Looking forward to lazy days

[riversights]

Do you try to pack your voyages with tours, or do you look forward to lazy drifting in the current? We hope a St. Louis to Cincinnati stretch of river may give us a break from the world. If there's a little river town to walk about and shop and ponder, so be. We enjoy the desultory walkabouts. But we don't need to be entertained (all the time) with tour guide patter, though I know they need jobs too.:D A great voyage for us is boarding a steamboat and getting lost around the next river bend...

[Calliope]

Do plan on riding the 101 year old paddlewheel steamboat BELLE OF LOUISVILLE http://www.belleoflouisville.org while in Louisville. The next day in Madison, Indiana will be that town to bimble about (as the Brits say). Everything to see in Madison except Cliffty Falls State Park is a an easy stroll from the boat.

[hondorner]

Do you try to pack your voyages with tours, or do you look forward to lazy drifting in the current? We hope a St. Louis to Cincinnati stretch of river may give us a break from the world. If there's a little river town to walk about and shop and ponder, so be. We enjoy the desultory walkabouts. But we don't need to be entertained (all the time) with tour guide patter, though I know they need jobs too.:D A great voyage for us is boarding a steamboat and getting lost around the next river bend...

The included tours with American Queen are exactly what you want. They are offered on buses that circulate the small town and act as "Hop On, Hop Off" transportation. There are no guides as those you mentioned, only local "ambassadors" (members of a tourist committee or chamber of commerce) who ride the bus and point out highlights of their town, usually very charming.

 

Our practice is to ride the entire circuit once (not more than a half hour most of the time), then get off at the first location that piqued our interest. Almost always, the stops are close enough that one may amble between them instead of waiting for the next bus (there are generally two). In fact, many of the towns are small enough to walk back to the boat when ready, although in some towns the river where the boat lands is a little distance; in those cases (not very frequent), simply wait for the bus at the next to last stop.

 

In many towns AQ offers premium excursions; we rarely take them, unless they are of significant historical interest, like the Vicksburg Battlefield, for example.

[riversights]

We appreciate the chaffering with experienced river voyagers. Always learn something. The Madison, IN, walkabout is one we're sure to do. Hope the cicadas will be warming up and that the souvenir scavengers will leave a few pickings behind for us. :D We'll take advantage of the hop-on-hop-off bus in due course, as well. But mostly we'll enjoy looking out over the guard at folk on the river and wondering "who lives here and what's life like in these parts?"

[Calliope]

Not only might the cicadas be out and buzzing, the mayflies might grace you with their presence too. If that's the case, what ever you do, don't leave your stateroom with the lights on, if it's an outside room!

[1char]

The included tours with American Queen are exactly what you want. They are offered on buses that circulate the small town and act as "Hop On, Hop Off" transportation. There are no guides as those you mentioned, only local "ambassadors" (members of a tourist committee or chamber of commerce) who ride the bus and point out highlights of their town, usually very charming.

 

Our practice is to ride the entire circuit once (not more than a half hour most of the time), then get off at the first location that piqued our interest. Almost always, the stops are close enough that one may amble between them instead of waiting for the next bus (there are generally two). In fact, many of the towns are small enough to walk back to the boat when ready, although in some towns the river where the boat lands is a little distance; in those cases (not very frequent), simply wait for the bus at the next to last stop.

 

In many towns AQ offers premium excursions; we rarely take them, unless they are of significant historical interest, like the Vicksburg Battlefield, for example.

 

Thank you for your comments. We were not sure how the hop-on-hop-off bus worked, but you did a good job of explaining.

 

We are going on the American Queen, Memphis to New Orleans, May 30th-June 6th.

[1char]

Do you try to pack your voyages with tours, or do you look forward to lazy drifting in the current? We hope a St. Louis to Cincinnati stretch of river may give us a break from the world. If there's a little river town to walk about and shop and ponder, so be. We enjoy the desultory walkabouts. But we don't need to be entertained (all the time) with tour guide patter, though I know they need jobs too.:D A great voyage for us is boarding a steamboat and getting lost around the next river bend...

