Buck1949

We recently booked with AQSC for April 2022 and we took advantage of the $600 discount offered by paying in full.  This discount applied to the ‘Veranda’ cabins while the $3000 discount was for the most expensive suites on aboard.  Before we actually booked (directly through the cruiseline) we made sure that our travel insurance company included Financial bankruptcy or interruption/cancellation due to financial issues in our coverage.  One stipulation for the travel insurance company was that we buy the insurance within 15 days of paying for the cruise.  (This also got us the pre existing condition coverage). Also there was a stipulation that if the cruise was booked via a 3rd party  (a travel agent/agency) then the financial coverage would not apply.  I was told that this was apparently due to the travel insurance company not wanting to deal with them for financial claims also. 
 

We have used this same Travel Insurance company for the majority of the 15 or so cruises we have taken and been very satisfied with a couple of claims we have had to make. 
 

So I am just saying to make sure that however you book your River cruise you check out those coverages...( have them in writing ). I checked another large cruise insurance company  and they do not cover the financial insolvancy parts at all. 
 

Take care, and hope all can cruise again soon !

On 1/18/2020 at 9:03 AM, Bop said:

We're back!!!

 

Just re read some of the posts from the Empress Lewis and Clark cruise.  Really enjoyed the cruise and Empress.  So much so that we just booked the Memphis to New Orleans cruise on American Queen.  Thanks to all the great tips and the neat gift from Bill/Buck.  What are the odds of meeting a good friend on the boards and ending up performing a back-up dance routine with him on stage?  I am still looking for an agent to represent us.

 

Gotta go to look for a roll call for our Sept 20, 2020 cruise on American Queen

Bop/Jim

Sure wish it would have worked out that we could have coordinated a mutual date to do the Memphis to NO river cruise.  Think we would have had a great time.  On top of that what is a dance duo of Bop and Buck without one or the other being there.  😀

Will be following your roll call for your cruise in hopes of getting a few tips for our anticipated 2021 same cruise.  
 

And you are right meeting good friends on these

roll calls and cruises are pretty darn nice.  
 

Will be keeping in touch.  

Take care 

1 hour ago, lamb616 said:

 

Anyone can buy a ticket and go into the colosseum....i think it's just the ground level that you have access to.  If you want to see the underground and the upper levels, you have to do a special guided tour.   But between the colosseum website and the emails with AAI, I'm having a hard time understanding how it works.  I think I will start a separate thread on the underground colosseum tour so maybe I can understand it better.

 

Thanks

Ah.... ok.... in both places we elected to tour the entire area (as much as possible) so the ground level by itself, was never considered.  Good luck, hope you get it figured out.

4 hours ago, lamb616 said:

Has anyone done a private Rome/Colosseum tour recently with AAI?  We seem to be having a hard time communicating.  I currently  have them booked for a private tour.  So we are paying xxx $ dollars for the tour.   As I understood, that is the price for to have someone drive us where we want to go (we're veering from the standard Colosseum/Vatican tours).  We want to do the underground/upper level tour of the colosseum which I understand you can only do through the Colosseum guides, which is fine.  So I will get the tickets for that when they become available.  But in the latest email from AAI, he states that when we first arrive at the Colosseum we will do the ground level tour with AAI guide for $xxx.  I said no, that's ok, we don't need a guided tour of the ground level, we'll just wander on our own until time for our guided Underground/Upper level, and he replied that we have to use their (AAIs) guide for a tour of the ground level.  Is that correct? I don't WANT a guided tour of the ground level.

Sorry I do not have any recent information....and I am not quite sure what you mean by ground level tour of the Coloseum or Vatican,  however I do seem to recall that we were advised (and had one) that a Vatican tour had to be guided.   I would be surprised if Fabrizio (owner) would do anything or suggest anything that was not on the up and up....as he was and seems to still be one of the most honest people we have had the pleasure to deal with.  From  recent comments on here I assume that to still be true.  Maybe there are some miscommunications as to what exactly you are wanting to do.  We were able to roam the outside grounds freely after our guided tour of the Vatican as I recall....but not inside.  I can not recall what we did exactly at the Coloseum but seem to recall we elected to have an escort there also.  (don't quote me on that one....)

Sorry I can not be of a lot of help.....

Good luck, and enjoy your stay in Rome..... Fabrizio and staff will surely give you a memorable tour once you figure out what is to be done.

