Great American Steamboat Company Announces Three Epic Civil War Voyages for 2012

The Great American Steamboat Company announces three Epic Civil War voyages for the 2012 inaugural season of the Steamboat American Queen. The eight to 10-night “Themeboating Adventures” onboard the most opulent steamboat ever built will bring the history books to life. Highlights will include visits to legendary battlefields and onboard entertainment including actors, impersonators, leading lecturers, balladeers and reenactments to increase understanding of this pivotal moment in U.S. history.

The three departures are designed to explore the footprints of the blue and gray traveling between New Orleans, La.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Louisville, Ky. History aficionados and novices alike can choose from three inaugural itineraries starting at $2,295 per guest based on double occupancy, which includes a pre- or post-cruise luxury hotel stay, all bottled water and soft drinks, wine and beer at dinner and complimentary shore adventures in each port of call.

• American Experience and Artful Travelers present the Epic Civil War Journey - August 10-20, 2012: 10-night voyage between New Orleans, La.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and Chattanooga, Tenn. Ports include Helena, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; Paducah, Ky.; Savannah, Tenn.(Shiloh National Military Park); and Decatur, Ala.

• Epic Civil War – August 20-30, 2012: 10-night voyage between Chattanooga, Tenn. and Vicksburg, Miss. Ports include Decatur, Ala.; Florence, Ala.; Savannah, Tenn. (Shiloh National Military Park); Paducah, Ky.; Ashport Landing, Tenn.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Vicksburg, Miss.

• Civil War – August 30-September 7, 2012: Eight-night voyage between Vicksburg, Miss. and Louisville, Ky. Ports include Helena, Ark.; Memphis, Ten.; Henderson, Ky.; and Louisville, Ky.

“We are thrilled to offer the ultimate historical experience during our Civil War cruises onboard the American Queen,” explains Christopher Kyte, president of the Great American Steamboat Company. “Our guests will discover so much of this country’s rich history told by leading academics and passionate storytellers.”

Among the world-renowned experts, academics and actor highlights are:

American Experience and Artful Travelers present the Epic Civil War Journey August 10-20, 2012

• Ric Burns : Writer, director and producer Ric Burns began his career collaborating on the celebrated PBS series The Civil War, (1990), which he produced with his brother Ken, and wrote with Geoffrey C. Ward. Burns is also co-author of the companion book to The Civil War. Burns was educated at Columbia University and Cambridge University.

• Mark Samels: Mark Samels is the award-winning executive producer of American Experience, PBS’s flagship history series. In September, PBS debuts “This Republic of Suffering”, produced by American Experience. The 90-minute documentary, based on the best-selling book “This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War” by Drew Gilpin Faust, examines how the unprecedented death toll of the Civil War challenged American cultural attitudes about death and changed federal government policies regarding soldiers.

Epic Civil War

August 20-30, 2012

• A Wilson Greene: A 16-year historian and manager with the National Park Service including posts of Fredericksburg, Petersburg and founding member of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (Civil War Trust).

• James I. “Bud” Robertson, Jr.: One of the most distinguished names in Civil War history, Dr. Robertson was executive director of the U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission and worked with Presidents Truman, Kennedy and Johnson in marketing the war’s 100th anniversary.

• Barry Meadows: Meadow has been portraying General Ulysses S. Grant in living history events for 11 years and has appeared on the History Channel.

• Al Stone: Al Stone’s representation of General Robert E. Lee has appeared on the Discovery Channel, History Channel and other networks.

Civil War

August 30-September 7, 2012

• Hon. Frank J. Williams: The founding chairman of the Lincoln Forum and retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, Williams has been a leader in the Lincoln community for over 30 years.

• Harold Holzer: Vice Chairman of the Lincoln Forum and co-chairman of the U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Holzer has co-authored and edited 23 books on the Lincoln era.
  

For additional information and reservations, kindly contact the Great American Steamboat Company.

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Nick's Cruise Corner Blog

Great American Steamboat Company Prepares for April 2012 Debut

Great American Steamboat Company is preparing for the introduction of their first steamboat - the American Queen.

