Go Where The Big Ships Cannot Proud to be family owned and operated since 1966 800-556-7450 • www.blountadventure.com U.S. Flag & U.S. Crew CONTENTS About Our History .................................................. 4-5 Life Onboard ...................................................6 Different by Design .........................................7 Dining .............................................................8 Caribbean & Central America Panama Canal & the Islands .................... 9-11 Belize & Roatan. ..................................... 12-13 Intracoastal & Bays Savannah to Baltimore .................................15 Historic Chesapeake Bay. ....................... .16-17 New England & Canadian Maritimes Islands of New England .......................... .18-19 Massachusetts Sampler. ......................... .20-21 New England Islands Escape . .......................22 Maine & New Brunswick ...............................23 Great Lakes, Canals & Rivers Great American Waterways .................... .24-25 The Legacy Continues Chicago to Montreal ......................................26 Magical Lake Michigan .................................27 Small ship cruising is our legacy… and our passion. Over the years, BSSA has Locks, Legends & Canals preserved the integrity of its heritage by remaining true to my father’s vision, The Saguenay .................................28 maintaining a casual, unpretentious and intimate atmosphere onboard. We choose every aspect of our cruises – from ports of call, guest lecturers and crew Fall Foliage .....................................29 – to provide a memorable experience. Our agile small ships can go to remote Hudson River & Coastal Fall Foliage .............30 shores and places where large cruise ships simply cannot navigate. Passengers have come to appreciate the non-commercialized, casual vacation that is truly General Information our “brand.” I am proud to introduce my son, Peter Palumbo, a third-generation For more information please Ways to Save .................................................31 Blount that has recently joined the family business. Dad would have been very Frequently Asked Questions .................... 32-33 proud… the legacy continues! call our office at Our Ships In 2019, we will return to Panama, an itinerary that was a favorite of my father’s 800-556-7450 and one requested often by our passengers. A pioneer at heart, my father to speak to a reservations agent Grande Mariner ....................................... 34-35 took pride in creating a real adventure for his travelers. I can fondly recall Dad or visit Grande Caribe ......................................... 36-37 searching high and low for a black fedora hat that he wanted to give the “chief” www.blountadventure.com Travel Protection ...........................................38 of the San Blas when he arrived that season. Terms & Conditions .......................................39 I hope that as you browse this brochure, you will get a feel for what cruising on a BSSA small ship is all about: camaraderie, learning, fun and friendship. Simply choose a destination, then contact our Reservations Team and we’ll see to it that your Blount vacation is everything you expect it to be – and Guest Lecturers & Destination Experts more. Photography Workshops We look forward to seeing you aboard! Bikes & Kayaks Nancy Blount, President Fall Foliage 2 3 A History of Innovation Luther on the Erie Canal he began to patent unique features of Back on land, Luther continued to revive his boats. These patents would one day his family legacy. He worked tirelessly become the signature of Blount Small to bring oysters back to Rhode Island, in Ship Adventures, including a retractable the waters of his beloved Narragansett tling oyster processing plant and turned pilot-house and a bow ramp. Bay. He even bought an island refuge to help the cause. His major donation to a In 1910 E.B. Blount & Sons Oyster it into a workspace for constructing a new Luther’s patented bow ramp made it Company in Warren, Rhode Island was local university created a program that oyster boat. In doing so he found a new possible to step into the waters of seclud- a thriving family business. In coastal taught students about marine wildlife, calling in shipbuilding. By 1962 Blount ed coves and shallow riverbanks; glass Rhode Island, the oyster beds were boun- and challenged them with cultivating new had built 100 vessels including New bottom boats provided passengers with a tiful and every morning fresh oysters went oyster beds. The goal remained simple York’s Circle Line ferries and introduced diver’s eye; and his patented retractable out by the crate to eager buyers around and clear: rebuild what Rhode Island had the concept