American Queen, October 18th 2021 NOLO to Memphis

[kpgibbs]

Hello everyone.  I am so excited to get to go on this boat.  Our cruise was canceled last year.  

 

I know there is already a thread on Covid testing.  Some are saying it will not be required.  Does anyone know if it will be required in NOLO?  Their website is still saying it will be required and that mask are mandatory.  Which we all know they have dropped the mask mandate.  I am vaccinated but my biggest fear is getting there and testing positive and not even feeling sick.  

 

On another note, this is a family cruise.  It's my mother, my brother and his wife.  And of course myself.  Will any of you be sailing with us?

 

Thank you in advance for any replies.  

[wandb]

You will love the Queen and this cruise!  We did this in reverse a few years ago, and I've been missing the Queen ever since!  I'd love to be sitting in the Ladies Parlor or the Gentlemans Lounge right now, watching the river go by!!

 

One thing you should know in advance so that you won't be disappointed, is the fact that you will not see much scenery as you are going up the river. Due to the high levees, that are lifesaving necessities on the lower Mississippi, you do not see the riverfront towns and scenery until you disembark and get to the top of the levee. (Maybe from the top deck???)

i would highly recommend the flood museum (one of the HOHO stops)--a very unassuming place, but very informative with a great short video. You will then understand the blessing of the levees. 

[kpgibbs]

Thank you wandb.  Sounds very interesting.  I really didn't know what to expect when it came to scenery.  I am actually fine with that.  For me, it's all about being able to travel again and having the fellowship with my family and others.

 

I live in Texas and my brother lives in St Louis.  So we don't get to see each other very much.  

[wandb]

6 hours ago, kpgibbs said:

Thank you wandb.  Sounds very interesting.  I really didn't know what to expect when it came to scenery.  I am actually fine with that.  For me, it's all about being able to travel again and having the fellowship with my family and others.

 

I live in Texas and my brother lives in St Louis.  So we don't get to see each other very much.  

What area of TX are you from?  I'm from TX and even though I moved away many years ago---I'm still from TX!!!  Once a Texan, always a Texan!

[Frncie]

On 8/12/2021 at 3:46 AM, wandb said:

You will love the Queen and this cruise! …

i would highly recommend the flood museum (one of the HOHO stops)--a very unassuming place, but very informative with a great short video. You will then understand the blessing of the levees. 

I am curious about the Flood Museum. Which port?

 

I did a search and discovered there are many flood museums! Pennsylvania, Idaho, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, just to name a few! It does sound interesting. How can we find it?

[wandb]

14 hours ago, Frncie said:

I am curious about the Flood Museum. Which port?

 

I did a search and discovered there are many flood museums! Pennsylvania, Idaho, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, just to name a few! It does sound interesting. How can we find it?

This was on one of the stops from Memphis to NO. I'll dig out my info from that cruise and post it here as soon as I find it. 

[kpgibbs]

On 8/12/2021 at 3:18 PM, wandb said:

What area of TX are you from?  I'm from TX and even though I moved away many years ago---I'm still from TX!!!  Once a Texan, always a Texan!

I am from Amarillo.  

[wandb]

On 8/19/2021 at 3:48 PM, kpgibbs said:

I am from Amarillo.  

i grew up midway between Houston and San Antonio, so we are like another state from you!  My DH's college roommate was from Amarillo, and he never could get used to all the trees in central and south TX!

[CruisinCadie]

Just got our cruise documents for the Sept. 6 American Queen NOLA to Memphis cruise. 

 

There is a mandatory vaccine requirement.  I was actually able to get my booster yesterday due to some meds I take for rheumatoid arthritis.  It's not a requirement but I'll feel safer visiting LA and MS.

 

You will receive a mandatory health questionnaire via email 5 days before the cruise.  When you check in, you will also need to fill out a health questionnaire.  

 

Masks must be worn during embarkation and on all excursions.  They are not required on the boat.

 

The flood museum is in Greenville, MS.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I will post a very detailed review when we return, but if you have any more specific questions, let me know before we sail and I'll try to find the answers.

[wandb]

Thank you, CrusinCadie. You are right---The 1927 Flood Museum is in Greenville, MS. It is one of the stops on the HOHO bus tour. 
 

A quick story about our experience there---As we arrived at the museum, we saw several people leaving the museum, not in a very good mood!  We heard them talking about "that dark and dingy place, who would want to spend 2 minutes there?"  They had walked in, turned around, and walked out again!!!  But we decided to stay and see what we could see. WOW!  The museum is housed in a very old building---one of the oldest remaining in the town. It may have seemed dim (thanks to the constant streaming of an excellent short video---one of the most informative videos I've ever seen. Very few people know of the history of this area on the Mississippi.) The exhibits were also wonderful, and highlighted a life and a time that most of us away from this area know very little about. 
 

I think the people we encountered on their way out of the museum must have been looking for the glitz and glamour of the casinos. As for us,  this is one of the most memorable stops we have ever visited. 
 

One recommendation while you are in Memphis is to eat at the historic Blues City Cafe. We loved the food (ribs and all the trimmings) and the fun atmosphere. 
 