The ship, which previously sailed as the American Queen for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, will sail her maiden voyage for the Great American Steamboat Company on April 13, 2012. During the 2012 season, the ship will visit 35 towns and city along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

The 436 passenger, American Queen, is currently undergoing a $6 Million dollar refit which will include an overhaul of her engines and waste systems. Even though other select enhancements will be made, the ship is said to be in remarkably good shape and was well maintained during her 3.5 years of layup. Prior to sailing for GASC, the American Queen sailed for Majestic America Line before their demise in 2008.

The ship still has her steam engines and a steam powered Calliope.

The American Queen offers balcony, outside and inside accommodations. The American Queen also has 9 single cabins available at a premium.

Entertainment onboard will be destination oriented, including Live Jazz music, Dixieland music, historians and showboat style entertainment.

The ship will also have a wellness director and yoga classes, in addition to 20 mountain bikes for guests to use in port.

The GASC will have a fleet of motorcoaches (made to look like steamboats) that will follow the ship from port too port.

The J.M White Dining Room will serve three meals a day and beer and wine are complimentary with dinner. Soft drinks and bottled water are free at all times.

The cruise will feature a Jazz brunch, afternoon tea and midnight snack.

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Great American Steamboat Company Acquires the American Queen

August 2011, Start-up cruise line Great American Steamboat Company has purchased the American Queen steamboat. The purchase price for the vessel was reported to be $15.5 million.

The 16 years old ship last sailed in 2008 for Majestic America Line,

The ship will receive a $5 million drydocking prior to entering service in April 2012The American Queen will homeport out of Memphis, where the new company is based.

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Great American Steamboat Company - New Mississippi River Start Up

A group of seasoned cruise, travel and ship operating veterans with a missionary zeal to revive riverboating in America have joined forces to create the Great American Steamboat Co. starting with the largest steamboat ever built.

The 436-passenger American Queen would begin operating in April next year on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

‘This would be the first of a fleet of coastal and river vessels under the US flag,’ company president Christopher Kyte told Seatrade Insider in an exclusive interview.

The Great American Steamboat Co. is close to finalizing its acquisition of the American Queen for a reported $15.5m. Built in 1995 for $60m by the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., the 418-foot vessel has been under the control of the US Maritime Administration since late 2008 after operating briefly for Ambassadors International’s defunct Majestic America Line.

Kyte said only that the asking price had been $28m and estimated it would cost $100m to build the American Queen today.

The new company plans cruises of three, five, seven and 10 nights from Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chattanooga. Stops at historic towns and cities in America’s heartland, active excursions including hiking and biking and an emphasis on superb dining are highlighted. Rail-riverboat and rental car packages will be available.

Kyte, the founder and chairman of Uncommon Journeys, a specialist in train and ocean liner travel, is among the ardent ship buffs who comprise the management of the Memphis-based Great American Steamboat Co., which plans to open operations and reservations by Aug. 15.

John Waggoner, president and ceo of HMS Global Maritime, the operator of a vast flotilla of US-flag vessels from ferries to high-speed craft to riverboat casinos, will act as chairman. Delta Queen Steamboat Co. veterans Jeffrey Krida and Russ Varvel will serve as ceo and vp sales, respectively.

Kyte and the HMS group were bidding against each other for the American Queen when they decided to join forces. All share a passion for riverboats.

Krida had ordered the vessel’s construction when he led Delta Queen in the 1990s. It entered service in 1995 and later operated for American Classic Voyages and the Delaware North Companies before going to Ambassadors International.

Kyte described the American Queen’s condition as ‘excellent. The government did a beautiful job of keeping it.’ He said the vessel could be ready to sail in a matter of weeks but a three- to four-month drydock is planned that will add technological upgrades to improve operating efficiency.

The new owners also plan fresh touches like outdoor dining on the top deck, and the renowned American chef Regina Charboneau has been tapped as executive chef.

‘Food will be a centerpiece of the whole voyage, and hopefully what people go home remembering,’ said Kyte, describing the culinary concept as ‘really elegant, refined Southern cooking.’