3 hours ago, DiamondDiva said:

Yes, including a family one for our 50 th anniversary.  But 5 over 2 1/2 years and none too far away now.  This past August’s long plane flights with huge layovers are not easy on these senior bodies anymore, so staying closer to home.  

I can relate for sure.... .Heck next month will be our 52nd Anniversary.....  

And it seems like what we used to do.... instead of coming home from a trip, unpacking, sorting dirty clothes, starting the wash, looking at photos, and literature we have amassed..... it now is...... coming home from the trip.... putting the suitcases in the bedroom, and unlocking them... hoping to get to unpacking the next day (maybe  - with laundry starting sometime that day) and heck looking at the photos/literature is something I hope to get to within the next week or so.  👨‍🦳  but we still enjoy ourselves, none the less........ and we hope to do the traveling for a while longer, but maybe just not quite as much.

Take care,

13 hours ago, DiamondDiva said:

You are more than welcome.  We have all learned from this site for our own  travels and it is good to then "pass it on" by doing the same for others. 

We too just finished our 3rd Alaska...all water-based this trip rather than the more inland, back country visits 20 + years ago. 

Some places we revisit for a variety of reasons.  But there are still other spots to go visit and with age and agility changes, we are having to be a bit pickier now.  But have 5 new already begun...and we shall go till we must stop. 

 

Enjoy.....

You have 5 more cruises in the works?  If so....that doesn’t sound like slowing down 😳!

14 hours ago, DiamondDiva said:

We completely enjoyed our time on Empress, but will probably not do a Mississippi cruise.  We are Chicagoans by birth, have traveled the northern route area extensively with family in the area, and have been to all but one of the southern route ports.  Getting older and “choosier” on where we travel now. 

We continue to recommend the Lewis and Clark route to others and I have certainly enjoyed our interaction on this forum.  

Happy and safe sailings to you all!

 

I totally understand your reasoning and being choosier as you mature (grin).  We did Europe early on knowing that later it would be tougher on us physically.  
 

We have been to Alaska 3 times but find that every time we go that there are different things that we have not seen before, or has changed a lot, or maybe we missed it completely so we keep going back.  In fact we are booked for another cruise to Alaska for next August. 
 

We thoroughly enjoyed the Empress cruise and already have mentioned it to friends.  Sure do thank you for your comments, and insight from your experiences before we did our cruise. 
 

Who knows maybe we will cross paths in the future...you just never know.  
 

Take care and best to you in your future travels. 

On ‎10‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 2:27 PM, Bop said:

Hi All,

 

My good friends who recommended the Lewis and Clark itinerary also did the Mississippi New Orleans to Memphis, I believe.  They expressed the same observations about the industrialization and less than scenic views.  We too are considering the Memphis to NO itinerary. I will contact AQSC and see if they would like to have Buck and me do a return engagement on stage!  TOOT TOOT.

 

I am still editing my shots of all the unique scenery from the cruise.  Got a bunch suitable for framing.  Photography is definitely a big part of my cruise enjoyment and prefer to have great subjects.  Maybe rhe Mississippi will be moved down on my priority list.

Buck, hope you have fully recovered from your cruise ailments.

 

Bop/Jim

  

I'm also messing with the photos now.... but have a ways to go.  That is a problem when I used a iPhone, Ipad, Canon Camera and my wife also took some photos...… putting them in some form of order.

Jim..... beginning to wonder if we need to get an "agent" to handle the potential calls and bookings that might come if our entertainment is seen by others and the requests begin pouring in?  Know any good ones? 

I really think that we will be looking at doing the Memphis to New Orleans cruise in 2021.....since we have a cruise booked with our Daughter in Law and Granddaughter next year.  I guess the ports and the Queen ship is worth the trip overall from what I have been told.  We had been doing 2 cruises a year, but think we want to cut back a little and spend more time in the cooler mountains of Arizona during the summer, so we only have one cruise planned next year.  Sure hope you guys give some consideration to doing the Memphis cruise also.

I have finally gotten over the sinus infection that got hold of me the last day of the cruise.  Those things last about 2 weeks....even with the meds that I take. I don't think it helped that I sat outside the Jet Boat on the Snake River tour...with the wind and occasional splashing water getting to me.

Anyway.... I am a bit sad to see this cruise/thread come to an end..... I do hope that if any of the posters here have more information or plan a cruise with AQSC in the future that they will put out the information so that I could follow along to see how that goes.

