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luxurious Memphis hotel, which
allowed for some relaxation after my
i ht an om i ht
in
hi h
included a tour of Graceland and a
stopover at the Peabody Hotel to
watch the Peabody Ducks march to
and from the Grand Lobby (a
tradition that dates back to 1933).
Cocktails in
the lounge
Boarding the American Queen was
an impressive experience. She is
picture-book lovely, an ane-bellum
beauty with the grace and elegance
o anoth r tim
an
ry iff r nt
from the river boats that ply
international waters. As I took in the
Queen’s classic lines, the sweeping
grand staircase, the ceiling mural,
the dazzling chandelier, I had a sense
of nostalgia that was only enhanced
by knowing that I would have modern
conveniences along with all the
period charm.
As a guest of the company, I was
fortunate enough to have one of
the splendid Promenade Deck suites,
which was furnished with Victorian
antiques and which had French doors
that opened up to the Promenade
Deck. The spaciousness and
amenities of the suite were
comparable to those found in
a boutique hotel.
There was so much to like, especially
the food, created by celebrated
American chef Regina Charboneau.
Her movable feast enhanced the
sense of place and referenced her
southern heritage, with such dishes
as melt-in-the-mouth beignets and
Bananas Foster French Toast.
In addition to breakfast, lunch and
dinner in the stately J.M. White
dining room, there are casual meals,
occasional cookouts at the River
Grill and a Southern Tea in the Main
Deck Lounge. Meals can be prepared
for special need/requests: low
sodium, Gluten-free, vegetarian
Heart Smart, etc.
To or off
a ori
th
Queen carries bicycles, so in
addition to taking the shore tours,
conscientious passengers can also
explore the river towns on their own.
The boat’s gym has Kinesis One
equipment, a treadmill, adjustable
bench and an exercise bike. My
preference was for the Spa by
onia hi h off r a m n o o y
treatments, including massages,
scrubs and wraps.
upper and lower Mississippi and the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers. In keeping
with the Victorian decor, there’s
calliope music (passengers have an
opportunity to play), as well as
sing-alongs. More extravagant
entertainment – lavishly produced
shows, for example — takes place
in the Grand Saloon. On the lighter
side, there might be a culinary
competition between crew members
– a comic contrast to one of Chef
Charboneau’s demonstrations (on my
cruise she demonstrated how to
make melt-in-your-mouth biscuits).
The 2015 season includes a number
of theme and holiday cruises, among
them a Fourth of July cruise similar
to the one I took. It starts in
Memphis, stops at New Madrid,
Missouri,; Cape Girardeau, Missouri;
h t r inoi
an
ni h in t
Louis, with a spectacular holiday
r or
i ay
When quiet time is desired, the Mark
Twain Gallery, the boat’s library, is
a n
a to ro
th im r
i
collection of books, check email
or just relax.
The American Queen Steamboat
is a member of Historic Hotels of
m ri a th offi ia ro ram o
the National Trust for Historic
Preservation.
Transportation for the
(complimentary) shore excursions
takes place on colorful American
Queen coaches.
For more information, visit
www.americanqueen
steamboatcompany.com.
While riverboat prices are higher
than for some ocean cruises, keep in
mind that they include substantially
more than non-inclusive ocean
r i
off r
American Queen
stateroom
Entertainment is rich and varied –
and appropriate to the itineraries.
On every cruise, a resident
“riverlorian” tells tales about the
towns the Queen visits along the
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