While the vessel will be steeped in history, nostalgia and tradition, the company will provide active, contemporary features such as bikes on board to use in port, and fitness and wellness programs.

The Great American Steamboat Co. will market nationally and internationally. Agreements are being finalized for UK and Australasian representation. Within a year of American Queen operating, further vessels are envisioned.

The Great American Steamboat Co. plans a range of voyage lengths with an entry price point for three-night cruises starting at under $1,000. Some short round-trips will satisfy demand for group business, Kyte said.

‘The more competition the better and the more awareness the better,’ he added. Even with the Queen of the Mississippi and the American Queen in operation, there will be roughly half the beds on the Mississippi as a decade ago. During the same period, the target market of over-55s has grown by 20m.

The Great American Steamboat Co. will focus on mature travelers seeking adventure with comfort. Rail-riverboat packages are planned, along with a Hertz program enabling passengers to drive to the boat and drop off their car.

Among the itineraries, a seven-night fall foliage cruise from St. Louis to St. Cloud will stop at colorful towns like Red Wing and Winona, with excursions offered to historic Galena in Illinois. ‘Sailing on embarkation day will be 9 or 10 p.m. so people can easily make same-day connections by air or train,’ Kyte said. Passengers could even attend a Cardinals game in St. Louis before embarking.

The American Queen has operated for several owners, but Kyte believes his group has the winning strategy. ‘It’s a passionate goal for everyone involved,’ he said, noting that Krida led Delta Queen ‘at its most popular and profitable time, in the mid-1990s.’

Waggoner had his eye on the American Queen even before Kyte himself, and he’d made a bid for the Cape Coastal ships some years ago.

As for Kyte, Uncommon Journeys is a master at packaging vacations focused on American history and culture. ‘We were always the top producer for the American Queen in every iteration, under Sam Zell in the 1990s and when Delaware North acquired it and American Classic Voyages,’ he said.

Memphis provides the perfect central location for the headquarters, as Kyte sees it, with half the American Queen’s itineraries sailing past, a good labor pool and a great hospitality school at the University of Memphis. ‘And city government, at all levels, really wanted to have us. They rolled out the red carpet in Memphis.’

Moreover, a new pier is ready to take the ship. Kyte described the Beale Street Landing as ‘glorious. It will trump anything on the river.’

He’s also inspired about creating hundreds of American jobs. ‘All up and down the river are great little towns like Madison, Indiana. A lot of heart and soul of those towns disappeared when these boats went away. It’s a huge amount of pride in bringing them back.’

Kyte called riverboats ‘a great American story. There’s nothing more iconic than what Mark Twain called floating wedding cakes. This is the stuff of dreams.’

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Publish Post

Small Ship Operators Expand Operations Into New Areas

In the wake of the demise of CruiseWest and the American Majestic Line we are seeing a number of new small-ship entrants into the Alaskan, Mississippi River and Snake River Markets.

The newest entrant into the Alaska Small ship market is InnerSea Discoveries which is backed by the owners of American Safari Cruises. Inner Sea Discoveries has totally renovated 2 small inter-coastal cruise vessels - the Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Adventurer. Both have been extensively refurbished. These vessels are capable of carrying 68 and 60 passengers respectively.

The ships will offer 7 and 14-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises with an emphasis on exploration, nature and outdoor recreational activities.

Starting in 2012, small ship operator, American Cruise Line will begin offering 7 and 11-night Alaskan cruises as well. Cruises depart from Seattle Wa. to Juneau and then a series of 7 day round trip sailings from Juneau through Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm and more. After completing the season, the ship will sail from Juneau back to Seattle. The ship carries 100 passengers in 53 staterooms.

American Cruise Line has also expanded operations into the Snake and Columbia Rivers with the acquisition of the Queen of the West. The stern-wheeler has totally been remodeled.

American Cruise Line is also constructing a new paddle-wheeler which will begin sailing almost the full length of the Mississippi River.

These cruises are in addition to the extensive US East Coast Cruise program normally operated by American Cruise Line.

