Great American Steamboat Company

The
American Queen
Cruising on the Mighty Mississippi
Marion Hager owns and
operates Hagers Journeys.
She is can be reached at
623-974-4690.
I
have great news this
month. The American
Queen, the only
­authentic paddlewheel
steamboat in America is back!
I’m sure many of you remember the defunct
Delta Queen Steamboat Company – they didn’t
survive the economic downturn - and gone were
the wonderful nostalgic adventures they ­provided
sailing along the great Mississippi River. Well,
a new company named the Great American
Steamboat Company purchased the 436
­passenger American Queen, and will begin sailing
in April 2012.
HMS Global Maritime and Christopher
Kyte are joint owners of the Great American
Steamboat Company. Global Maritime is the
largest operator of U.S.- flag vessels in the country, operating 100 vessels for state and federal
agencies. Christopher Kyte is the founder of
Uncommon Journeys, a company that has
been packaging rail and cruise trips since 1990.
Together they bring the resources and experience
necessary to successfully bring the paddlewheeler
experience back to America.
The vessel spent its out-of-service time in
Beaumont, Texas and was maintained by the U.S.
Maritime Administration. It is still in excellent
condition. The company has made a few cosmetic repairs and will add two alternative restaurants
– one al fresco out on the top deck and another
for light lunch and dinner in one of the lounges.
Unlike many cruise lines today, Great American
Steamboat Company does not plan to implement
a surcharge for the alternative dining.
If you have never cruised America’s rivers, you
Your paddlewheel
steamboat will pass
through farmland in
America’s Heartland.
After dinner you can opt
for entertainment in the
Grand Salon.
Exterior cabins
have a nice picture
window and are
nicely designed so
you feel at home.
16
November/December 2011
The Paddlewheel Steamboat is Back!
Enjoy itineraries ranging from 3 to 10 Nights Fares include
You’ll enjoy greetings by the locals –
and entertainment – at many of your
river-ports-of-call.
are in for a real treat. I experienced it for the first
time several years ago and found it fascinating.
Not only was it my first cruise on the Mississippi,
it was my first time in the Heartland of America.
It was also the first time I experienced a civil war
battle re-enactment. That was really interesting
– and it was hard to believe that so many people
actually fought up so close, shooting at each
other with those muskets!
As you enter the gangway of the American
Queen, you step back in time to an era when the
elegant paddlewheel steamboat was the epitome
of travel. The steam calliope announces your
arrival in the tiny ports of call where you experience life the way it used to be and delve into rich
river history. Even today, often the residents of
the city turn out to greet the paddlewheeler as it
arrives. I also found it fascinating to see that even
today, the rivers serve as a natural highway, with
barges moving goods to their destinations.
American Queen will be sailing special themed
voyages throughout the year, including Civil War
vacations featuring battlefield re-enactments; big
band cruises with onboard guest orchestras and
old-fashioned holiday vacations.
Itineraries vary depending upon the time
of year. Would you like to go to the Kentucky
Derby? Sail 4-nights roundtrip from Cincinati
from May 4-8 and enjoy all the festivities of this
prestigious event. There are parades and festivities in Louisville, and tickets to the Derby or a
special Derby Day Party at the Seelbach Hotel
are included in the price of your voyage.
You can choose from several itineraries sailing
from Cincinnati, Memphis, St. Louis, St. Paul
and Pittsburgh and visit America’s Heartland. Or
you can opt for the southern route sailings from
Memphis and New Orleans, immersing yourself
in the literature, music and culture of the South.
These itineraries range from 5 to 7 days.
Sun Life
One-night luxury hotel stay before/after your voyage
Complimentary bottled water & soft drinks
Complimentary wines & beers with dinner
All regular shore tours
Hot and cold canapes at cocktail hour every evening
Enjoy a Special 2012 Thanksgiving Steamboatin’ Package r/t
New Orleans. Includes Two nights pre-cruise hotel, transfers
airport/ship/airport, New Orleans sightseeing tours, breakfast at Brennan’s, visit to Cafe du Monde and Mardi Gras
World. Call for details.
For InFormatIon Call
DonalD loyD
Hager’s Journeys
623-974-4690
www.hagersjourneys.com
23rd Annual
The Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce Presents
Cowboy Poets Gathering
Dec. 2nd & 3rd, 2011
Featured Cowboy Poets:
Amy Hale Auker, Suzi Killman, Belinda Gail
and Sweethearts in Carharts –
Jean Prescott & Yvonne Hollenbeck
For information contact:
THE WICKENBURG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.wickenburgchamber.com
17
The main dining room
operates two seatings in a
beautiful nostalgic setting.
The owners of Great American Steamboat
Company have taken great pains to be sure that their
cruises provide travelers with a great value. Fares
include shore excursions, one-night hotel stay either
before or after your cruise, complimentary bottled
water and soft drinks, complimentary wines and
beers with dinner, Captain’s Champagne Reception
and hot and cold canapes at cocktail hour each
evening.
We’ve arranged group space on a 2012
Thanksgiving sailing roundtrip New Orleans and
included a two night pre-cruise New Orleans Luxury
Sampler instead of the usual complimentary one
night hotel stay. The two nights are at the Windsor
Court, Roosevelt or similar hotel, transfers, New
Orleans sightseeing tour, breakfast at Brennan’s and
visits to Café du Monde and Mardi Gras World. The
American Queen calls at Oak Valley, Natchez, St.
Francisville, and Baton Rouge. You’ll also receive a
$50 per cabin onboard credit. Priced from $2,145 for
Category G interior, $2,845 for Category D exterior,
and $2,995 for Category C with Veranda.
For more information and reservations, please
contact Donald Loyd at 623-974-4690 or email to
donald@hagersjourneys.com. ❂
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November/December 2011