More about the refurbishment of the boats

My first thought when reading the article in Modern Agent - and I can only speak from riding on the DELTA QUEEN, "it won't be like going to Grandma's house anymore".

About that two cents JoAnn. . .

As usual, I understand your passion and actually agree but in my efforts to keep a positive spin on things---what if those 5 star amenities are what attract a new and affluent traveller so that MAL can leave the DQ alone?

As I have tried to point out, I used to hear the arguments both ways- the DQ subsidized her sisters because she was always booked and that the MQ and AQ subsidized the DQ because they were cheaper per person to operate. Since I was never the bookkeepper for any of the boats- was not even the purser who might handle reports, I don't have first hand knowledge only heresay from the pursers and others on the boats.

But, I look at things this way. When DN first decided to keep the AQ on 3 and 4 day runs in and out of NOLA, I thought it was terrible. She is a grand lady who should go all the way up the river when she can. I thought that she sells to a lot of people by her presence around St Paul and elsewhere. I also thought that soon she would become a gambling casino or a mecca for gamblers and that was not necessarily the wealthy traveller who would spend money on the boats and trips on the river.

The high-rollers like and expect those 5 star amenities. They might have even seen the grand AQ as quaint rather than majestic. I am not even sure that the stereo-type I am describing would ever ride the DQ.

So, even though it is dangerous to stereo-type, maybe the 5 star amenities might attract a new audience. We have to wish MAL well on their endeavors and must not always think greed and profit are the gods in all this. Even if they hold a place, our own perceptions make them even more important. There will be passengers lined up asking for their terry cloth bathrobe that they feel entitled to now--it was built into the price of the trip. The passengers can also end up on a "gimme gimme" mindset.

What I have often found true is that truly wealthy people can just as often be generous as they are selfish. So, if trying to attract them by providing the nice things they take for granted brings new money to the boats, that can only help things.

The upgrades sound good, as the bedding and materials on the DQ boats were of roach hotel quality...

Yellow sheets
Lumpy-flat pillows
lumpy & worn-out mattresses
unraveling carpeting
beds that were falling apart (in an A room!!!)
tile that was loose in the bathroom

All for $250-300 @ night!!

10 years ago I bit my tongue and said: "it's all about Steamboatin"...but not now...

I'm not entirely sure what to think about the upgrades, but one way to look at it is if you are going to charge 5 star prices, you better give 5 star quality. And, we've had high prices for years. But, you'll lose customers, whether it is a hotel or a boat, if you rip people off by taking their money, but are giving them ratty carpeting, bad bedding, worn out wallpaper, and iffy food and service.

For some who don't know the legend of these boats or past history, they may view these luxury amenities as being that thing that makes their trip, with this niche cruise line, special. And, it might bring them and their money back over and over. Of course, the faithful who have endured the various rate hikes, will wind up going less and less. What a predicament.

My experience has been that the west coast operation is as slick as a whistle, the boats are beautiful, and the food is exceptional. I could find no fault whatsoever in my time on the EMPRESS OF THE NORTH. I have consistently thought that MAL would bring very positive upgrades to our boats in the way of refurbishments and food. It seemed unfathomable to me, though, that in the process they would, in effect, knowingly gut the engine rooms by failing to seek a way to honor the union contracts/pensions of crew members who have been with the boats many years and know them inside out. It would seem to me that MAL has chosen a lose/lose response to the problem. I believe avarice tends to blind corporations to what may actually be good for them. Compassion would not appear to be a corporate virtue, even when it is to the company's advantage to exercise it. Good food and downy beds are wonderful, but do they compensate for the loss of someone like Dennis Shenk? Of course, someone new to the DQ would likely never see Dennis, especially since he discontinued his cookie runs to the forward cabin lounge, so they might never know what is missing in the heart of the boat. Unless something went really wrong, and there wasn't anyone down there who could figure out what it was ...

