In lower than 24 hours, we’re scheduled to go away on the primary leg of our subsequent cruise journey, one which in our 25 years of cruising, we’ve by no means skilled: An American riverboat crusing.
For the subsequent week or so, we’ll be on the Ohio River crusing aboard the world’s largest riverboat, American Queen, as friends of American Queen Voyages (AQV). Our solely earlier river cruise was in Germany, the place we had a beautiful time.
Our cruise begins in Louisville and concludes in Pittsburgh. In between we’ll make stops in Madison, IN., Cincinnati, OH., Maysville, KY., Level Nice, WV. and Marietta, OH.
AQV, headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale and celebrating its tenth anniversary this yr, is a pacesetter in American river cruising, with a fleet that serves the Pacific Northwest, mid-America, Alaska, the Nice Lakes and Mexico. Upon buying Victory Cruise Strains in 2018, they’re deploying two expedition boats as effectively.
Earlier than leaving, we bought the information we’ve been ready for: Following the lead of different cruise traces, as of August 1 (the primary day of our journey), AQV will now not require pre-COVID testing for his or her river excursions. Could we simply say, hallelujah! These little nasal swabs won’t be missed. COVID-19 vaccination continues to be required for all friends and crew, and vaccination documentation should be offered previous to boarding.
The Ohio River cruises have been a comparatively current addition, and we’re trying ahead to discovering out what it has to supply.
Our crusing features a pre-cruise keep at a lodge. In our case, they’ve booked us on the Brown, a Louisville landmark which can observe its a centesimal anniversary subsequent yr. It’s listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, and positioned lower than two miles from the port the place’ll board American Queen.
As we’re all painfully conscious, air journey hasn’t been a picnic this summer season, so we hope there’s no hitches as we go from Palm Seashore Worldwide to Louisville, through Atlanta. Right here’s hoping each us and our baggage make it safely with out an unruly passenger or climate occasion.
As we begin our voyage of discovery, please be a part of us. Assuming the Wi-Fi gods are smiling, Pam and I’ll hold you posted on what we hope will probably be an thrilling new chapter in our ebook of cruises.
PHOTO:
American Queen (Courtesy of American Queen Voyages)
See sailings right here American Queen Voyages Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
