New Decade, New Dreams, New Destinations
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® WINTER 2020 | Volume 6, Issue 1 New Decade, New Dreams, New Destinations t’s been a few months since I started on my American Ohio River from late May to mid-July, then return to the Queen Steamboat Company journey, and it has been Mississippi River for the balance of the year. The vessel Iquite exciting, yet challenging at the same time. I’m very will accommodate 245 guests, and will offer the same fortunate to be working with such a great group of people, high-quality onboard service and shoreside experiences as both shoreside and on board our fleet. her sisters. This year, we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the American Queen,® our flagship paddlewheeler. We Late last year, I was able to carve some time out of the ™ have special events planned for that incredible milestone. busy schedule to cruise on the American Duchess. I very We are also proud to share a stunning lineup of new much enjoyed meeting some of you – our valued guests itineraries for our Victory Cruise Lines® voyages. – and experiencing our award-winning product on the Mississippi River. We are very proud of the overall guest On behalf of all of us in the American Queen Steamboat experience, from the high-touch service of our staff to Company family, thank you for your loyalty, and we wish the dining experience and entertainment to the historic you and your families a very happy and healthy new year. destinations we explore with our shore excursions team. We have some exciting initiatives as we look forward in 2020. In April, we will welcome our newest paddlewheeler Best wishes, to our collection – the American Countess.™ She will Ares Michaelides, President, initially operate in her inaugural season with an eight- American Queen Steamboat day experience on the Lower Mississippi River (New Company/Victory Cruise Lines® Orleans to Memphis and reverse), then transition to the IN THIS ISSUE: H Letter from the President H Wake-Up Call Cocktail Recipe H USS LST 393 H Civil War Cruises H SSOA Member Spotlight – Bill Taylor H 2021 Preview – Looking Ahead 2021 PREVIEW – LOOKING AHEAD Glimpse into the future of river and coastal cruising. See a few of the sensational treats coming next year on American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines. Plans for 2021: SPECIAL SHOWCASES and NEW PLACES – see what’s in store! SPECIAL-INTEREST SERIES In 2021, we will introduce our Special-Interest Series, in which thoughtfully planned cruises cater to personal preferences. Remarkable onboard events pair with exclusive shore excursions to create meaningful and uplifting encounters with a focus on fun. NEW ROUTE ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER Embark on our BRAND-NEW Memphis-to-Chicago (Ottawa) and Chicago (Ottawa)-to- St. Louis (Alton) journeys in 2021. History is built by those standing on the shoulders of giants. Explore the legacy of an American legend – President Abraham Lincoln – partly a product of this heartland full of patriots born of solid stock and bred to rely on steely reserve. The hospitality of these quaint river towns touches the spirit of all who visit. American Countess, Sep 18; Sep 25 Set your senses reeling with our NEW selection of 2021 VICTORY CRUISE LINES VOYAGES! Travel up the Eastern The majesty of Canada’s Or migrate through the Who doesn’t love autumn Seaboard on a charming Maritime Provinces springs magical Midwest on an epic in New England? Sail from 13-day journey from to life on a May cruise from summer roundtrip Chicago St. John to Boston for Jacksonville to Halifax, Portland to Niagara Falls, cruise through the jewels an unmatched show of exploring multiple historic with an expert naturalist on of the Great Lakes – nature’s bounty. ports along the way. board to enhance the joys 16 days of adventure and of whale-watching near the memory-making. Saguenay Fjord. USS LST 393 Battle-Worn Beauty – a Military Treasure Walk through history in the footsteps of heroes in one of the newest ports on our 2020 collection of Great Lakes itineraries. Visit the USS LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 393 in picturesque Muskegon, Michigan. While in service during World War II, this imposing amphibious vessel participated in operations at Sicily and Salerno, Italy, and most notably the pivotal D-Day invasion at Normandy, France. The USS LST 393 made, all told, 30 roundtrips at Omaha Beach, delivering crucial equipment and supplies and returning with human cargo – prisoners and the wounded. She is one of but two such tanks out of more than 1,000 to survive in her original configuration. Walking her decks and exploring her spaces takes veterans and civilians alike into the time and place of a national crisis from which the bold and the brave arose and conquered. After American liberty had been secured, the enormous ship