Enjoy your cruises!!

Barb

[CruisinCadie]

Thanks for the info on the Flood Museum.  You can't judge a book by its cover or a museum by the first few steps inside.

 

Kathy

[kpgibbs]

On 8/20/2021 at 5:48 PM, wandb said:

i grew up midway between Houston and San Antonio, so we are like another state from you!  My DH's college roommate was from Amarillo, and he never could get used to all the trees in central and south TX!

I go to East Texas some.  I love to see the trees.  Something we are lacking.  But one thing about living in Amarillo, if your dog runs away, you can watch him for at least two miles.  

[wandb]

On 8/26/2021 at 4:25 PM, kpgibbs said:

I go to East Texas some.  I love to see the trees.  Something we are lacking.  But one thing about living in Amarillo, if your dog runs away, you can watch him for at least two miles.  

😁😂

[midwestchick]

On 8/12/2021 at 5:46 AM, wandb said:

You will love the Queen and this cruise!  We did this in reverse a few years ago, and I've been missing the Queen ever since!  I'd love to be sitting in the Ladies Parlor or the Gentlemans Lounge right now, watching the river go by!!

 

One thing you should know in advance so that you won't be disappointed, is the fact that you will not see much scenery as you are going up the river. Due to the high levees, that are lifesaving necessities on the lower Mississippi, you do not see the riverfront towns and scenery until you disembark and get to the top of the levee. (Maybe from the top deck???)

i would highly recommend the flood museum (one of the HOHO stops)--a very unassuming place, but very informative with a great short video. You will then understand the blessing of the levees. 

Sounds interesting. Do you have any other tips to offer?  
We’re very familiar with the Mississippi River since part of it is less than an hour from us.  We’re doing a long road trip in October along the Great River Road. It’s a beautiful drive no matter which state you’re driving in 

[wandb]

5 hours ago, midwestchick said:

Sounds interesting. Do you have any other tips to offer?  
We’re very familiar with the Mississippi River since part of it is less than an hour from us.  We’re doing a long road trip in October along the Great River Road. It’s a beautiful drive no matter which state you’re driving in 

The River Road trip sounds wonderful. I'd love to do that. 
As for tips on the cruise---

We loved everything!  We knew going in that it would not be like an ocean cruise so we did not miss all the 'bells and whistles' that some cruisers expect. We found AQSC to be professional efficient, and friendly, from the entire crew on board to the staff at the hotel to the HOHO bus drivers. 
We took advantage of all the free HOHO excursions and found them to be interesting and informative. I especially enjoyed touring the house and grounds of Nottaway Plantation, but every home that we had time to tour was great. 
The Flood Museum in Greenville and the River Museum with Tugboat tour in Vicksburg were great. 
At every stop we met warm, wonderful folks who were proud of their towns and happy to have us there. 
 

On board, be sure to do the Chef's tour of the galley. You will be amazed at all they do in such limited space. The Riverlorian's talks were interesting, as was the Csptain's talk. We enjoyed exploring the boat and imagining ourselves on the boat in Victorian times. The decor is beautiful, but we are happy for "modern updates"!

Not sure if they still have the "snack area" post Covid, but it was a favorite with everyone. Self serve warm homemade cookies and other snacks as well as specialty coffees and teas available  24/7 ! What a treat!  
 

if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I'll help if I can, or someone here will know the answers. 

[midwestchick]

28 minutes ago, wandb said:

The River Road trip sounds wonderful. I'd love to do that. 
As for tips on the cruise---

We loved everything!  We knew going in that it would not be like an ocean cruise so we did not miss all the 'bells and whistles' that some cruisers expect. We found AQSC to be professional efficient, and friendly, from the entire crew on board to the staff at the hotel to the HOHO bus drivers. 
We took advantage of all the free HOHO excursions and found them to be interesting and informative. I especially enjoyed touring the house and grounds of Nottaway Plantation, but every home that we had time to tour was great. 
The Flood Museum in Greenville and the River Museum with Tugboat tour in Vicksburg were great. 
At every stop we met warm, wonderful folks who were proud of their towns and happy to have us there. 
 

On board, be sure to do the Chef's tour of the galley. You will be amazed at all they do in such limited space. The Riverlorian's talks were interesting, as was the Csptain's talk. We enjoyed exploring the boat and imagining ourselves on the boat in Victorian times. The decor is beautiful, but we are happy for "modern updates"!

Not sure if they still have the "snack area" post Covid, but it was a favorite with everyone. Self serve warm homemade cookies and other snacks as well as specialty coffees and teas available  24/7 ! What a treat!  
 

if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I'll help if I can, or someone here will know the answers. 

Your response was extremely helpful and informative. Thank you so much. 
I was amazed to find the Great River Road covers 10 states. Amazing!  We will just be doing IA, WI and MN. 
We had a sampling of a Riverboat this month. We did a riverboat from one Iowa town to another and back. The package offered one night in a hotel. We loved it and I’m sure there is no comparison to American Queen Steamboat cruise.  
From what I’ve been told they still have the snack area.  I’m going to be mindful of that…the older I get, those snacks tend to land on my body like never before…😂😂