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Live from American Queen's Bourbon Cruise


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Are you considering a cruise on American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen? Join us as we hop aboard for the line’s annual bourbon themed cruise, which starts in St. Louis and heads to Cincinnati July 10 – 18. Ports of call we’re super excited about include both St. Louis (love the blues there) and Louisville, and of course learning more about bourbon.

 

This is our second cruise on American Queen, the gorgeous paddle wheeler that plies the Mississippi (and tributaries such as the Ohio and Tennessee rivers) from New Orleans to St. Paul. We're happy to answer any questions you may have. And as always, we love hearing from you guys with your advice and/or insights from your own Mississippi River cruises (and bourbon aficionados – we are beginners, so fire away).

 

Specifically: Would love a recommendation for a really good restaurant (dinner) in St. Louis that is a great locals’ haunt!

 

I’ll start my “live from” posting on or around July 10 – feel free to post anytime. I’ll be checking in….

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic

 

PS For more details on this particular cruise, click here: http://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/river-cruises/ohio-tennessee-rivers/st-louis-cincinnati-

Edited by editor@cruisecritic
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Awesome, Goat 65. I couldn't find a roll call -- is there one?

 

Carolyn

 

My husband and I are taking this cruise, also. We booked over a year ago when we were on our way to New Orleans. We find everything fantastic on this riverboat!
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For awhile there was a rumor going around that AQSC was considering buying another boat which could be used during the summer on the Great Lakes. Is the company still interested in expansion?

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We'll have to just punt then, goat 65. If you want to, drop me a note at editor@cruisecritic.com with your name and such and I'll try to find you :)

 

Carolyn

 

I am not good at finding my way through this website. This was the only site I found. There might be others, but I don't know.
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Hi Carolyn,

 

We are on the American Queen the week following your trip. We board in Cincinnati the day you leave the boat and travel to St. Louis. This will be our 11th trip on the AQ and we love steamboatin'. Friends have enjoyed the European river trips and suggested we try one. We took a Rhine cruise earlier this year, but missed the paddlewheel. I guess we are just addicted to steam. Since this is your second AQ trip, we know you understand.

 

Along with you, we also would appreciate a suggestion on a favorite St. Louis restaurant from those who know. Any type of cuisine. Any good places within walking distance of the Hilton at the ballpark?

 

While we look forward to your reports from the boat, please don't let your desire to post a report take time away from simply enjoying the boat and the river. But if you must write, know that it will be appreciated.

 

Rivertripper

Pat and Rich (Kite Man)

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Thanks, Rivertripper. And yes, I totally understand :)

 

Carolyn

 

Hi Carolyn,

 

We are on the American Queen the week following your trip. We board in Cincinnati the day you leave the boat and travel to St. Louis. This will be our 11th trip on the AQ and we love steamboatin'. Friends have enjoyed the European river trips and suggested we try one. We took a Rhine cruise earlier this year, but missed the paddlewheel. I guess we are just addicted to steam. Since this is your second AQ trip, we know you understand.

 

Along with you, we also would appreciate a suggestion on a favorite St. Louis restaurant from those who know. Any type of cuisine. Any good places within walking distance of the Hilton at the ballpark?

 

While we look forward to your reports from the boat, please don't let your desire to post a report take time away from simply enjoying the boat and the river. But if you must write, know that it will be appreciated.

 

Rivertripper

Pat and Rich (Kite Man)

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Hi, Jason and Alison, look forward to meeting you. Maybe we can do our own "meet and mingle" with Goat 65 also. If you'll drop me a note with your last name (editor@cruisecritic.com) I'll touch base.

 

It's a beautiful day here in St. Louis and I'm heading out to explore the Arch. It's mesmerizing.

 

Carolyn

 

We are also on the Bourbon cruise starting tomorrow! Hope to meet some nice people, including you Carolyn!