continued her service in the early 1950s as the MV Highway 16, shipping Michigan’s most plentiful commodity – automobiles – across the Great Lakes on their way west. She carries only stories now, and this decorated freedom fighter is ready to share her sagas. Each spring, the Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 4 veterans’ support group sponsors a huge two-day celebration on the lakefront, with live jazz, a throwback air show, a pin-up expo, swing dancing, costumed re-enactors, weapons, artifacts and more. The museum is closed for the season, and will reopen on May 2. Don’t miss your chance to visit on an included tour on select Victory Cruise Lines voyages. Victory I ™ – May 20 Victory II ™ – May 13, 27; Jun 10, 24; Jul 8, 22; Aug 5, 19; Sep 2 GET SOCIAL WITH US FACEBOOK TWITTER Follow American Queen Steamboat Company and connect with fellow INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE Steamboat Society of America members. DON’T MISS OUR BLOG AT AQSC.COM/BLOG 5 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – BILL TAYLOR Emerald-Level Member Bill Taylor “The boat is the show! I love every aspect of a cruise on of Jackson, Ohio, is a funeral director, the American Queen,” Bill laughed. a former Ohio state trooper and a former governmental auditor. He’s also a man “Cruises on the rivers aboard a paddlewheel steamboat afford a state of passions. One of the things he’s of relaxation I've never found on any other type of vacation. There is passionate about is river cruising. no reason for the world to go past at more than 8 miles per hour! I love the quality of the entertainment in all venues... the scrumptious Since his first cruise in 1998 on the meals... the wonderful people I meet from around the country and American Queen – then operated by Delta the world – even if we don't stay in contact, but I have with many – Queen Steamboat Company – he has and most certainly the WONDERFUL crew! I consider several of embarked on 60 river cruises. the crew members as personal friends.” “My first cruise was a four-night roundtrip Cincinnati,” he said. Friendship and helping others is important to Bill. “If I can do to one “I fell in love with it!” small thing for someone to make his or her life better – even if they The ensuing years found Bill cruising on the American Queen, the may not remember it five minutes later – if at that point I've helped Delta Queen, the Mississippi Queen and Majestic America Line’s them, then it’s good within my heart.” Empress of the North – now probably more familiar to many of you as Chance are high that you’ll ® our own charming American Empress. encounter Bill if you cruise In 2012, with the launch of our American Queen, Bill started cruising on the American Queen this with us almost exclusively, and racked up another 30 voyages. “I did year. As one of our most one ocean cruise in 2001. I came right back to the river!” he joked. enthusiastic ambassadors, he’ll be more than happy to At the close of 2019, Bill completed three back-to-back voyages – 21 help welcome you aboard. days – on the American Queen, and had already booked three more back-to-backs beginning in February. Photo courtesy of Bill Taylor While his former favorite had been the Delta Queen, he’s now an American Queen devotee. PADDLEWHEELER WINTER RECIPE Take a trip back in time… The Wake-Up Call Adapted from Heritage Distilling Co.® Civil War CRUISES Journey through living history, and explore Photo courtesy of Heritage Distilling Co. the legacy of the Civil War, both on board Although it’s winter now, before we know it, we’ll be setting those and in ports of call. clocks an hour ahead to “spring forward” for Daylight Saving Time. Losing an hour can leave us in a fog, so in preparation for that not- so-cherished tradition, let’s all have an appropriate cocktail – the Wake-Up Call. 2 oz vanilla vodka 1 oz heavy cream 1 oz citrus vodka Coffee beans 1 oz strong brewed coffee SEVERAL DATES IN 2020 American Queen: Mar 15, Nov 15 American Duchess: Apr 5, Sep 13 Pour all ingredients over ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, American Countess: Oct 25, Nov 1 and strain into a coupe filled with ice. Garnish with coffee beans. 6 MEMBERSHIPEXCITING NEW PROGRAM COMING IN 2020 –BENEFITS LOOK FOR DETAILS SOON. ACTIVATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY Take advantage of all the benefits that await you by registering for our loyalty program. There are three ways to register: 1: ONLINE: www.AQSC.com/SSOA 2: ONBOARD 3: CALL: (888) 749-5280 Steamboat Society of America RUBY (35-69 cruise nights) he Steamboat Society of America, our guest loyalty program, was All Classic benefits, plus: created to recognize our past guests and offer the opportunity to “Members only” luggage tags; a membership T status name badge; a dedicated reservations enjoy exclusive benefits and incentives for cruising frequently with us.