No small ship cruise line discussion would be complete with the mention of Blount Small Ship Adventures (Previously American Caribbean Canadian Cruise Line). Blount offers cruises up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal and to the Great Lakes. Blount offers cruises throughout the Great Lakes, US East Coast and Canada.

This year Blount Small Ship Adventures is expanding operations to include the Mississippi River utilizing their 68 passenger Niagara Prince.

Small Ship cruising does not offer all of the amenities that the larger ships do and they can be quite pricey but they do offer an intimate experience, a sense of adventure and discovery and a quality cruise experience.

It also should be noted that these small cruise ships are registered in the US.

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American Cruise Line New Paddle Wheeler for the Mississippi

American Cruise Line is constructing a new paddle wheeler for operation on the Mississippi River. The new ship is to be named Queen of the Mississippi. The Queen of Mississippi is to set sail on August 12, 2012 from New Orleans on a 7 day cruise to Memphis.

Under construction at the Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salibury Md, the Queen of the Mississippi is capable of carrying 140 passengers. Measuring 260 feet long, 52 feet wide and 7 foot draft, the Queen of Mississippi will have 75 staterooms including 60 twins staterooms, 6 Suites and 9 single staterooms.

Staterooms will feature a Veranda, Twin or King size bed, flat screen TVs, private bathrooms, high speed internet and adequate storage.

Featured public spaces include paddlewheel bar, sky lounge, main showroom, dining room, chart room, card room, library and internet area.

Elevators make it easy to access any deck.

Deck space includes sunbathing area, calliope, putting green and exercise area.

The Queen of Mississippi is expected to Navigate the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

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American Cruise Line Announces Name of New Mississippi River Sternwheeler

American Cruise Lines announced today the name of its brand new 140
passenger Mississippi stern-wheeler – Queen of the Mississippi – currently under construction
and two months ahead of schedule at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. in Salisbury, MD.
American Cruise Lines has also unveiled the first renderings of the ship’s interior, including
those of the future dining salon, Paddle-wheel Lounge and passenger staterooms.

“Queen of the Mississippi is a natural addition to our fleet, the name perfectly befitting of the
grandeur she will exemplify,” said Charles A. Robertson, President of American Cruise Lines.

“We truly look forward to carrying on the historic legacy of Mississippi steamboating, taking it
to the next level, and offering a riverboat cruising experience like never before.”

As depicted in the renderings, the spacious dining salon will have the capacity to generously
seat all passengers and will be complete with crystal chandeliers and fine works of art that will
far surpass the ambiance of past riverboats. The Paddle-wheel Lounge, featuring rich wood and
comfortable furnishings, will offer panoramic views of the passing scenery and the large red
paddle-wheel at the stern. Fine décor and a tasteful interior color scheme will cover every inch
of the ship – from the elevators to the dining salon to the passenger staterooms – capturing
the tradition of the grand riverboats that graced the Mississippi all the way back to the 1800s.
The onboard atmosphere, when combined with live entertainment, exceptional cuisine, and
highly attentive and personalized service, will truly raise the bar in riverboat cruising.
“Providing an authentic Mississippi cruising experience is our ultimate goal in building this
brand new riverboat,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American Cruise Lines. “Making
the Queen of the Mississippi accommodating and comfortable by modern-day standards is an
effort that will meticulously blend in with the historic appeal of riverboats to create a ‘best of
both worlds’ experience.”

The first brand new overnight stern-wheeler built for the Mississippi in nearly 20 years, Queen
of the Mississippi will be the grandest ever with over-sized staterooms larger than those of all
former Mississippi riverboats. Staterooms will feature spacious private balconies and all of the
amenities today’s travelers expect. American Cruise Lines will operate the stern-wheeler over
the entire Mississippi River System, with the option of cruising at significantly higher speeds to
make more itineraries possible with longer visits to the many river towns. A number of unique
seven-night cruises are planned that take passengers as far as St. Paul, MN on the Mississippi
River and Pittsburgh, PA on the Ohio River.

About American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines operates the newest fleet of small ships in the industry and offers more
than 20 unique itineraries along the inland waterways and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the
Mississippi River System and East Coast of the United States.

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