 

Jason and Alison

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Hello from onboard American Queen. We headed out of St. Louis yesterday and are this morning docked in Cape Girardeau. A couple of first impressions:

 

*If you’ve only done larger ships, even luxury ships, you will be amazed at the boarding process on American Queen. It’s so easy. You can pre-register at the desk of the designated hotel (in this case the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Loo), set your luggage outside by 8 a.m. the morning of debark, and just…literally…walk on after 3 p.m.

 

*There’s something just grounding and happy about this ship. It’s large for a riverboat (particularly for those folks more accustomed to the European rivers) and spacious and pretty and elegant. It feels more like an historic inn or small hotel than it does a ship – in fact, American Queen is part of the Historic Hotels of America hotel consortium, which fits. I’ll bet it’s the only member that floats.

 

*We’re not necessarily super social people but we’re loving how friendly passengers and crew alike are. It’s interesting to note that the first two couples we met (our neighbors on either side) both have done European river cruises and wanted to stay closer to home this summer. Another couple just about our age (50s) is on a mission to cruise every part of the Mississippi and this is the last tributary they need.

 

In fact, there are a lot of people onboard who’ve cruised three, four times or more and are really proud of the ship and the experience, whichever part of the Mississippi they’re on.

 

 

 

More to come...

 

 

Carolyn

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Agree completely- having both worked on the big ships and sail on them, this vessel has a completely different vibe- just so spacious and intimate, yet lots of friendly people to chat with. We are in our early 40's and assumed we would be the only "young" ones but lots and lots of 40's/50's.

 

Tonight we will be at the Engine Room bar at 9:00 to watch the Captains guitar jam. Should be super fun!

 

 

Super nice!

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*The bourbon aspect of our trip is really focused on Friday/Saturday/Sunday when we’re in Kentucky. Will keep you posted. There’s a speaker today on it. One tip I’ll suggest: If you’re interested in this cruise, book your tours (they’re included in fares) to the distilleries in advance to make sure you get your favorites. Maker’s Mark is the most popular so far and it has tours running in both the a.m. and afternoon (a pal onboard was lamenting a 7:45 a.m. tour in which they’ll be sampling bourbon but then perked up and said, “let’s go with the flow!” – I predict they’ll napping after lunchtime). But it’s also already at capacity so we missed out (though later today they added a third tour, so we're in!). There are plenty of others so we’ll be fine, just advice for you.

 

*Internet is still pretty unpredictable and confounding. You’re literally 100 ft. off shore – with twinkling lights coming from houses there, and you can’t access anything from your AT&T phone (maybe I need another carrier?). The main lounge in the center of the ship is a good place I’m told (and I’m sitting here now, with good luck although we are in port) but I would love to see this being less of a hassle.

 

*Nothing I can think of in cruising beats sitting on the aft of a ship, listening to the rumble of the engines and the sound of the water whooshing through the paddlewheel, occasionally showering sprinkles here and there. The big, red paddlewheel is beautiful to watch, too. We are happy to be here!

 

I’m still struggling with posting photos but will try to make progress today. If not, I’ll just do the thumbprints.

 

Any thoughts, please share!

 

Carolyn

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We are on the trip next week, too! We had a bourbon tasting yesterday! It is good to know there are more Cruise Critic people on board. I hope we can meet. Got to go and hop on and hp off!

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*

 

*Internet is still pretty unpredictable and confounding. You’re literally 100 ft. off shore – with twinkling lights coming from houses there, and you can’t access anything from your AT&T phone (maybe I need another carrier?). The main lounge in the center of the ship is a good place I’m told (and I’m sitting here now, with good luck although we are in port) but I would love to see this being less of a hassle.

 

*Nothing I can think of in cruising beats sitting on the aft of a ship, listening to the rumble of the engines and the sound of the water whooshing through the paddlewheel, occasionally showering sprinkles here and there. The big, red paddlewheel is beautiful to watch, too. We are happy to be here!

