March 8th American Queen cruise...

Bruno,

you know what makes the big difference for me between the AQ and the DQ? On the Delta Queen you can feel every single bucket board of the paddlewheel splashing into the water, where ever you are on the boat. Especially when you're going to bed by night, this monotonous motion puts you to sleep within seconds and I wake up instantly when the paddlewheel stops. I just love that! The AQ in opposite feels more like a hotel - being somewhere inside you never know whether the boat is running or whether it's in port.

Bruno, you are obviously reacting the way MAL hoped DQ loyalists would, that absent the DQ, the AQ will do. As long as the DQ is around and available, you'll put your money on her, but once she's gone...So maybe their plans to can the DQ are the correct move, corporately speaking...

Judy, a while ago I repeatedly made some pretty rash statements on this forum about the AQ. I was wrong, very wrong and felt a need to apologize, via this thread, for my ignorance. There are too many people reading this forum that are trying to form an opinion about steamboatin' and here was this jerk spouting off, with NO justification. We have been amazed how many, MANY people we have met strictly on the pretense of "Oh, YOU'RE Bruno Krause...", if you catch my drift. And it would just be difficult to not explain to all, especially lurkers, why we booked another AQ cruise (without a reunion pretense) when this very same person said those...those...THINGS. Let's just say that Deb and I have been enlightened to the situation...

Now what MAL thinks about us I frankly don't give a rat's about because they have thought so damn little about me and Deb in the past to the point of being rude; I suspect they don't know or care who we are. The fact that they are trying to convince themselves that stopping the DQ will just open the heavens and the sunlight will miraculously lead the DQ flock to the AQ indicates how delusional they are. They are both nice boats, one being the reproduction and one being the real deal, one being "steamboat lite" the other being filet mignon, one bringing smiles, the other bringing goosebumps and tears, one bringing admiration from the owners and some, the other being idolized by all in print, song and media, one trying to make history, the other is history. I have such a hard time believing the company is so blind to all of this, what is wrong with their marketing? Hey, guys, how's that flagship selling so far for 2008?

My opinion, again my opinion (this whole post is my opinion), the AQ is a real nice boat, we had fun, a lot of fun and obviously she is worth our dollars, some of our dollars. But, as I've said a few times this past 4 weeks, the AQ she ain't no DQ. We rode the MQ once, now we have a learned opinion and we probably won't go back, we rode the AQ once, liked it and are going back. But my HEART is on the DQ...

Now if anybody at MAL is reading, in 2009 you will get some, a smaller fraction of the Krause's retirement dollars than you will get in 2008, and I'm sure that it won't be near as much dollars as you'd like or need. Were you expecting our full amount of dollars? There are reasons for our reduced spending, you changed your product line...and we're not the only rabid, multi-cruises-a-year, follow-the-boat-anywhere passengers leaning toward this trend, matter of fact I can think of some that will probably abandon your little company, totally after about 9 am on October 31st, this year...why is that?

You, MAL, can fix this, why don't you step up to the plate!! Play nice with the Coast Guard, listen to their concerns and spend some money on the DQ so people can save face and the boat will get even "safer", get your PR department going on a media blitz, and go to Washington with a fistfull of data showing how this event will hurt our country...

I took my one & only AQ trip in March 2005 after 23 DQ trips and 1 weekend on the Delta King...and that didn't convince me...

and I know many out there have some choice words to describe me...

I think MAL never did care about the DQ and MQ. Back when DQ was for sale, they only bid on the AQ. The MQ and DQ were part of the deal because Delaware North bought all three. They are going back to their original plan. Run out DQ exemption, Gut the MQ and let it sit. If the exemption does pass somehow, I dont think we will see the MQ running again. The boat will wind up a casino someplace. To bring it up to standards would be too expensive. The next best option for them would be to sell the shell off. Just my oponion from the sidelines

Bruno, I don't feel the fact that you and Deb took a ride on the American Queen and had a swell time should be viewed as any sign you have caved to the company's alleged desire that you transfer your loyalty away from the Delta Queen. Some people just know a good time when they see it or have it, and you would have taken this trip whether the Delta Queen's future was in question or not.

There are lots of longtime passengers out there who would prefer to cruise on the Delta Queen but no longer are able to do so because of mobility challenges that come with the years. I would be the first to agree the American Queen does not have the genuine old steamboat character and features of the Delta Queen, but she does offer the amazing and exciting experience of American river travel along with that special camaraderie that happens only on a river trip.

Call me a "company man" but I say let's not lose a wonderful tradition altogether even as we face the uncertainties of our beloved Delta Queen's future. Spend those steamboatin' dollars wherever you find your pleasure. Life is too short to waste time looking for reasons to be unhappy.

Jazzou

Amen, Jazzou--well put. 'Nuff said.

Mary

You know the funny thing about all this is that we now really LIKE having two choices. That is the very sad thing about what I see as this new company's direction.

Obviously to all, as I'm about as subtle as a ball peen hammer, the Delta Queen was and still is Deb's and my favorite, by a bunch. And I would choose her, even if it meant more $$, to cruise the same length of time, over the AQ. The March 8th trip we have booked on the AQ is due to the simple reason that we always cruise NOLA roundtrip on the DQ in March, but, wait for it, the Delta Queen isn't cruising in March, misplaced decision that that was... What is a frigid New Yorker to do? I'm hoping the AQ will fill the bill...

But I am counting the weeks already until our first cruise of the year on the Legendary One...23 WEEKS from tonight!