Newbie DQ questions!

F & G can be a little tight for two people, but managable...

The popular deck with many of the power-repeaters here on dot-org is the Sun Deck, however I prefer the Texas deck...thankfully I only spent one of my 25 cruises on the DQ on the Sun Deck...I hated it...too far to walk down to the Texas bar & the Orleans Room...especially when it's raining...

I guess I'm too lazy???

the D's on the Texas are very nice, and they had realy nice bathrooms, compared to the E&F rooms...

If I was going to go again, and money wasn't a question...I'd book stateroom 236

Suzanne,
I may be the wrong person to write, as I'd stay in the broom closet just to be on board!
Our first time, we stayed in an F on the Sun Deck. We love the sun deck, because you have an instant view of the sky when you open your cabin door, and we're just steps from the Calliope! The F has about 12" between the beds, but lots of room under them for your suitcases (The E has about 2 feet between the beds). Bathroom on the side is nice, small, but adequate. . If one is of larger girth, the room may be too small. Our next trip was in a G room, with bunk beds. No space under the bed for the suitcases, but some drawers for the life vests and other stuff. Once we figured out where to place the suitcases, and to leave the ladder on top of the top bunk, instead of on the bathroom door, that made more space. I had the top bunk, very comfortable, put the ladder at the end of the bed, in front of the sink and could crawl in and out easily. next trip is in a G too! That last G was the room Amy Carter stayed in, so we felt a bit privileged! You do have to get used to stepping up into the bathroom, or down getting out!
And yes, you spend little time in the room, using the bathroom, changing, grabbing more tape for the camera, or batteries, oh, and sleeping!
The picnic is a special lunch in the Orleans room that is one of the best meals of the trip (don't tell the chef that--after all the other special food he/she prepares!). Now not mentioned is the nightly bread pudding--or as Travis would say, "What we have here is day-old bread pudding with ." It's usually rather good too! Comparable pudding can be had on the Natchez in NOLA--but don't tell a die-hard DQ fan that--oh wait, I am ONE!
Y'all is gonna have the time of your life, and be sure and get everyone you know to write their congress people about the Delta Queen's plight! www.save-the-delta-queen.org
Steamcerely,
David Dewey

Hi Pete and Dave,

Thank you both for the input. It's quite helpful and points out things we wouldn't have thought about. The reasons people seem to love the Sun deck are the reasons that my mom and I probably wouldn't -- all that open air right outside your door with little overhang above. Rain wouldn't bother us (we like that!), but we're pasty gals who try to avoid the sun whenever possible. 🙂 I like the idea of being able to sit outside my cabin, provided I can do it in the shade. Of course, I'm really looking forward to the rockers and the swing on the front porch, too!

We go back and forth on the cabin level. I can certainly understand the concept of "I'd rather go more often in a smaller cabin"......(and after reading all the posts from the repeaters, I'm kicking myself for not doing this a lot sooner and having the chance to repeat, too!).......but, since this may be the only chance we ever have to go on the DQ, maybe we should splurge on the cabin. Waffle, waffle, waffle! Phyllis is sending us a brochure, which will hopefully have better pictures.....maybe that will help, too.

Oh, and are there electrical outlets in the rooms? Gotta recharge those camera batteries. 🙂

The answer is yes! there 110v outlets in the rooms. I like the
Texas deck best. Cat "e" are ok. Don't splurge on Cat "C". The Texas deck has great protection from the rain.
Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks, John. I have no problem leaving all the other electronic gadgets behind, but we HAVE to have the cameras!

We wouldn't splurge a lot.....D is the highest we'd go. And the more I read here on the boards, the more I know we're really not going to be in the room much. I think I could sit on deck like a slug and watch the water go by alllllll day...... 🙂

Suzanne, you're gonna have a ball. As many are sure tired of me saying it, she's a magical boat, she'll steal your heart.

I agree with my fellow buddies, Dave and John, "E" and "F" staterooms are small but quite nice, the only real difference is the distance between the twin beds. Dave says there is 12 inches between the beds in an "F", I think he is embellishing a little...Deb and I think it is more like 8 inches, and yes I'm anal...both sizes of staterooms come across as quaint bed and breakfast style of rooms. Deb and I typically now book a "G", the cheaper the better in our opinion, but the bunks can be a pain for some, and as the entertainers on the boat like to humorously point out, the "G" rooms are so small you have to step out of the room to change your mind... 🙂

Don't discount the Sun Deck. Deb and I have seen the best departures and arrivals from the Sun Deck (you will need to look up a little in the bigger cities) and seeing the Milky Way or a full moon at 4:30 in the morning with a cup of coffee is to die for. Personally, I'd recommend room 322, our favorite, but if you are concerned about the sun, room 321, identical to 322, on the north side of the boat as it travels east, could be your ticket. Again, I wouldn't pick a room based on the sun, as there is shade all over the boat, and rocking chairs everywhere...

216 and 202 also have a special place in my heart. And 311 through 316, though the higher price "D's" are wonderful, Deb and I have stayed in three of them, very "big" rooms when it comes to the DQ...and if I was to suggest "F" rooms to stay away from it would be 318 and 317, they are the few that have a step up bathroom, and that is ok, it just doesn't work too well with my big frame, showers at 5'-10" height and all....

Thanks for all the input, everyone. It helped a lot. We decided to go for an E cabin on the Texas deck.......which is exactly what Phyllis had put on hold for us when I talked to her last week. 🙂 Looks like we have 215. Just need to put the deposit down today and we're actually GOING ON THE DQ! SWEET!!!

The countdown begins! We have......oh, man......eight months......

Suzanne, 215 is our favorite. Texas, Port, mid-deck, you can get there from the Texas Bar without doing any stairs. What cruise are you booking? We will not try for that one. Happy steamboatn'. Welcome aboard!!!! Phyllis knows what is the best for the money.

John, glad to hear that you like it! Phyllis picked it, and it does look like a great location......right in the middle of everything!

We're doing the May 5-10 cruise from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh. We've heard the Ohio has some of the prettiest cruises, plus we used to live in Marietta, so it was kind of a no-brainer for us.

Anyone else going on this cruise?

I am. It is a great cruise. I did it two years ago, only I started in Pittsburgh. I'm in 339, right under the calliopy (actually my room has some of its workings in the walls) on the port side. I started in that cabin and I know its "fun" things, the air conditioning being the most fun. You will love the DQ. I'll see you in the Texas Lounge.

Cool! See you there!

Do you know how long the boat stays in each of the towns? Our friends in Marietta told us it stays there from 8:00 to 5:00. I'm sure we'll enjoy wandering the towns, but I'm also hoping for some days that are at least half just cruising. 🙂