 

Hi, sounds like a great way to enjoy your cruise. We also enjoy walking around towns on our own. Once in a while it is nice to go with a tour guide, but that is not the norm for us.

[1char]

American Queen buses that circulate the small town and act as "Hop On, Hop Off" transportation.

 

Our practice is to ride the entire circuit once (not more than a half hour most of the time), then get off at the first location that piqued our interest. Almost always, the stops are close enough that one may amble between them instead of waiting for the next bus (there are generally two). In fact, many of the towns are small enough to walk back to the boat when ready, although in some towns the river where the boat lands is a little distance; in those cases (not very frequent), simply wait for the bus at the next to last stop.

.

 

Hi Don, is there usually a waiting line to catch the buses when you first get off the boat? How about while in the towns, did you find you had to wait to take the bus to another stop? Just wondering how many passengers each bus might hold. Thanks, Charliebeth

[hondorner]

Hi Don, is there usually a waiting line to catch the buses when you first get off the boat? How about while in the towns, did you find you had to wait to take the bus to another stop? Just wondering how many passengers each bus might hold. Thanks, Charliebeth

There are generally two buses devoted to the Hop On Hop Off. Most of the "loops" are a half hour or less, so the timing between buses tends to be 10 to 15 minutes. The longest you will have to wait at the beginning or=f the loop or any start is that 10 to 15 minutes if you just missed the previous bus; otherwise it's less.

 

It's unlikely you will get off the bus at one stop, visit, then get on the bus again just to get to the next stop. Sometimes that's necessary if there is an isolated stop at the far extremity of the loop, but many of the stops, especially those downtown, are close enough to walk between stops -- unless it just happens that a bus is pulling up as you get to the stop. Even then, we often wave at the bus and walk to the next highlight.

 

They do their best to include stops near a post office and some shopping, but most of the stops are local highlights such as historic homes, attractive churches, museums, etc. The towns are well researched and the route is planned in advance; there is always a map showing the route, available the night before in most cases.

 

You will be asked to visit the destinations desk (next to the purser/reception) and choose a time for boarding the bus. There is a touch-screen kiosk showing the times and how many tickets are left for each time; choose the number of tickets for your preferred time (or the next available if your time is "sold out") and they will be printed and dispensed. The time slots are usually 15 minutes apart and start shortly after the arrival time. The destinations folks are at the fist stop, take the tickets the first time around and offer assistance. There are local "ambassadors" (members of a historical society or chamber of commerce, for example) who ride the busses and provide local descriptions and some history.

 

The busses are rarely full except for the first, and possibly the last. We generally ride all the way around and plan where to get off on the next leg. We have been known to jump off the arriving bus at the end of the loop and jump on the departing bus if it has not yet left.

 

Many of the stops, especially on the lower Mississippi, are at the base of a levee. The busses are at the top, as near to the levee as they can get. The walk up from the boat is usually steep. If you have mobility challenges, they have a golf cart they carry on the front deck and unload at every stop that will assist you in getting you "up the hill". At least one of the busses will be equipped for wheel chair access.

Edited April 8, 2015 by hondorner

[1char]

Hi Don, thanks for the info about the hop on-hop off bus, it is very helpful. What river cruises have you taken on the American Queen? Have you written any review's?

 

We are on the Memphis to New Orleans cruise, sailing on May 30th, staying on the 29th in Memphis. Thanks, Charliebeth

[hondorner]

Hi Don, thanks for the info about the hop on-hop off bus, it is very helpful. What river cruises have you taken on the American Queen? Have you written any review's?

 

We are on the Memphis to New Orleans cruise, sailing on May 30th, staying on the 29th in Memphis. Thanks, Charliebeth

 

We did Chattanooga to Memphis (10 days) in 2012; it was supposed to go to Vicksburg but was stymied by low water. We followed that with Memphis to Louisville (8 days); it was supposed to start in Vicksburg but could not for the same reason. In 2013 we sailed Cincinnati to Pittsburgh (5 days), and at the end of 2014 sailed roundtrip New Orleans (9 days). We're scheduled to sail round trip St Louis on Aug 22 (9 days) to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

 

I've written summaries on this forum but never submitted a formal review.