ON THE OHIO RIVER_After spending the evening in Louisville at The Brown Lodge, we had been on our personal till 3 pm, after we would board a bus for the quick drive to the port. Some in our group opted to take American Queen’s premium tour of Churchill Downs. It gave me an opportunity to jot down and Pam a possibility to buy.
American Queen runs their very own fleet of contemporary buses, which additionally present “hop on-hop off” excursions at each port cease.
Boat card in hand, we had been instructed to go straight to our rooms and ensure all our baggage arrived. Ours was a junior suite on deck 5, virtually on the prime of the boat (it’s a boat, by the best way, and never a ship).
Whereas the room was properly appointed, there was one drawback we observed straightaway: The AC unit was making a loud banging sound. We reported it to our room attendant and determined we higher not unpack simply but till that was resolved.
So we headed for deck three and the Entrance Porch, the place there was a champagne welcome reception. Situated on the entrance of the boat, a Dixieland-style band was in full swing. This we discovered is a favourite touchdown place, the place you will get a drink from the bar, get pleasure from self-serve ice cream and eat open-air for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or simply benefit from the view from a rocking chair.
Whereas they labored on our stateroom drawback, we began exploring the boat. Launched in 1995 and refurbished via a number of possession modifications, American Queen is elegantly-appointed with darkish woods, classic lighting and antiques. The workers we’ve encountered have all been uniformly pleasant and welcoming.
We make our approach from the Entrance Porch to the River Grill and Bar, positioned aft on deck 5 proper above the enormous purple paddlewheels that drive the boat. The bartender, who hails from Quebec, gave us the lay of the land and we had been quickly joined by fellow company, a lot of whom are repeat cruisers. Actually, an excellent proportion of the 250 passengers have cruised a number of occasions on American Queen vessels.
By the best way, drinks — aside from ones designated premium — are included within the fares, in addition to Wi-Fi and the hop on, hop off excursions on the ports.
From the bar we made a cease on the Engine Room Viewing Space. You possibly can descend a flight of stairs and stand by the enormous steam pistons that flip the paddlewheels. It’s spectacular to observe, however steamy, so we beat a retreat to examine on our room.
We be taught that the AC blower unit have to be changed. They assume perhaps an hour. So with a fast look again at our unpacked baggage, we head for the Grand Saloon to be taught in regards to the shore excursions arising.
Our first cease is Madison, Indiana, the place we’re scheduled to go to historic properties, museums and the world’s solely surviving saddletree manufacturing facility. They make it straightforward to order your most well-liked time: Utilizing the self-serve kiosk by the Purser’s workplace, you choose one among eight departure occasions, the variety of company going and voila! Your tickets are printed out.
By now, the day is operating into night, and we’re determined to vary garments and bathe. Yet another examine and it’s evident repairs aren’t going shortly. So we attraction to the supervisor and no drawback, they transfer us across the nook to a room that’s really a tad greater.
By the point we get the whole lot unpacked and refresh ourselves, it’s time to move for a late dinner within the J.M. White Eating Room. As soon as there, we get one other shock: We’ve assigned seating, they usually needed to launch our desk for another person. Who knew?
At any fee, the meals was excellent, as was the service. And now we all know we’ve to reach at 8 pm to assert our desk. One apart: The overwhelming majority of company on this cruise desire early eating, so getting a desk on the late seating is actually not an issue.
Because it had been an extended day, we headed again to our new stateroom — The Lindy Boggs Suite (honoring the primary lady elected to Congress from Louisiana) and stood by the railing as we silently handed a big Kentucky energy plant on our approach to Indiana. It was nighttime on the Ohio, and so quiet you possibly can hear a pin drop.
Time to show in and get some much-needed relaxation.
PHOTOS by Gerry Barker
- A band welcomes company on the champagne reception (cowl photograph)
- The deck exterior our stateroom
- Visitors board the American Queen
- Our packs ready to be unpacked
See sailings right here American Queen Voyages Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
