Reviewer
Bill Forsstrom from the USA.
Cruise Line
American Queen Steamboat Company.
Ship
American Queen.
Destination
Mississippi River.
# of Nights
7.
Departure Date & Ports
December 2016, from Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA,
OVERALL RATING
5 out of 5 stars.
Have you been on a small ship cruise before?
I’ve been on 8 small ship cruises.
Review
December 12th Christmas Markets Holiday Cruise.
This was my 7th voyage on the American Queen and my 8th with this company. All have been excellent. American Queen has, I believe, only been offering the Christmas Markets cruises for two years and I understand this year was quite an improvement over last year. The American Queen will hold up to about 425 passengers and this time we were not totally full.
The boat (a true steamboat) is a gem of Antebellum decor which is carried out all over the vessel. She is nothing short of stunning. She has a full range of staterooms from comfortable but small inside cabins to large suites. My cabin this time was a 210-square-foot deluxe “A” stateroom with French doors out to the open deck. There are two nice sized elevators as well as stairways inside and out to get around from deck 1 where the stunning J.M. White dining room is located, to deck 5, the top deck for passenger cabins. Ports of call included Greenville, MS; Vicksburg, MS; Natchez, MS; Nottoway Plantation, LA (two days); Oak Alley Plantation, LA; and disembarkation in New Orleans.
Her “hop on hop off” busses that follow the vessel from port to port make sightseeing a breeze. This cruise dispensed with the usual southern ports of St. Francisville and Baton Rouge, and instead substituted plantations. Lovely Christmas markets were at the Rosalie Mansion in Natchez, and Nottoway Plantation. Interesting holiday and typical southern items were for sale and the the concept was delightful. At Nottoway Plantation the passengers not only enjoyed the Christmas Markets on Friday but we were hosted at a gala banquet at the Plantation complete with a performance depicting extravagant southern balls from the plantation era. Following dinner, we were treated to bonfires on the levee on shore and then a fireworks display. All in all it was a memorable day.
The American Queen has a gracious American staff and service is superb. She also features a casual dining venue for all meals called the Front Porch of America.
The Holiday atmosphere is what really differentiated this cruise from her normal southbound cruises from Memphis to New Orleans. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
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HEIDI SARNA
Thanks Bill for telling us of the great time had, and reading my first report of any USA Christmas markets.