Another article announcing the change; MAL in St. Louis

I just ran across another article on the upgrades to the MAL fleet. It said much of what was in the Modern Agent article. But, what you'll also find in this article is a link to another article on the company's St. Louis operations. The article is from the St. Louis Business Journal, since I guess that MAL is considered a St. Louis area company in a way.

Here's the article link.

Deluxe beverage setting?

A deluxe beverage setting with ice buckets and glasses will be stocked in every stateroom.

And just where will this deluxe setting fit in the former catergory E and F rooms on the DQ?

Wesley

I do not think robes are needed!---leave that to the blue water boats. Perhaps, MAL does not know its customer base yet. Yes, the menus do need up-grading with a fresh approach. However, having culinary gurus does not mean success in the galley. The Galley Staff is the key as well as the passengers. Fresh local and seasonal food is only as good as the season, and your suppliers!--- and a few other things I will not mention!

I notice the TVs and DVDs are not metioned for the DQ--maybe they will leave her alone. They sure aren't what I'm looking for on the DQ! My cabin is small enough, I don't think I want anything else in there! 'sides, think I'd rather sit on deck and watch the wheel & listen to the steam piano.
Steamcerely,
David Dewey
Counting the hours 'till March 17! (BTW, both Linda & I will be celebrating our birthdays on board--too cool!)

On the DQ especially, but really on the other boats, too, I cannot understand why a plush terrycloth bathrobe would induce someone to make a trip, or enhance their experience so that it made any real difference whatsoever. I can sit around at home, or even at some resort far cheaper than the boats, in a bathrobe. Why ANYONE would want to watch a DVD on a steamboat when the Texas Lounge (or its equivalent on other boats) is there boggles my mind. I know I'm "preaching to the choir" by saying that here. For the company (if they read this) thios comes from someone who spends 8 months a year on a boat running the same rivers these steamboats run, and I still pay my hard-earned money every few years to go ride the DQ. And it ain't to wear a bathrobe or watch TV.

Agreed, David. The same can be said about the MQ and AQ. My first trip on the AQ, we had to step outside the cabin to turn around!, and in that cabin--I do not know where they would put a TV or DVD!!

It is my understanding that the DQ will definitely not get any of the amenities planned for the other boats - but we will be expected to pay the same prices! Doesn't make sense, does it? This TV/robe/etc. stuff seems to be so important - it might be a nice amenity on ocean cruises, where there is NOTHING to see day after day. As we all well know, this is totally different on the rivers. The constantly changing scenery is one of the reasons we go - and the scenery varies, even on the same route each trip. I don't understand why people would want to sit in their cabin in their fluffy robe, watching TV, at such high prices. The market they are going for just isn't there! Sadly, they have created a product that no one will buy.

Pat Traynor;2824 wrote: It is my understanding that the DQ will definitely not get any of the amenities planned for the other boats - but we will be expected to pay the same prices! Doesn't make sense, does it? This TV/robe/etc. stuff seems to be so important - it might be a nice amenity on ocean cruises, where there is NOTHING to see day after day. As we all well know, this is totally different on the rivers. The constantly changing scenery is one of the reasons we go - and the scenery varies, even on the same route each trip. I don't understand why people would want to sit in their cabin in their fluffy robe, watching TV, at such high prices. The market they are going for just isn't there! Sadly, they have created a product that no one will buy.

There hasn't been "scenery" much on my last several DQ trips, as the boat was usually in port all day doing shore tours...another nail in the coffin for me in recent years...

Ironicially enough, in my opinion... many could care less about scenery...I don't get it...

I was on the DQ while passing Maiden Rock on the UMR a few years back now (2003???), and I witnessed a stunning day with a light breeze and beautiful sunshine. Outside on deck were the Neumeiers, Judy Patsch, my parents, myself and literally 10 other people!!!! I can't remember exactly now, but as I recall there was either a riverlorian's talk in the Orleans Room, or a movie showing of Showboat in the Orleans Room...whatever the case, here is the trillion dollar view, and everyone is inside on the beautiful summer morning!!!!

