New Queen of the Mississippi video

Frank X. Prudent;30537 wrote: It's the bowling alleys on the S.S. FRANCE (S.S. NORWAY) that I would loved to have seen during her hayday.

What bowling alley's? I was on the cruise staff starting in 1967 and I never saw or heard of any bowling alley's.

Yes, there was a bowling alley on the FRANCE. An early deck plan I have of her shows its location on the starboard side of the Sports Centre on the Sun Deck. There is also a photo of the two lanes. Perhaps it proved itself to be a bit troublesome, especially during a winter crossing, and was removed.

I dunno guys, I always thought we were a very small segment of the populace (and I still do) but there apparently are others who appreciate the genuine experience. I am amazed at how many folks we talk to that when (not IF! 🙂 ) Steamboatin' comes up, they say that they have always wanted to do it, and are disappointed when I tell them they have missed the boat (pun intended)--although now I encourage them to go on the AQ NOW before something happens (one never knows!).H ow does the subject come up? Well it's kinda hard to not have it mentioned when you are wearing Delta Queen shirts!
So, there may be an untapped resource of customers out there. I do think that no one has "ballyhooed" the Steamboatin' idea like Simmington or Blake did, and it shows nowadays!
S'
David D.

Judy, I think that's exactly the point.

If a cruise line can sell a cabin for $3.500 per passenger, why lower the rate to $1.000 or less? Sad, but true, money rules the world, worse than ever before.

Franz, I agree with much of what you have to say. However, I'm not so sure that "some kind" of paddlewheel or calliope is necessary to attract passengers. Jim Reising has commented on this in another thread. What I (and I think Travis) feel is that IF a boat is going to have those things, they should be authentic. If they choose not to pander to the "steamboat" theme or style, all well and good, and there will be those who go for the river experience -- witness the success of RiverBarge before the general economic downturn.

I know we live in a very different time from the 1970's, and technology certainly plays a big part in all our lives, but I feel that the experience of seeing a boat (whatever boat it might be) landing, departing, or just sitting at the landing will surprise and delight those who just happen upon it, those who may never have known that boat (or any overnight pax boat) existed. I have seen this too many times to believe otherwise. Therefore, I think if I were the owner or operator of such a vessel, I would want to capitalize on that delight as a very inexpensive marketing tool. The general raising of awareness of the boat cannot help but be a plus. The "ballyhoo" of the show of a landing or departure, a calliope playing (that can be heard and seen from a distance), the hospitality of the crew to interested parties, etc. may be old-fashioned, but still has its place, in my opinion. Nothing wrong with cell phone and internet marketing and niche marketing (because it is, let's face it, a niche market), but the boat is there, people will see it, and people will be curious. Why not capitalize on that?

Bob Reynolds;30638 wrote: What I (and I think Travis) feel is that IF a boat is going to have those things, they should be authentic. If they choose not to pander to the "steamboat" theme or style, all well and good, and there will be those who go for the river experience

I'd love to see it the same way, if paddlewheel than a working one. But there is my "but" again: I think it's just the few of us here who even recognized the difference. Let me give you an example: There is a "paddlewheeler" here in Germany in Hamburg, the Louisiana Star (Schaufelraddampfer.de Fotos). The paddlewheel of course is fake and while cruising they lift the paddlewheel hydraulicly out of the water so it doesn't interfer with the propeller propulsion of the boat. But guess what: If when it's tht obvious, at least 95% of the people don't realize that the boat is NOT being propelled by the paddlewheel.

Now, why don't they just make the fake a bit more real? Or why don't they use a real calliope on the QM? Of coure I can only speculate, but I suppose it's because it's too expensive compared to what it helps promoting he boat is almost nobody recognizes the difference - and from the ones who do now the difference the vast majority is not wealthy enough to afford these cruises anyway ...

Don't get me wrong: I'm not happy with this situation and I'd love to see some more real-real paddlewheel steamboats back on the rivers. I'm just trying to find an explanation for why it is how it is (and why it's probably not fair to blame the cruise line for this) ...