denamo

10 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

The best place to post is the West Coast Departures board.

Good suggestion. Thanks!

Thank you Biker19 and Jam0610 for your responses.

Looking at flights and wondering if a 12:40 P.M. flight is feasible when disembarking from an Alaska cruise?  We'll be on the Ovation.  Hoping Luggage Valet will be in place. 🤞

Thank you so much for all of the information you included.  We're on the first cruise requiring all passengers to be vaccinated.  Would be so glad if no masks required. 

We will consider the Vicksburg tour even though it will be premium when we're on the first week of July.  Also, hadn't considered the later dinner time.  Sounds like we'll try it based on your recommendations. 

Thanks again for such a great overview of your cruise.

We have used Larry's Limos in FLL three different times and have been totally pleased.  We actually had them reserved from FLL to MIA April 2020 when everything was cancelled.  They were terrific to work with.  We would have also used them to get back to FLL from MIA after our cruise. 

We were on the Allure at the same time an Elvis impersonators charter group cruised.  It was really quite fun to see the impersonators around the ship.  They did a concert in the Aqua Theater.  Couldn't go in if not part of the group, but we had a Boardwalk Balcony, so actually saw it.  Funniest experience was when one of the impersonators dressed in an Elvis' Hawaiian outfit was on an elevator I was on.  He got off, and of course someone in the elevator said...Elvis has left the building.  🤣  He was actually the best impersonator of the bunch at the Aqua Theater concert.

Thank you so much for the info.  I'll be on the lookout.  We're still a few more days than 25-30. Actually 50 days until embarkation, but who is counting? 🙂

How soon prior to cruising can I expect to receive cruise docs from American Steamboat Company? TIA

1 minute ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I wish more ships had the Portside BBQ.

The reviews I've read are very positive for Portside BBQ.  We'll get to try it some day hopefully! 🙂

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Yes it’s either a per day or per visit limit. 
 

Symphony does not have Portside BBQ, just Playmakers.

 

Oasis has Portside BBQ and Playmakers. 

Oops...We were to have gone on the Oasis in April of 2020 as the pandemic began.  Blended the Oasis and Symphony together.  I was thinking both ships had Portside BBQ.  Thanks for letting me know. 

On 5/1/2021 at 12:46 PM, dswallow said:

No, Unlimited truly is Unlimited. During the transition from the "Ultimate Dining Package" there was a lot of confusion aboard ships about it. That should not happen anymore. There's limitations in places that provide a credit value towards a la carte pricing, for instance like Izumi. But even there if you came back a second time and they were able to seat you, that limit restarts. If you buy dining for a specific night/number of nights, the flat fee includes a single entrée and as many appetizers and desserts as you want, but if you wanted a second entrée there'd be a charge. That is not the case with the Unlimited Dining Package. There also are items at upcharges which would apply even to Unlimited Dining Package.

 

Now all that said, it's a nice concept in principle, but you just are not going to have room for more food. And even if you really, really push yourself, by the time you're a few nights in, you are not going to be well. 🙂

 

 

Wanting to make sure I understand.  On the Symphony, there is  Portside BBQ and Playmakers that have a $20 food limit within the UDP   If we wanted to go more than one time throughout our cruise to either of these restaurants, the monetary limit would restart each time? 

On 4/19/2021 at 5:39 PM, CruiserFromMaine said:

I’m glad you could rebook!

 

I’m curious, though. You said you had a guarantee. Do you mean you booked a guaranteed cabin but didn’t get an assigned cabin number? We’re booked for a cruise next month and are concerned since we’re leaving home a week before embarkation. We have a cabin number assigned. 
 

Thanks in advance!

We did not have a cabin number assigned.  We booked (April 3) three weeks prior to the cruise and was told we would be a guarantee.  They were to have assigned us a cabin.  The next I heard on Tuesday (April 13), prior to us flying out on Friday, was that we had been cancelled.

We were given the choice to re-book with an upgrade or receive a full refund. We went back and forth on what we wanted to do. We did decide to re-book, and immediately were given a cabin number.  We were going to take an inside originally, and now will have a balcony. We would have gladly cruised with an inside cabin just to be able to have cruised.  Not meant to be for April.  It's ok.  May be a bit hotter in July when we go, but we're from deep south TX, so we're used to heat and humidity. 

9 hours ago, wandb said:

Congratulations on the re-booking!  We will all be watching out for any reports and updates you will be able to send. Unfortunately, yes I do believe that masks will still be required, but hopefully to a lesser degree than now. 

 

About 3-4 years ago we stayed at the Sheraton before our American Queen cruise. We were very satisfied. The hotel, together with AQ, did all things right. Checking in and out was simple; rooms were spacious, clean and very nice;  breakfast was plentiful and delicious; the AQ check-in area was large and well organized. The hotel had a room to store your luggage if you arrived early, and also between check-out and boarding. 

 

The only negative I can think of is it’s distance from the more “tourist” area of town, the restaurants, museums and places you probably want to visit. It was not a problem, because the trolley stops right in front of the hotel. We simply jumped onto the trolley and got off wherever we wanted. Trolley drivers were very helpful about directions and recommendations. You must try the Blues City Cafe!!  It is an experience!  A delicious one!