I suppose you can lead a horse to water...

Hmm, my Dad always said, "You can lead a horse to drink, but ya can't make him water!" 🙂 Somehow that seems to fit the "stay insiders" better than the original expression!
S'
David D.

All too often, what you say is true, Pete. We have been on a couple of trips which have gone from day in port/profitable shore tours to another day in port/more profitable shore tours, and virtually all of the travel has been at night, which has exasperated the bejeebers out of us. And that is precisely why we love the spring homecoming trip featuring the race with the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE so much -- as long as we don't make that stupid office-ordained stop in New Madrid, there is a lot of time heading on up the river when we can sit out on deck and just take it all in. (With a whole lot of our fellow river rats, need I add ...) And those who don't want to do that can go play bingo or whatever. To each his own. (No TV's/DVD players are going into the DQ cabins, so you can't sit on your bunk in the fluffy bathrobe and watch a movie ... but not to worry, there is already a little TV/tape player in the Betty Blake lounge now.)

But now I must tip my hat to Capt. John Dugger. It has always annoyed me no end that the company ordained that any trip out of Chattanooga must leave in the evening, meaning that the boat would go through Moccasin Bend and the most beautiful part of the Tennessee River, the so-called Grand Canyon of the Tennessee, in the dark. On our DQ Chattanooga to Memphis trip last month, Capt. Dugger, usually the master on the AQ, but on the DQ since his boat wasn't running, made an executive decision that the boat would not leave Chattanooga until 6 AM the next morning, thus affording everyone on board the opportunity, if they so chose, to get up early and see one of the most beautiful stretches of river anywhere right smack dab in the middle of fall color. I will bless Capt. Dugger till the day I die for the opportunity to see that gorgeous stretch of river in daylight that day. We froze our buns off early that morning going around Moccasin Bend under Lookout Mountain, with a light foggy mist rising off the river, but I don't care. I have pictures that are breathtaking and memories that make me smile even as I type this. AND -- Capt. Dugger made every single one of the blasted hallowed shore tours with no problem. Win/win.

He also went through Wilson Lock during daylight hours, something Capt. Gabe always tried to do. I can remember a trip when Gabe tied off on a cell above the lock in the evening to wait so we could go through the lock in the daylight, and we were able to watch someone's big BIG screen TV in the house up above us. (I can't remember what show was on, but Gabe always remembers what the show was.) That was the same trip when Gabe also made an executive decision to go into Paducah via the rarely traveled Lake Barkley/Cumberland River/Ohio River instead of the usual Kentucky Dam/Tennessee River. It was night time, the moon was full, huge and bright and bouncing off the water, the evening was balmy, and it was incredibly lovely coming down from the lakes via the Cumberland River for a change. I enjoyed every second of it. I don't know, perhaps Gabe, Sheila Rice and I were the only people on board who really appreciated what we were doing, but it was a great moment in river memories for me.

It is so nice when masters make special decisions that enrich the river experience for their passengers. John Dugger, Gabe Chengery and Mike Williams have all made decisions that have done that for me, and I am grateful to them.

Lil: I know just what you mean. My little steamer, MISSIE, is small and, as such, she cannot carry over four adults (three, plus me). Too, the steating is about like a park bench for comfort. But, MISSIE has an advantage that even the DQ does not have...she only draws two feet of water (about like the CRICKET, in your family) and can go lots of places the the bigger boats cannot. Travel in the channel of the river is just a tiny bit akin to being in the middle of the ocean...you can't get up close and personal with the creeks and backwaters that MISSIE loves. We see deer, beaver, eagles, kingfishers, muskrats, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, fish and much of the time under a wonderful canopy of forest shade. Then, too, we can run the middle of the river if that be your choice. BUT...even at the wonderful places that MISSIE goes, I have had passengers who spent the whole trip on the cell phone! Others want to bring their boom boxes! THere are small boats aplenty which can negotiate the waters that I do, but most of them think that they have to split the river wide open with an ear shattering roar...I just grin when they go by! As pilot, chief engineer, captain, mate and deckhand on MISSIE, I can never totally relax under way as you might well know, but there is little else that I would rather do! I never rode the DQ but have the other two...The AQ has a nice arrangement where you can pull your deck chairs up to the rail and watch the world trickle past...and, while you are absolutely correct about the fall colors and other breathtaking sights that only daylight can reveal, sometimes, it ain't too shabby out there at night. Then, too, as I'm sure you know, most any dawn or sunset is usually a real treat on the river. You were raised to appreciate such things but there are generations who grew up thinking that if they are out of the reach of TY and structured entertainment, that life will somehow stop! They are simply and truly ignorant of some of the finest things in life. I expect that if they ride the boats enough, and are exposed to folks like you, they will eventually find out, but it is an expensive education.