 

I’m still struggling with posting photos but will try to make progress today. If not, I’ll just do the thumbprints.

 

Any thoughts, please share!

 

Carolyn

 

We were onboard in May on the Memphis to New Orleans cruise. The slow internet connection was one of the things that I found fault with. We could not access the internet in our cabin. We found that the best place was the Mark Twain room. I agree the paddlewheel is mesmerizing! Overall we certainly enjoyed our trip and would book on the AQ again.

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Hello, milleruszk, from the Mark Twain room. I feel like I spend more time here than in my cabin :). Fortunately it's a lovely spot!

 

Carolyn

 

 

Hell

We were onboard in May on the Memphis to New Orleans cruise. The slow internet connection was one of the things that I found fault with. We could not access the internet in our cabin. We found that the best place was the Mark Twain room. I agree the paddlewheel is mesmerizing! Overall we certainly enjoyed our trip and would book on the AQ again.
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If you’re considering our itinerary for your next Mississippi River (and its tributaries) cruise – St. Louis to Cincinnati by way of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky, and Madison, Indiana – it’s probably not your first Mississippi river cruise. Indeed, super popular routes such as New Orleans to Memphis and St. Louis to St. Paul tend to draw virgin Mississippi cruisers.

Definitely this is a sleeper itinerary and I mean that in the best possible way. We’re loving the chance to visit places we didn’t know much about before (stopped for a too-short time in Kentucky’s Paducah today and it, and all around Kentucky, are definitely on our road trip bucket list).

 

Of course, the big draw this week is the bourbon theme. We started off slowly (our last few days are in the heart of bourbon country) and yesterday’s tasting/intro, given by Buffalo Trace’s Don Flinn, was fascinating. Easily two thirds of the ship was in attendance (and not just for the sips – Flinn told terrific stories). Today there was a cooking-with-Makers-Mark demonstration, and the company’s Bill Samuels, considered in these parts a “rock star of bourbon,” boarded. He’ll host events later in the week.

 

A couple of observations:

 

*We love American Queen’s policy of a free hotel stay pre-cruise though even one day is not enough to see everything there is to see in St. Louis. The Gateway Arch is the biggest surprise; we’ve certainly seen the photos and admired from afar but wow, its graciousness and elegance is powerful when it’s seen up close. One note: The area around the arch, along with its Lewis and Clark Museum, is closed due to refurbishment but you can still go into the arch itself and see exhibits in a nearby building. Other don’t miss spots include the Budweiser plant’s tour and a glimpse into the city’s enchanting Basilica. On a nice day, you could easily spend a day in Forest Park, St. Louis’ “central park,” riding bikes, people-watching and visiting museums.

 

*Cape Girardeau, a regular stop on American Queen’s Memphis to St. Louis voyages, is a repeat stop for me. It’s quiet and sleepy (both times we visited), and charming enough. We were only there in the morning and a lot of the shops and restaurants opened rather late (we missed ‘em as a result). It’s also the only stop where there’s no premium tour option. It’s a nice, easy place to visit, and we just took it easy.

 

*Flood walls. One of the things that really across when visiting these smaller river towns is how the waterway is both a blessing (they were built because it was the central mode of transport two centuries ago and it offers pretty vistas) but also a menace. Flooding is a real thread (2011 was the most recent major “100 year flood”) and they all have floodwalls, high concrete fences, that essentially cut the towns off from the riverfront. But they’re fascinating. In both Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, artists have painted murals depicting historic scenes along them, and they’re fascinating and insightful. Our guide in Paducah told us that each mural (there are dozens) cost about $20,000 to paint, originally, and three or four each year are refreshed by professional artists (weather can be a detriment).

