Topic starter
03/08/2012 4:27 pm
We had an early morning steamboat museum tour for a group of 35 visitors from the Netherlands. Despite the forecast for NO rain, it POURED as the bus arrived at the gate! A delightful group, they dried out while I gave a brief talk about the history of the Howard family, mansion and shipyard and then divided them into groups for the docents to easier manage.
Later today, after the afternoon excursion on the BELLE of LOUISVILLE, the group will board the AMERICAN QUEEN at the Louisville waterfront for a cruise to Vicksburg.
We were honored to host this group and it was gratifying that many of them purchased numerous books and other items on river history in the gift shop. I hope we prepared them well for the sights and sounds of steamboating --- and that there's adequate water down on the Mississippi!
03/08/2012 7:21 pm
The Howard and the AQ
And hopefully they will put on their comment cards or talk with the 'ambassador' aboard about how wonderful the tour of the Howard was, and how it should be part of the AQ's shore tour in Louisville. It is unfathomable, especially with one of the three AQ principals based in New Albany, that the Howard is not one of the attractions offered by the AQ Company during shore stops there. The steamboat museum in Point Pleasant was certainly appreciated and well-attended by AQ passengers on my recent trip. Whether the blue water people recognize it or not, there are still steamboat passengers interested in steamboats and their history. (I mention this in reference to the removal of that wonderful silver water urn that graced the entranceway of the AQ until this year. It is now stashed against a wall near the elevator. Apparently a blue water type deemed it in the way and that no one would understand its relationship to steamboat history, nor care.)
04/08/2012 2:28 pm
You go girl! Let 'em have it. Since Ann Zeiger is no longer around to share her opinions with the powers that be, you are about the only one left from the old school of steamboat history police that they might possibly listen to.
04/08/2012 3:00 pm
Half right
You're right about me being one of the last 'steamboat police', but as to them listening to me, forget it! As you saw from my Live Aboard postings, I had a good time on my AQ trip, but I also mentioned I would email more details (which I haven't yet). I chose not to post unfavorable observations because overall it WAS a good trip - but there were many times we uttered: for the price we paid, we shouldn't be dealing with this. If you check out the company's Facebook page, you see nothing but praise about crew going the second mile for the passengers. Twas not the case for us, but through no fault of the crew - they are hamstrung by regulations from the blue water company which has the contract for dining room and housekeeping. Something as piddly as allowing only one copy of the River Times per cabin. If we wanted a second one, we could get one at the Purser's Office the next morning. I did, and they had a stack of them there, so quantity wasn't the problem. There is more, but I'll do that privately, eventually. I do so want the AQ to succeed and it appears that many of the decision-makers have listened to their passengers and have corrected things from the early trips. But until they can maintain crew and get the blue changed to brown in dining and housekeeping, they aren't up to the standards expected for $350+ a night. Before anyone jumps on this observation, it was made based on our 4 night trip from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. Perhaps we just had the 'B Squad' or something and it was an aberration and all other trips have been great, but....
I'll just summarize my thoughts during the trip: THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IF KEITH TINNIN WERE HERE! Keith I miss your competent professional knowledgeable leadership!
05/08/2012 5:03 am
I know of one of the "steamboat police" whom rounded up one of the Apollo report writers and marched him down to the Hotel Manager for a half hour chat about what needed improvement. And Judy is right; there needs to be changes made for the per diem fares to remain at $350. and up. Barbara Burch would also be a good choice to get things up to snuff.
05/08/2012 8:58 pm
They are more likely to listen to someone paying 350 bucks a day than say, oh, some crew member who sees a problem. Talk about being ignored. Samo samo.