Lil, You are absolutely right! I agree with everything you wrote!

Even if crew members appreciate shore stops to re-furbish their own supplies, I happen to wholeheartedly agree that the river was and is its own entertainment. No matter the weather- I watched the best lightening show I have ever seen- the river is its own reward.

But it could be a very funny Kodak moment if everyone on deck was dressed in the new fluffy bathrobes with the logo on them. It would be as if there was a hospital boat or something like that. If they make the robes white and then have the steam soot pour all over the deck, the picture gets even wilder.

Just some light laughter for all of you.

Uh, isn't that what they've always had on the DQ? We just never called it a "deluxe beverage setting".

It always ticks me off when someone comes to ride our boat and reads a book or chit chats the whole trip. I'd rather they take a nap, because a riverboat is a good place to rest. The chit chat disturbs others, the book bothers me. It seems they are so missing the point. It's almost an insult, like "this boat ride is so boring I have to have something to do". It's their loss, although occasionally some of them "come to" and get involved in the tour. It could be worse and we know it: we have very poor cell phone service in our area. (Hooray!) As is said, "You pays yer money (and lots of it) and you takes yer choice."

I remember that intimate outside gathering well! And it was even worse than you said: as we were navigating bends in the beautiful UMR, they were in the Orleans Room watching Steamboat Round the Bend, oblivious that they were living it! And was that the trip when we were going to meet the AQ coming down from St. Paul and I had my marine radio on to keep track of her progress? We met about 11:30PM and we had the same small group awaiting the passing in the Forward Cabin Lounge. We went out on deck in the cool evening as she approached: big, bigger, HUGE! It felt like we could have reached out and touched her, we were so close. And our small DQ band outnumbered the AQ onlookers.

For Pat,
When you are at sea---there is plenty to do--I know from experience. Between lectures, arts and crafts, trivia (at least 2 or more times a day), eating (cookies every afternoon), tea with food in the afternoon, shopping,
swinging golf clubs, talking with loads of people and this past year, daily doctor visits--there is plenty to do on ocean -going vogages, For most of the day while at sea, I never saw Jack until late afternoon. As for me, I was busy doing other things, including the wash! And, there is no more fun than trying to kick an entertainer off a ship when the Captain meets a buddy of his on a freighter going the opposite direction--the other ship rejected the entertainer. We all did not watch TV--however, when you are in the middle of the ocean, it is nice to get news anyway you can--if there is a signal!

Sometimes I intentionally forget my camera.

I love photographs although I have still not totally embraced digital cameras and rely more heavily on my APS camera but develop the pictures digitally. The photo opportunities aboard the boats are so many- that running out of film or memory cards is easy.

But there are times I leave the camera put away to just enjoy the scenery. Although I am a person who multi-tasks too much-do a jigsaw puzzle with the TV on, or do multiple craft projects at once. I also like to read but found reading on the boats something that I tended to only do if I had insomnia which was rare indeed.

But Lexie's scenerio made me laugh.

I hope the boats don't shortchange the entertainment department again either though. I think live music and real riverlorians are very valuable to the experience. Sure, some people can entertain themselves fine but the point of going on a vacation is partly to be entertained by others.