Take care all !!

@califsealion Thanks for that information !  I copied it to refer to later should we decide to do the Memphis/New Orleans cruise. 
 

Thanks again !

11 hours ago, califsealion said:

 

We did New Orleans to Memphis, but purely based on the dates, not because we were trying for that direction.  Did they say why they thought one direction was better than the other?  We also took the Duchess.  I chose that boat purely on the small size.  My mom has mobility issues, so I figured the smaller size would be easier for her.  I haven't been on the Queen so I can't offer a comparison of the two.  Fun for us, it worked out in our favor because two of the bus driver we had on the Columbia River trip were on our Mississippi River trip also!  They had migrated over when the Duchess launched.  I'm sure the Queen would be fun, too.

 Sure sounds like you had a great time on your cruise. While on the Empress the head of housekeeping, and the bartender at the River Grill, both mentioned having worked/sailed on the American Queen ship and both suggested going southbound from Memphis to New Orleans. It was mentioned that the river and a number of ports are very  industrialized, and they thought the timed itinerary lent itself to better sightseeing going in that direction.  I did not ask specifics about their comments and I have not yet compared itineraries for going either direction.  I’m sure that AQSC offers comparable trips both ways and Southbound was just their favorite. It was also mentioned that they thought the American Queen ship was very interestingly decorated and was their favorite.  I saw information that it was the biggest in the fleet. I think the Queen has a capacity of over 400 passengers. 

 Isn’t it ironic what a small world it seems sometimes. You having met the same bus drivers on two different cruises in your case.   Since our cruise, myself and and an old work buddy who also was on the Empress cruise with a friend, were at our former employer recently for a planned photo session. Ironically the photographer who happens to be from a company outside of Arizona noticed my buddy was wearing an American Queen Steamboat Company polo shirt and  commented that she formerly worked on the Duchess ship and one other one along the Mississippi River. She also said that she had vacationed/cruised on the Empress ship.  You just never know who or when you might run across situations like that.  

BTW did you find anything in particular that you liked or disliked about your cruise from New Orleans?  Any sightseeing tips?  Also did you do any extended tours while in New Orleans or Memphis?  While we may not be able to go until 2021, I would be interested in your opinion. 

Take care.......also hope you are not affected by those California wildfires. 

11 hours ago, califsealion said:

 

My question is, have you started planning a cruise on the Mississippi? 😀

.....sent this twice but did not publish.......

In our case we have discussed the Memphis to New Orleans cruise on the American Queen. The direction and ship were recommended to us by several employees on the Empress. 
 

Unfortunately we have a cruise already booked for 2020 along with some other plans so it looks like the earliest we could go would be in 2021 sometime. 
 

What say others here.....anyone booked or thinking of doing the American Queen cruise?

9 hours ago, LEAFEATER said:

The itinerary of the bus stops must have changed since we were on the cruise, as we didn’t have shopping stops..... which was fine with me as I’m not much of a shopper. There were street fairs at a couple of the towns, which were places to buy souvenirs. 

A couple of the stops were specific to shopping, and a couple mentioned in their downtown stop that shopping was available.  Astoria had a street fair during our stop.  Let’s just say that none except Astoria were the type of shopping my wife was interested in - and she is a marathon type shopper.  (Guess that was a benefit for me and our credit card though - 😂)

13 hours ago, DiamondDiva said:

So, how was the trip?  

 

1 hour ago, califsealion said:

I would love to hear how things went, too!

We had a very good cruise - especially after we were at 1st told we would not go to/through The Bonneville Locks nor to Astoria as the locks were not fully repaired.  The night before our cruise to Stevenson where we were to spend 2 plus days we were given the good news that the locks had opened and our trip would be completed as planned.    

We were somewhat fortunate in that the premium tour to Multnomah Falls and the Vista house had been canceled initially, but once the locks reopened American Queen company  decided to make the Falls a bus type excursion at NO cost and credited us for our Premium tour monies. They could not do the Vista house however due to scheduling issues at that point. 

As to the ship itself - we liked the layout, the rooms were a bit small but very comfortable and the veranda had plenty of space.  The public areas were clean and we were impressed with the ‘on your honor’ gift shop and availability of assistance at the Pursers Office.  We dined every evening in the Astoria dining room except for Friday when we had made reservations at the River Grill. It was our lucky night as it was also lobster night in the grill.    Meal variety in the Astoria dining room was very good and we were pleased with everything offered.  We utilized the River Grill and Astoria dining room for both breakfast and lunch depending on our mood and time available. 