 

*In Paducah, highly recommended was the “Check in Along the Chittlin Trail” premium tour that focuses on African American culture and history in the region. The 1.5 hour trip visits the Hotel Metropolitan, which housed traveling musicians like B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, Billie Holiday. There’s lots of history there, and good stories. Both times offered for this tour sold out, so it’s a good idea to reserve ahead if you want to go. In the don’t miss category, the National Quilt Museum will change your preconceptions about what quilting’s all about (there’s one made of canvas, another of cotton, some really unconventional pieces). The downtown’s also cute though like Cape Girardeau, we only stayed for a half day and most of the shops and eateries didn’t open until 11 a.m.

 

*The company’s use of Hop On Hop Off buses for its no-charge tours is nothing short of inspired. You get on at any one of a handful of designated spots and, as the name conveys, hop off at any other spot. Or you can just ride around the circuit. Each bus has a local guide so you get history along the way. The other real win about this method of touring – which lets you be independent but gives awesome guidance – is that American Queen’s tour department does all the heavy lifting, from letting you know what the most important spots to see are – to taking care of your admissions. With only a few minutes to spare to check out the National Quilt Museum, I probably wouldn’t have paid the $11 admission, but since it was complementary to American Queen passengers I was able to have a quick look-around (and it’s on the list to go back when I have more time – marvelous).

 

*We’ve had two afternoons on the river so far, and while it doesn’t offer the vistas you get in Europe of castles and vineyards, it’s absolutely lovely and pastoral with the occasional really intriguing factory or gravel pit. Seriously! Interesting stuff to see, and also time to relax your eyes and just watch the world (mostly cargo ships) go by. My favorite thing so far was a shipyard on the Kentucky side that was rehabbing an old Harrah’s casino boat….

 

Any questions so far? Happy to answer ‘em.

 

Carolyn

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Thank you so much for taking the time to write your fact-filled report. We will be on the Antebellum South cruise - our first AQSC cruise, New Orleans to Memphis on September 4th. Needless to say, your report is providing us with very valuable information and adding to our excitement. We look forward to reading more and thank you again. Much appreciated. Enjoy!

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A couple of random thoughts on this stormy morning while we’re at “sea” all day:

*I’m completely surprised and delighted at how beautiful the river is on this route. It’s not the castles and vineyards of Europe and yet every around every bend there’s something magical to see – shipyard refurbishing an old Harrah’s casino boat, an approaching thunderstorm, the timeless beauty of American Queen’s red paddlewheel. Going to post some picks on the Facebook page I mentioned in an earlier post, Internet permitting.

*The company’s made a significant investment in WiFi this year, I was told, but it’s still not fabulous. The good news is that my cell phone has been in range for most if not all of the trip (no crazy European data roaming charges!).

*Love the balance, while we’re onboard, of events geared to bourbon fans who are on because it’s this cruise’s theme, and “normal” stuff that appeals to everybody. Last night’s entertainment, for instance, was superb – the first show (there was a performance for both early and main dining room sittings) was our Riverlorian singing and playing southern tunes with the banjo and guitar; he was exceptional and so, too, was the band (The Steamboat Syncopaters) – full of joie de vivre and darn fine musicians, too. After dinner there was a more contemporary country concert, with dancing. Both were amazing.

*What’s on tap for our day on the river? We woke up to menacing skies but the storm’s moved on and it’s cloudless and sunny. There’s a river-related chat. Calliope Capers looks interesting – passengers can try out their piano playing skills on the calliope. There are two intimate bourbon conversations (you have to sign up, but no charge), and a tasting and session with Maker’s Mark.

Might not even be time for a nap, today’s so busy!

Carolyn

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Thanks so much for this blog. Love it because we are going to do our first Mississippi river cruise come September. How is the food? Can you get breakfast as room service? Does the dining room doors open at 5:15, can you get there at 5:20 and still get seated? Just curious since we have only done big cruise ships.

