno,

Like you, the Redhead and I are getting excited about the trip. Looking forward to meeting you. We should be fairly easy to spot. I'm the big lumbering bear-like guy accompanied by a very attractive Redhead. We were on the DQ at Tall Stacks and had a great time. The DQ is far and away my favorite but the Redhead has never been on the MQ so now is the time. Mary, your Riverlorean, is a wealth of knowledge about the Boats and the Rivers. We spent a lot of time visiting with her and found her to be a really wonderful person. Ask her if she remembers the female boat captain - i.e. the Redhead.

See you next week,

Bear

Hi Bruno,

Carmen's info is correct. We will raft in Natchez and Vicksburg. We are also in Memphis together on Day 1, but the DQ will be at the Mud Island facility and we will be a couple of miles away at Green State Park.

I look forward to the Natchez and Vicksburg days. When we do get to be together, there is a lot of cross visiting among the crew and it's like a family reunion with lots of hugs.

I can relate a funny story about this. In my years on the AQ, I became quite friendly with one of the servers. His name is Wayne. When I transferred to the DQ after the bankruptcy, I was very pleased to see him there and always greeted him with a hearty, "Hey Wayne, how are you?".

Until one day when "Wayne" informed me that, "My name is Dwayne. Wayne is my twin brother". He just never had the heart to correct me!

The twins never worked the same boat, but whenever the AQ and DQ were co-ported, it was so heartwarming to see the genuine affection these guys had for each other and how excited they were to be together.

Anyway, I'll see you in Vicksburg.

Paul