American Queen Review Detail (very long)

Odysseus wrote:

American Queen, November 2003


Odysseus,

Thanks for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your
experience.
I have often considered the possibility of taking an historic river trip,
but your description confirms my worst suspicions.


Most of the passengers enjoyed the cruise. There are plenty of repeat
cruisers. Delta Queen does a very good job of catering to their market.
It's just that I am not in that market. I like Las Vegas style shows,
European cuisine, formal service, and a cosmopolitan ambiance.


This is a great example of a niche product. The one disagreement I would
have with your cruise assessment is that the entertainment is "bad". I
believe entertainment choices are either well done or poorly done, it is
either to your liking or not, and something isn't necessarily bad just
because someone doesn't like it. That's where I disagree with some of
the responses as well regarding the specifics of the cruise.

I also think that everything you write about it makes sense for what it
is supposed to be and I find it admirable that it doesn't seem to be
trying to be something it is not. It is not in the context of a 19th
Century American steamboats, however updated, to have discos, Las Vagas
type of shows, European cruisine, internet connections, etc. That would
be having the settings of something and giving something else, something
that is often done in the mainstream and part of mass market compromises.

In order for something like a Delta Queen to work it has to know its
audience and cater to them. Many of the responses to your review proves
that this is a niche product with a specific audience and that they are
not the type of business to expand with a new steamboat every year.
Perhaps they'll expand slowly, perhaps not, but expansion is not the
name of the game, neither is popularity or matching features of
mainstream cruises. So, this represents a distinctive choice for those
that are interested in what it offers and I think any changes made to
the product should be done in the context of the definition of the product.



Ben S.

I enjoyed the historical component of the steamboat. For me, it was the
high point of the cruise. The high point of the trip, however, was the
pre-cruise package, three nights on Bourbon Street.

Wow! No TV. No Disco, No Casino. I can easily see why you were so
disappointed with your cruise on the American Queen. I am so glad we did
not have them. for it made us enjoy the boat that much more Your disdain
for the elderly was very apparent. Your claim for sophistication is
contrary to your very enjoyable three days on Bourbon St, Three days on
this boat without participating in the singalongs, or playing the
calliope or flying a kite, or just sitting in a rocking chair on the
back porch while drinking a mint julip.....what a shame that you missed
all of that and more. Yes, the walls were thin between cabins, but we
didn`t let it bother us. I have a long review of my two seven-day
cruises on the AQ that I will gladly forward to anyone who asks. We had
a great time and would do it again if not for my present disabilities.
Peter Bugda

IT`S ALWAYS SOMETIN`

Lloyd Parsons wrote:

In article , Charles
wrote:


In article .net,
Benjamin Smith wrote:


This cruise sounds good to me except for

That sounded good to you?


The only good thing I saw about it was I got to read it before I
screwed up and booked it! G

What would make you want to book it? Does anything about it match your
cruise profile? And, why would anyone come to any firm conclusion based
on one review? A balance of positive and negative reviews would seem to
make more sense to me.

Ben S. (most reviews of Delta Queen steamboats are very positive)


Lloyd

"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message
link.net...
Odysseus wrote:

The one disagreement I would
have with your cruise assessment is that the entertainment is "bad". I
believe entertainment choices are either well done or poorly done, it is
either to your liking or not, and something isn't necessarily bad just
because someone doesn't like it.

Ben.. doesn't that hold true about almost all facets of a cruise report?
Entertainment, food, layout, interior design, are all a matter of personal
taste. Even with levels of service, some people enjoy it when the waiters
are social, others enjoy prompt service with no personal interaction.

About the only thing that couldn't be argued is if the ship sinks. Think we
can all agree that would be bad G

Regards,
Kuki
Features Editor
http://cruisemates.com
Internet Cruise Magazine
Fun and Friendship= http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/CMcruise

wrote:

Wow! No TV. No Disco, No Casino. I can easily see why you were so
disappointed with your cruise on the American Queen. I am so glad we did
not have them. for it made us enjoy the boat that much more Your disdain
for the elderly was very apparent. Your claim for sophistication is
contrary to your very enjoyable three days on Bourbon St, Three days on
this boat without participating in the singalongs, or playing the
calliope or flying a kite, or just sitting in a rocking chair on the
back porch while drinking a mint julip.....what a shame that you missed
all of that and more. Yes, the walls were thin between cabins, but we
didn`t let it bother us. I have a long review of my two seven-day
cruises on the AQ that I will gladly forward to anyone who asks. We had
a great time and would do it again if not for my present disabilities.
Peter Bugda


I'd love a port or repost of it here, if not please send it to me.

Regarding cabins, my guess would be there are different sizes and
categories. Thiness of walls: this isn't a high tech, mass produced ship
with 4 similar sisters, it's a small 400 plus pax boat. I'm OK with
Odyseuss' review and summary, I think he states his tastes and why the
ship wasn't for him.

