On Tour
❖ marty sarbey de souto, ctc
isn’t it time for a Cruise Close to home? Many of us think of a cruise as a
wears the title of president proudly.
winter journeys between Memphis and
romantic trip to somewhere far away
The company is known for small,
New Orleans. Itineraries range from
and exotic – or at least different from
informal, yacht-like cruising on U.S-
three to 10 nights. Antebellum decor
what we see and do at home in our
registered and U.S.-crewed ships that
and showboat-style entertainment will
daily lives. Our travelers may be
carry 66-98 passengers. The itineraries
be featured, including Dixieland jazz,
dreaming of the day they can board a
are particularly appealing to active,
swing and Big Band music. (greatamer-
sea-going cruise ship to historic ports
mature travelers. Its founder designed
icansteamboatcompany.com)
of the Mediterranean or the colorful
ships with a retractable pilot house to
American Cruise Lines offers trips
islands of the Caribbean. But perhaps
allow for passage under low bridges,
that emphasize American history and
just thinking of traveling so far from
and many of its ships feature low
culture. The Queen of the West is
home, or being so distanced from
ramps in the bow to allow one to walk
running seven-night trips on the
family and friends or the safety of
right off the vessel onto the beach.
Columbia and Snake rivers through
known surroundings, may make them
The company’s unique itineraries
Washington and Oregon following in
push this trip to the back burner in
include the Erie Canal, a 10-day trip
the steps of Lewis and Clark’s expedi-
order of priorities in their lives.
along the East Coast called “Cultures
tion. Another itinerary, called “New
Yet, perhaps you could bring the cruise experience to these same close-to-home folks if you lured them into their first such trip on a North
Hook travelers on a domestic cruise and they’ll go farther next time
American river or coastal trip. Once they have that first cruise under their belts, they’re more likely to travel on
and Traditions – Charleston to the
England Islands,” sails out of Provi-
future cruises with you, looking back
Chesapeake” and three itineraries
dence, R.I. and visits Nantucket,
on that first happy experience. And,
on the Mississippi. Also of interest is
Martha’s Vineyard, Newport and more.
for those who have led a life that
a New York-to-Toronto trip, cruising
“Great Rivers of Florida” includes
included past cruises, but now in their
the Hudson, St. Lawrence Seaway,
Ocala National Forest, St. Augustine
senior years may be less active or
Thousand Islands and on to Quebec
and Amelia Island, ending in Jack-
less affluent, a closer-to-home cruise
and Montreal. (blountsmallshipadven-
sonville. (americancruiselines.com)
may be just the ticket.
tures.com)
Of course, one shouldn’t forget our own states of Alaska and Hawaii to
WatER, WatER EVERyWhERE But where can you send them and
DiXiELanD anD aLL that JaZZ Another possibility is the Great
round out the mix of endless possibilities right here at home. So whether
with which companies? There are a
American Steamboat Company’s
you select ships big or small, sedate
number of opportunities you may wish
paddlewheeler, the 436-passenger
or rollicking good fun, East or West,
to explore – many of them are what
American Queen. April 2012 is the long-
our country has a panoply of options –
we often call “small ship cruising.”
awaited comeback of this, the third
right in our own back yard.
The first might be Blount Small Ship
“Queen” of the former Delta Queen
Cruises (formerly known as American
Steamboat Company. She will ply the
Canadian Caribbean Line). The new
Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers,
name is a tribute to founder Captain
with special fall foliage cruises slated
Luther Blount, whose daughter now
for September into mid-November and
8 April 2012
Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who designs and leads tours. Her travel industry consulting and educational firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com).
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