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Hi, Knitwitt44. First and foremost, the food is amazing, superb. Friends onboard who've cruised internationally on as many lines as we have were told us that it's the best food they've ever had on a ship (and they've done the luxury lines). It's mostly southern, but there's plenty of fresh fruit and yogurt (breakfast) and salad options (lunch and dinner) if you're keeping an eye on waistlines.

 

Think I said this earlier but American Queen's burger is right up there with the best I've had on ships.

 

The times for dinner are generally 5:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. and you're given a 15 minute grace period to claim your table, which seems reasonable to me.

 

Interestingly, on this ship you go to the show before dinner if you're on the late seating, and after dinner if you're early.

 

I've heard that the line is trying to figure out how to do a flex-seating at dinner (it's already flex at breakfast and lunch) to supplement the fixed seatings, so that's down the road, too.

 

Keep the questions coming!

 

Carolyn

 

Thanks so much for this blog. Love it because we are going to do our first Mississippi river cruise come September. How is the food? Can you get breakfast as room service? Does the dining room doors open at 5:15, can you get there at 5:20 and still get seated? Just curious since we have only done big cruise ships.
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Hi! Left you a note at the purser's desk (hoping they'll deliver it to you). Can't believe we're almost done and we haven't met, hope to rectify that today or tomorrow :)

 

Carolyn

 

My husband and I are taking this cruise, also. We booked over a year ago when we were on our way to New Orleans. We find everything fantastic on this riverboat!
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Hi, Pat and Rich. Wish we were staying on, what a great week it's been. A couple of thoughts: In St. Louis try the Broadway Oyster Bar. I took a long walk the day of debark (in 90 degree weather, don't recommend it!) and wound up with a craving for Mexican and went to Rosalita's -- loved it. For dinner we ate with friends out in the suburbs so can't recommend a dinner spot. I also tend to check Opentable.com for its list; good restaurants are almost always on there.

 

Are you going to Paducah? There's a fantastic bakery in town on Market Square (the only one there, starts with an R). In Madison, not sure if you're going, we were told Hinkel's is fabulous for sliders and milkshakes though it's not open on Sunday, so we'll miss that. In Louisville...I'm heading out in a few minutes and will lunch there, so will report back.

 

The meals are frankly so good here there hasn't been as much incentive to nosh off the ship. Yesterday was a barbecue on the Front Porch that was just...hugely delicious.

 

Hope you'll keep us posted though will admit the Wifi is tricky.

 

Carolyn

 

Hi Carolyn,

 

We are on the American Queen the week following your trip. We board in Cincinnati the day you leave the boat and travel to St. Louis. This will be our 11th trip on the AQ and we love steamboatin'. Friends have enjoyed the European river trips and suggested we try one. We took a Rhine cruise earlier this year, but missed the paddlewheel. I guess we are just addicted to steam. Since this is your second AQ trip, we know you understand.

 

Along with you, we also would appreciate a suggestion on a favorite St. Louis restaurant from those who know. Any type of cuisine. Any good places within walking distance of the Hilton at the ballpark?

 

While we look forward to your reports from the boat, please don't let your desire to post a report take time away from simply enjoying the boat and the river. But if you must write, know that it will be appreciated.

 

Rivertripper

Pat and Rich (Kite Man)

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From what I've heard around the boat, expansion isn't an if -- it's a when. Seems like the owners are just trying to be super careful about picking just the right boat. Heard there could be two options: One would be smaller than AQ and still ply the Mississippi, but maybe more offbeat ports. The other, also intriguing as a possibility, would be to acquire a boat for Great Lakes down the eastern seaboard (including, perhaps, my beloved Chesapeake Bay -- that's a cruise I'd sign up for in a heartbeat) and even down to Florida.

 

Whatever AQSC will do, be prepared for a superb experience. The company's products -- both American Empress and American Queen -- just keep on getting better and better.

 

Carolyn

 

For awhile there was a rumor going around that AQSC was considering buying another boat which could be used during the summer on the Great Lakes. Is the company still interested in expansion?
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