of dinner boats in ports pilot house – combined with the shallow the state. But in 1938 the Great New lost back in 1938. around the U.S. Luther found inspiration draft of the ships – made previously in- England Hurricane changed everything. for future cruise itineraries by personally accessible routes possible. Blount con- Luther passed the reins of the cruise The devastation caused by the hurricane delivering the vessels he built. For the tinued to create interesting cruise itin- business to his daughter Nancy in 2006 lasted for decades. Blount’s once thriving years that followed, the Blounts com- eraries from the 1970’s -1990’s, taking and his boat building business is now led oyster beds, were left in shambles. bined business and pleasure by spending passengers beyond the U.S. to places like by daughters Marcia and Julie. In 2010, Luther Blount became VP of E.B. Blount their vacations aboard the family boat; Panama, Belize and Canada. A reputation after a complete retrofit of the fleet, what & Sons and was determined to keep sailing, fishing, and enjoying time for adventurous cruising was built. was once American Canadian Caribbean the family business alive. In 1947, the together on the water. Line was rebranded to honor the legacy of From the white sandy beaches of the Ca- young engineering graduate got to work the man who started it all. Blount Small Soon friends and family asked to join ribbean to the lush hills of Central Amer- on a series of innovations. By creating a Ship Adventures was born. their trips and a vision began to take ica; from the serene waters of the Great new method of steaming clams, Blount shape in Luther’s mind. With his signa- Lakes to the rich history of the Northeast, shellfish made its way into Campbell’s ture sense of determination, this vision Blount continued to seek out new unex- Today, a third generation of Blounts soups clam chowder. And as a result, into soon became American Canadian Ca- plored destinations and waterways only have joined both the cruise line and homes across New England. ribbean Line, a new small ship cruise Blount boats could access, building the Blount Boats. With a proud nod to our Two years later Luther Blount trans- line, offering voyages unlike any other only overnight cruising vessels able to history, we excitedly look ahead to formed the family business from oysters available. By 1970 the inventor in Luther transit the historic Erie Canal. what the next half-century will bring. to shipbuilding. He took the once bus- blended with his adventurous side and Julie, Marcia & Nancy Blount Nancy & her son Peter Luther in his shipyard Like cruising on your friend’s yacht 46 75 Life Onboard Enjoy casual yacht-style cruising with fewer than 84 passengers Vista View Lounge Enjoy 180-degree panoramas from our comfortable lounge. This social setting is perfect for getting to know your fellow passengers. Cabins Four categories of smoke-free Dining cabins all include individual cli- Our casual dining mate-controlled air conditioning room and open and a private bath. Blount is seating policy has proud to announce that cabins you mingling with Different by Design new passengers are now outfitted withMatouk A legendary American ship builder and innovator, Luther Blount envisioned each meal. Bedding, a local third-genera- travelers getting closer to a destination. Retractable pilot houses. Bow ramps. tion, family-owned and operated A shallow draft that allows the ship to sail in less than seven feet of water. purveyor of fine linens. Guest Lecturers & Workshops They’re all innovations you’ll find onboard our ships. Learn about the culture, wildlife and history of a destination from our lecturers and local experts. On select cruises, participate in photography workshops onboard. The Retractable Pilot The Bow Landing The Glass-Bottom House & Shallow Draft Boat BYOB Policy Go ahead – bring your own bottle! Our unique policy allows guests Stair Lifts to enjoy their favorite Stair lifts are drinks, avoiding a available for use costly bar tab at the between decks trip’s end. on all vessels. Built with the purpose Disembark directly from This unique vessel of bringing travelers the ship’s bow onto provides passengers to places that larger secluded beaches in with a diver’s-eye-view ships simply cannot remote locales. Our of the world beneath go, the retractable pilot shallow draft allows us the waves without house allows our ships to dock with the yachts, getting wet. The launch to slip, with inches to avoiding long lines and is available on our spare, under low bridg- tourist traps. Caribbean and Central es and narrow locks. America itineraries. 6 7 Small Ship Dining From locally inspired dishes to daily, fresh-from-the-oven desserts and breads, our chefs Panama Canal work to