wandb

Thanks Bob. I forgot you were already on the first leg of your cruise when the new Covid regulations took effect on August first, so you had to test under the old rules. Hopefully, these new rules will be successful and we can continue to cruise without the ineffective Covid testing. A lot of folks on our last cruise (in June) got Covid by the end of the cruise, and a few got it a few days later. All tested negative the day before the cruise began. I'm looking forward to this Upper Mississippi/Mark Twain cruise in 3 weeks. Just wish someone else would sign in. It's always fun to meet up with the folks we have "met" on CC.

We love the Queen and can't wait to be on her again. But first the Duchess---in just 3 weeks. Can you tell us a bit about the procedure for checking in. Is there a health questionnaire in place of the Covid test? Or is health not addressed at all? Check-in should be pretty quick, I think.

Does anyone know the new protocol? Maybe “IamAlyce” or someone else cruising this week can tell us. A questionnaire? Sign a form that you don’t have Covid? Something that asks if you’d ever had COVID, or how long it’s been since you had COVID?

Wow!! You are right!! I'm not sure it ever helped "keep everyone safe" At least 3 of the people at our dinner table came down with Covid by the end of our last cruise in June (Ohio River). All tested negative on the day before the cruise.

That was our experience also on the Queen several years ago. More recently, on the Countess in June, the experience was the same. We were assigned to a table for eight, and had lovely tablemates.

When our documents finally arrived before our cruise, I was surprised how little necessary information was included: ----a brochure on port stops ----one page of Covid protocols ----luggage tags ----one page boarding document None of these are necessary before the cruise check-in at the hotel. I can't understand why AQV still mails them out. It would be so much cheaper and easier to just hand them out at check-in! I hope you and your parents enjoy the cruise. We love river cruising! You can be as active as you'd like. Some days we hop on and hop off at every stop the bus makes, some days we just ride the bus and listen to the tour guide, some days we sit in those big ole white rocking chairs and watch the river roll by! Enjoy!

Forgot to mention that this is from St. Louis (Alton) to Minneapolis (Red Wing)

We are booked on this cruise and hope to hear from others who will be joining us. It will be our 3rd AQV cruise, but the first on the Duchess.

Thanks everyone! I think I’ll skip summer, as the heat is no friend of mine! Here in south GA we are to have over 100 degrees for most of next week! 😳🥵

Need some help from those of you who have done this cruise. We are hoping to do this in 2023, but can't decide when! I'd like to miss spring storms, or the bad wildfire season if possible. What has been your experience? Is summer just way too hot? Is there good color in the Fsll? Just when is the worst of "fire season"? Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

The app is incorrect on several port stops. When I called AQV earlier, (about Cincinnati), she listed the HOHO stops. Very different from the app and the book received with the documents. I think all three of those homes are closed on Monday---the day we will be there. I may try to get up a group to do a tour of 2-3 homes of whatever is available that day, but can't do that till we are aboard and meet some folks. Have not had even one response to our roll call.

Im excited to hear such good news!! We are in Pittsburgh and looking forward to boarding in a day and a half!! Did you have a port stop in Madison, IN? when we signed up for this cruise I was so glad to see the HOHO stops--in Madison and also in Wheeling WV. Many wonderful old historic homes to tour! Now we are skipping Wheeling (wonderful Victorian Old Town) completely and having a river cruising day, which is fine. But in Madison, which has the largest historic district in the US (133 blocks!!) we now touring a railroad museum, a fountain, and a saddletree factory!! If you stopped in Madison, did they add anything to the HOHO tour?

What a neat site! I’ve enjoyed listening to the tour of each of our port stops. However—— do not rely solely on the app. In Cincinnati, for example, there were 3 discrepancies. Two of the stops are no longer included. Another stop has been added back on (but is not included on the app).

When we received our documents, we received one form that said no masks were required. Included was another form that said masks were required in all public places on board as well as at embarkation. Our trusty TA called AQV immediately ( while I was still on the phone) and got that cleared up. At this time NO MASKS are required anywhere on board—- and none required off the boat (unless some port stop decides to put mask regulations in place for their town). Will pack one or two just in case! We leave one week from today!!! 😄 Barb

Thank you for posting the maps of the HOHO stops in each port! If anyone has the Ohio River cruises maps, I would LOVE to see them!

Wonderful review! I’m really enjoying your pictures and comments which are bringing back lots of great memories. I wish someone would do a similar posting on the Ohio River! The sunset picture is amazing!

Thanks! We are on our way home from a scheduled meeting in an old historic hotel (great!) and old friends will be waiting for us when we get home. After their visit I'll have about one week to pack and get ready for the cruise!! Can't wait!

I surely hope the rest of your cruise is uneventful and enjoyable!! You deserve a great experience! i see your picture of the Blues Cafe in Memphis. Hope you had as much fun there as we did. Enjoy the cruise and the beautiful Queen! Barb

It's great to hear that good report. We will board the Countess in less than 2 weeks.

Thanks all. We did book through a travel agent, so I guess I'll call tomorrow.

We have just 2 weeks left before our Ohio River cruise. Have not heard a peep from AQV. When do the cruise documents usually arrive?

Thanks for all the info. My maps app has been a great help also. Just two weeks to go. Hope it isn't as hot and humid there as it is here in South Georgia!!! 😅🤪

Can anyone tell me the hotel AQV uses for the pre-cruise night in Pittsburg. It seems that somewhere I read that the Embassy Suites was the one, but now I can’t find that info. I need to reserve an extra night beforehand and don’t want to have to change hotels. Thanks! Barb