I'm not sure if I'll like DQ steamboats, it sounds good on paper. But
I'm sure glad that they are operating and offering this type of product
and think that whoever is considering this line will go not of
convenience or curiosity, but go because they have a genuine interest in
this type of product.

Also, Peter, if you can send a link to any pics of the trip that you may
have, it'll be appreciated.

Ben S.




IT`S ALWAYS SOMETIN`

Kuki-Cruisemates.com wrote:

"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message
link.net...

Odysseus wrote:


The one disagreement I would

have with your cruise assessment is that the entertainment is "bad". I
believe entertainment choices are either well done or poorly done, it is
either to your liking or not, and something isn't necessarily bad just
because someone doesn't like it.


Ben.. doesn't that hold true about almost all facets of a cruise report?
Entertainment, food, layout, interior design, are all a matter of personal
taste. Even with levels of service, some people enjoy it when the waiters
are social, others enjoy prompt service with no personal interaction.


I think there are some reports that tend towards being descriptive,
though I find most are judgments and affirmations of personal tastes.
There are some reports that state judgments and others that go into the
specifics of the product that gives light on the judgments.

Descriptions are helpful in determining whether one shares the
reviewer's judgments on cruise aspects.



About the only thing that couldn't be argued is if the ship sinks. Think we
can all agree that would be bad G


Unless we really dislike the ship

Ben


Regards,
Kuki
Features Editor
http://cruisemates.com
Internet Cruise Magazine
Fun and Friendship= http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/CMcruise

It might be worth looking into the 3/4 night sailings with a few days in New
Orleans. That way you're getting a "taste" of it without committing to a
whole week.

--Tom

"Benjamin Smith" wrote in message
link.net...
wrote:

Wow! No TV. No Disco, No Casino. I can easily see why you were so
disappointed with your cruise on the American Queen. I am so glad we did
not have them. for it made us enjoy the boat that much more Your disdain
for the elderly was very apparent. Your claim for sophistication is
contrary to your very enjoyable three days on Bourbon St, Three days on
this boat without participating in the singalongs, or playing the
calliope or flying a kite, or just sitting in a rocking chair on the
back porch while drinking a mint julip.....what a shame that you missed
all of that and more. Yes, the walls were thin between cabins, but we
didn`t let it bother us. I have a long review of my two seven-day
cruises on the AQ that I will gladly forward to anyone who asks. We had
a great time and would do it again if not for my present disabilities.
Peter Bugda


I'd love a port or repost of it here, if not please send it to me.

Regarding cabins, my guess would be there are different sizes and
categories. Thiness of walls: this isn't a high tech, mass produced ship
with 4 similar sisters, it's a small 400 plus pax boat. I'm OK with
Odyseuss' review and summary, I think he states his tastes and why the
ship wasn't for him.

I'm not sure if I'll like DQ steamboats, it sounds good on paper. But
I'm sure glad that they are operating and offering this type of product
and think that whoever is considering this line will go not of
convenience or curiosity, but go because they have a genuine interest in
this type of product.

Also, Peter, if you can send a link to any pics of the trip that you may
have, it'll be appreciated.

Ben S.




IT`S ALWAYS SOMETIN`

In article .net,
Benjamin Smith wrote:

Lloyd Parsons wrote:

In article , Charles
wrote:


In article .net,
Benjamin Smith wrote:


This cruise sounds good to me except for

That sounded good to you?


The only good thing I saw about it was I got to read it before I
screwed up and booked it! G

What would make you want to book it? Does anything about it match your
cruise profile? And, why would anyone come to any firm conclusion based
on one review? A balance of positive and negative reviews would seem to
make more sense to me.

Ben S. (most reviews of Delta Queen steamboats are very positive)

It isn't the only review I've read. But the reason I wouldn't go on
them is that virtually every review shows me that I would be bored to
tears on them.

Lloyd

Hi Ben:
I tried to forward my AQ review to you but I can`t get through. I
really would like to forward it to this newsgroup but I don`t know how (
webtv ) Can anyone tell me how to do it. I`d like for everyone
interested to read a more positive review of the AQ.
Peter

IT`S ALWAYS SOMETIN`

Go to where you have it stored.

Click on all the text with the mousen (you want to have all the text marked
blue), or from the menu select "Select All". Then hit "Copy".

After you hit copy, then go to the place where you read RTC and create a new
message. When you get the new screen, just hit "Paste". It should be
there.

--Tom


wrote in message
...
Hi Ben:
I tried to forward my AQ review to you but I can`t get through. I
really would like to forward it to this newsgroup but I don`t know how (
webtv ) Can anyone tell me how to do it. I`d like for everyone
interested to read a more positive review of the AQ.
Peter

IT`S ALWAYS SOMETIN`