We were greeted everywhere on board by a friendly face and pleasant attitude.  Everyone seemed to ‘have’ a minute to answer a question or to say hi or to ask how we were doing. 

The entertainment was unbelievably good and while the Empress Quartet did a great job - we really liked Anna Carroll as well as Greg and Lindy who were our favorite singers.  We went to the Paddlewheel lounge every evening to hear Frank Chase the piano player/comedian - and felt he was one of the best we had ever seen.  

As far as the Hop On Hop off buses - they did a great job, were on time and very accommodating, especially with those that required a little more time or assistance due to mobility issues. The itinerary at each port was very good and interesting Except the ‘shopping’ stops in all the ports except Astoria left a lot to be desired.  For example in Richland, Wa. the shopping stop included 2 small restaurants (yes we ate at Porters BBQ (of Diners Drive In and Dives fame). There was a Small 2nd hand women’s clothes boutique, a bakery, a furniture store, a couple of insurance offices, a tattoo shop, and several empty or under construction buildings.  

The weather was perfect all along the way until the Stevenson area and remainder of the cruise.  The weather turned very cool, a little rainy, and windy until we were on tour in Portland when it was milder. 

Overall we we truly were happy that we did this trip, and were impressed enough that we are now talking of doing the Memphis to New Orleans cruise on the American Queen - as also several staff said it was a bigger and very elegant vessel and great cruise.  

I did meet meet up with @Bop (Jim) his wife and friends and even at one point we were both the ‘Stars’  on stage in the Show lounge together.  I won’t go into details here though 😜😂.  Jim is a great guy and would hope we meet again in the future for a cruise maybe.  

I think I covered most everything of importance that I could remember.  If there is a specific question, just ask.  

Take care all !

2 hours ago, LEAFEATER said:

My husband and I and sometimes one other early riser were usually the only ones to see the sun rises, which were always beautiful. We always take our large insulated mugs with us, and the waiters were always ready for us 🙂

Well I will try to drag myself out of bed to see the sunrise along with Bop/Jim ....... (I am normally an early riser - normally I say ! - the wife not so much)

But on a cruise it may be more likely that I will see the sunset than the sunRise !!! GRIN....

Thanks again for the information.... 

Sounds like a good cruise overall !

Take care,

4 hours ago, LEAFEATER said:

No, we traveled in September and no bugs

Thank you !   We leave in 6 days !!!

45 minutes ago, DiamondDiva said:

Always carry it...both bee allergic and any biting critter worth its salt finds me.  Never  needed it, but we were traveling in June.  Cool enough to wear long pants, etc.  But does not hurt to carry a small one. 

Thank you !

@DiamondDiva and @LEAFEATER

Quick question:

Did you find any need for bug / mosquito spray?

Just curious !

@DiamondDiva

Thanks for the good thoughts.  We are anxious to do this particular cruise and hopeful that it is what we like so that we can consider doing some river cruises along the Mississippi etc. 

I can no longer fly long distances (4 hours is about my limit) thus no more cruises in Europe 😩.  We had done many along the west coast - closest to us (Panama, Mexico, Alaska 3 times, Hawaii from San Diego, and Pacific Coastal a few times so we are hoping this is a viable change of pace.  

Weren’t you recently on the Millenium?  How did you like that cruise?

Take care, and thanks once again !

28 minutes ago, LEAFEATER said:

My husband and I enjoyed this cruise so much last September, that my cousin and her husband and another couple signed on for this year. They just got back and said it surpassed everyone’s expectations. I hope you have the same experience 

That is great to hear !

Thanks again for your insight !

Funny....I had a few minutes this morning to review this thread.

Ironically, after checking all the posts...I realize that only @Bop, myself, and one other person @craftygrandma, (not including any unknown lurkers) are really the only ones going or listed as going on this particular cruise.

All of the other posters were those that have already been....or a few that were going on other dates.

 I for one really appreciated the information, photos, and reviews posted by previous cruisers as it really helped clear up some questions I had.  Thank you so much for helping.  

My wife and I are looking forward to this cruise, and meeting Bop, his wife and traveling friends and others as yet unknown to me. 

Only 10 days left !

49 minutes ago, Bop said:

I am always talking to myself.  Nothing to worry about as long as you include others at least occasionally!