Thank you for all of the recommendations.  The cafe sounds fun!

Seems the reviews were more favorable in the past.  I think many places are hurting to get workers due the pandemic, so things kind of slide.  I also read the Sheraton group was purchased by Marriott last July.  Maybe they are in the evaluating mode.

Thanks again for your input.

Update:  We are now re-booked on the Countess in July.  Can hardly wait!  Do wonder if masks by this time will still be required since vaccinations.  We do appreciate the American Queen Steamboat Company upgrading us. 

Flights have been re-booked.  Need to book a hotel in Memphis prior to the one provided with our cruise.  It says we're booked into the Sheraton.  Unfortunately, the reviews are not very favorable, so unsure whether to book an extra night there or find a hotel with better reviews and then have to move.

Anyone have any thoughts.

On 4/12/2021 at 6:12 PM, Floriduh said:

The band is great. They play in the bar and for the shows.

 

The shows had 3 singers and they were all top notch. I am a bass player and really enjoyed watching these musicians at work.

 

The shows were full of great "sing along" songs. The Themes included 50's and 60's, a whole different show for the 70's, A one woman show called Broadway On The Brain, and a couple more I can't think of right now (because I didn't see them).

 

There are two shows. Early seated diners can see the show after eating while the late diners can catch the early show.

 

During the days there were games, trivia and a couple of bingo sessions.

Music is one of our favorite aspects when we've done ocean cruises.  This sounds absolutely like a ton of fun!

18 hours ago, wandb said:

Oh, no!!  So sorry about the cancellation. 
The bright spot in this could be that if you reschedule for a summer or fall trip, the vaccination of all passengers and crew will be in place.

(That would surely make me feel better—-our cruise is in June and I wish their target date had been June 1 instead of July 1!)

5 hours ago, graveytrain said:

Wow, that is VERY short notice of cancellation!  I had no idea it was possible to cancel that close to departure. I’m sure you are very disappointed. 

Thanks for the support.  Our TA was out on Wednesday.  She let me know she would be, so we're going to communicate on Thursday.  I do like the idea of cruising after July 1 when the vaccination requirement would be in force.  Hopefully, since they will have been on the river a bit longer, the areas of the ship that Tim (Floriduh) mentioned as being not available (River Grill @ night & room service) would possibly be functional by then. 

Still feel a bit defeated by the cancellation.  We were so ready to do something fun!  It was brutal  taking everything out of the luggage.  We were completely packed with only our personal items needed.  😞  Just hung everything back on the hangers.  No dirty laundry to contend with! LOL 

I'm hoping the date we've chosen will be available. Fingers crossed. If it's a no go again, we may just punt and wait to see if the CDC will allow ocean cruises back in service from the US.  I'll let all know the outcome.

We've stayed in a Promenade room on various occasions.  We had no issue at all with it.  Not a balcony, but fun to look out and see the Promenade.  We actually stayed in one on a New Year's eve cruise and enjoyed watching the festivities without being packed like sardines in the Promenade.  Had wine in our room, ordered room service snacks, and could actually hear most of what was going on due to the speakers being cranked up to the max.  Never heard noise otherwise. 

Well....we are extremely disappointed.  We were to have started our cruise on April 17 with a night's stay prior to the one the company provides in New Orleans.  Unfortunately, we've been informed today the boat was overbooked, and our reservation has been cancelled. We were a guarantee. ? So much for a guarantee.  They will honor our reservation at a later date and even up grade our cabin or fully refund our fare. 

Sadly this evening, I've been cancelling hotel arrangements and flights.  😞 We don't live in a very robust market with many flights, so it becomes necessary for us to typically go a day ahead and stay a day after the cruise ends. 

So, thanks Tim for letting us live vicariously.  We're not sure at this point if we'll reschedule or request a refund.

Thank you for the link, TinCan782

Is the Steamboat Society the company's loyalty program?

4 hours ago, wandb said:

 

When we did the Thanksgiving River Cruise on the American Queen, there was absolutely NO dressing up for dinner.  Men wore sport shirts and slacks, women wore mostly pants and nice blouses with sandals or flats.  One lady wore a dressy outfit each night, but this was not the norm. She seemed very comfortable in her dressy clothes (good for her!) and I’d say “Wear whatever is comfortable for you”. 

It was nice not to have to pack dressy shoes, clothes, etc. 

 

Remember that they do ask that you not wear jeans in the dining room in the evening. 

This is good to hear.  I will pack accordingly.  Thank you for your input.

As I've said, we are rookies to river cruising.  Are the walls in the cabin metal like on an ocean cruise ship?  I bring magnetic hooks with us to hang odds and ends.  Just wondering.

Would be so happy if I could get us packed in just a carry on and a personal item.  Don't think I could.  Wondering if the laundry facilities stay busy. I've never been a fan of doing laundry on vacation.  Just do it when I get home.

As far as evening dress is concerned....do some get very dressy or is it mostly slacks and shirt for guys and nicer dresses or pants outfits for women?  We want to do what is proper.

Wow! The water bottles and stations around are cool.  Would definitely expect the hand sanitizers.  We've only done ocean cruises and have never seen the filling stations around like this.  Thanks for the pictures!

Thanks for the mask info!