Globalfish

Seems like I won’t be able to access it until I return to the States next week. Interesting that they’re making your next cruise one way as well. The cynic in me views it as a cost-saving measure sugar-coated to make it look like it is to the cruise passengers’ benefit.

Good to know that it’s working. Can’t access it on either my iPhone or iPad here in Mauritius or in the Seychelles last week (I am not on a cruise). Don’t know for what reason it would be blocked here, but hopefully I will be able to get it when I return home next week.

I have been unable to access ACL’s website for at least several days and I assume it is down. I recently received the following email from ACL’s customer service department re their Hudson River fall foliage cruise that I am taking in Oct. 2025 and wanted to check to see in what way the itinerary has changed, if any. In any event, I’m glad they will be providing complimentary transportation back to Manhattan, which is where I live and which is one of the reasons I picked this particular cruise. Dear Guest, We have an important update regarding your Hudson River Cruise next year. Based on strong feedback from our guests over the past year, we are transitioning all future Hudson River cruises to one-way itineraries between New York and Albany. This adjustment will streamline embarkation and ensure you experience the most scenic parts of the river during daylight hours. Your cruise will now start in New York and conclude in Albany. No changes are necessary to your arrival plans. If you have purchased air through American Cruise Lines, we will coordinate everything for you by flying you into New York City and home from Albany. If you are driving to your cruise, we will provide complimentary transportation back to Manhattan at the conclusion of the trip. We incorporate guest feedback into all areas of our product and are delighted to be able build these recommendations into an enhanced Hudson River experience. We kindly request that you respond to this email with a simple “All Aboard!” in order to let our Customer Service team know that you have received this information. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 800-894-8570 and it will be our pleasure to assist. Thank you, American Cruise Lines Customer Service Department

I took the Upper Mississippi River cruise last Oct. and stayed at the Best Western in Alton, which I wouldn’t recommend. Unfortunately for my particular departure they didn’t change anyone to the Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch (or any other hotel in St. Louis). However, since I figured they weren’t going to do so, I spent 3 nights in St. Louis on my own prior to the cruise at that particular hotel and had a wonderful time. I made my own hotel arrangements beforehand and had to provide my own way to Alton (by Amtrak and then taxi). It was hard getting a taxi at the Alton train station to the Best Western.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Revived-Victory-Cruise-Lines-opens-2025-reservations

Pearl Seas now offers a 15-day Great Lakes Explorer Cruise that includes ports on Lake Superior including Thunder Bay and Duluth that it didn't do prior to this year. https://www.pearlseascruises.com/cruises/great-lakes-cruises/great-lakes-explorer Wish they offered a shorter cruise that just did Lake Superior because the 15-day is too duplicative of ports I have already been on the 4 other Great Lakes and doesn’t get into Superior until well more than halfway through the cruise.

Yes, the US side of the Soo is far more interesting. Mercifully I was able to make it up the steps to the top viewing platform at the lock in an orthopedic boot for a broken foot. Did the Museum Ship Valley Camp two years ago on a Pearl Seas cruise.

You welcome. He didn’t waste a moment’s time after he bought those ships back, but methinks the Victory II (previously the Ocean Navigator) still needs a lot of work to make it seaworthy again. The 15-day Chicago round trip is identical to the AQV cruise I was supposed to take on the Ocean Voyager this August. But its only posted dates thus far are May 30 and June 13, 2025, which conflict with my Quark Svalbard expedition from June 9-18, so alas the Victory cruise will have to wait at least another year. But I’m OK with that because I just returned home last night from a 7-day Road Scholar land program to Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac Island (followed by 3 days in Chicago on my own). Sadly, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is economically depressed and a “nothing burger” (with the exception of the excellent bush plane museum). Their lock is not currently in operation because they’re building a new one. But watching the big tankers going thru the Soo Locks on the other side of the border in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was exciting and wonderful.

Seems like 2025 dates and routes for Victory I and II have been announced, although not yet available for booking until next month. See https://www.greatlakescruises.com/victory-cruise-lines.html Website https://www.victorycruiselines.com launches in July 2024.

The Pearl Mist (Pearl Seas Cruises) has better food than ACL by far.

Thank you, Steamboats, for the explanation. Good to know that there is some slight hope for her.

I interpret Steamboat’s comment about the American Queen arriving at a recycling plant in Houma to mean that it’s about to be scrapped. Therefore I assume that the following article that just appeared in today’s edition of Travel Weekly is outdated: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Fate-of-American-Queen-and-American-Empress

Road Scholar is probably salivating at an opportunity to offer Great Lakes cruises again and I’m sure they would jump at it. Without them leaves a terrible void in their domestic cruise offerings.

Yes, I too hope he can make it a go. Would book a Lake Superior cruise that begins and ends in Chicago (with a similar itinerary to AQV’s Ocean Navigator cruise that I was originally supposed to take this August). I agree with you that it would have to be cheaper than Viking.

Also see https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/john-waggoner-reviving-victory-cruise-lines-great-lakes

https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/John-Waggoner-revive-Victory-Cruise-Lines

Will also be on the RA from Vancouver to Nome starting 4 Aug 2024. Cabin 721. It will be my first expedition, but not my first cruise. See you in Alaska!

Everyone’s happy: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Voyages-ships-find-new-life

The sale of the four AQV riverboats to ACL was just approved by the Bankruptcy Court in Houston. The sale of the Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator to a different buyer is still pending. https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance-legal-regulatory/19m-winning-bid-aqv-coastals-court-oks-6m-sale-river-vessels

I’d like to see it return to Alaska. For prospective repeat Alaskan cruisers, ACL could use a more innovative Alaskan cruise itinerary in addition to their wonderful Alaskan Explorer cruise that I took last summer (or the longer and shorter versions of it that they offer). I’m thinking along the lines of Metlakatla, Misty Fjords, Kake, Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier, Elfin Cove. In other words, something similar to Ponant’s July 2024 9-day Inside Passage itinerary, albeit hopefully cheaper. ACL, if you are reading this, hint, hint. Would do it in a heartbeat!

Yes, if the Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator purchase goes through and the vessels are appropriately brought up to “ship shape” to ply the Great Lakes once again, Road Scholar is likely to be one of John Waggoner’s first customers.

Aegean Odyssey. $&#*!

The charterer isn’t mentioned, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it is US educational study program provider Road Scholar which used the same ship in Alaska with AQV.

Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator rescued from the scrap heap? https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Great-Lakes-cruise-ships-sold-at-auction

What transpired with this? Don’t see anything online about it. Has the auction been further postponed?