As long as we don’t start answering ourselves huh?

3 hours ago, Bop said:

Hi All,

 

Looks like hurricane Dorian is starting the season off with a bang. Pray for the folks in FL and lots of others who could be affected.  Hopefully Dorian will clear up the atmosphere and allow some interruptions of the east to west currents.  Don't want to have to leave home with a hurricane here or on the way.  Just gave our house sitter a tutorial on hooking up the generator.

 

The ladies have begun the important task of planning their outfits and the guys have been pondering their "country club casual" wardrobes.  Shirt, pants, shoes, done.  Read thru the tips from all you guys on CC and highlighted our choices. Looking forward to everything and meeting new friends is always fun. Decided to pack my SLR and a couple of lenses.  Also bringing a small point and shoot.  Phone takes pretty good shots too.  I should be covered in case a moose or something shows up.  Hoping Hell's canyon presents photo ops.  Now on to packing.  I'll be the guy with the cameras hanging all over him.

 

Buck, you still here?

 

Bop/Jim from VA

 

Jim, sure hope that the hurricane passes you by without much impact.   We go back to our Phoenix home next Thursday and begin the ‘task’ of what to wear/pack also.  

I too will have a bigger camera, but may only have one (well maybe 2) lens with me.   I’m sure my wife will be bringing her LUMIX point and shoot camera with her also as it has WiFi and she can sync up photos to her iPhone to send back to the family.  My Camera will also sync up with my iPhone/iPad which is nice to be able to send off a photo or 2. 

As to (am I still here?) - look back a few postings as I was afraid I might be talking to myself 😜 these last couple of days.  

Take care, 

Thanks for checking back Califsealion. 

I just noted this happening off the coast of Oregon yesterday.  Did not see much about it so assume it was not a major problem anywhere even tho it appears to be a major quake overall

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake was recorded Thursday morning in the Pacific Ocean near Oregon, the US Geological Survey reported .

The quake happened around 11:07 a.m. EST about 175 miles west-northwest of the coastal city of Bandon, Oregon, the USGS reported.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 weeks and 1 day away for us !!!!

Yea !!  we have our cruise docs!. (Well our neighbor who is watching our place) has them for us. 

We have also booked 4 premium excursion tours and contemplating a couple of others.  I was told that we could in most cases do a HoHo tour and a Premium tour on same day.  So depending on how tired we may be will help us decide on any additional Premium tours if they are still available while on board.  

Getting interesting, and hoping we really like this cruise - as we might like to try cruising along the Mississippi also !

29 minutes ago, Bop said:

Just made airport van transfer reservations at Historic Davenport Hotel as recommended by DD et al.  $25 per room is a good deal.  Thanks!

 

Now on to the things to pack list and luggage selection.  Have gotten a lot better at packing over the years.  Not worried about "the fashion police" as things have gotten more casual over the years.  Comfort first!  Now debating how much photography gear to pack.  Usually bring just the Canon S95 but that may not produce the great photos like DD's moose and fawns shot.  (hope I got the correct photographer for that great shot)  Hate adding the SLR and lenses to the mix.  Heavy and bulky.  Hope weather is temperate with cool nights.  Will bring layers of course.

 

More later,

Bop/Jim

 

 

Oh no !!!! Was so hoping to see you in a dinner Tux Jim !!!   Ha ha.    

I live casual !!  Thus the reason we travel on NCL as much as we can. 

As to cameras - I was carrying a Canon T5i with a Sigma 100/400mm lens which I shot the Moose and babies with in Alaska. (Sold the lens tho as I just was not 100% pleased with it)  But now in addition I have a full frame Canon 6D Mark 2 Camera with 28/300mm Tamron and a 100/600mm lens.  (I’m still learning this Camera).  Unfortunately the 600mm lens is very heavy and is almost too big for my backpack.  I’m trying to decide if I want to keep the T5i Camera now also. 

You don't happen to have a  Tamron 100/400mm lens floating around do you? 😳.😀.  That would be the perfect carry lens for my new camera I think.  

I’ll figure out what Camera stuff to lug around by the time we leave, as I just like fiddling with the gear anyway. 

I have a light weather type rain jacket I will carry along with a windbreaker I pack also. I am a very hot natured person, so many times when my wife is in a sweater and jacket I’m simply in a long sleeved shirt. I’ll be checking the weather to try and pack accordingly up until we leave. 

Take care.