American Queen Calls To British Cruisers

One of the most intriguing 'newcomers' to the Telegraph Cruise Show last weekend was the UK sales launch of the American Queen steamboat.

The classic vessel, with its authentic steam-powered paddlewheel, is the largest riverboat in the world and travels the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and it is now on sale to British customers for the first time through the booking agency of Light Blue Travel.

The American Queen towers six decks high and is longer than a football field; it features broad shaded decks and an abundance of filigree, fretwork, antique furniture, stained glass and mahogany panelling with a choice of wonderful accommodation, including staterooms and suites with genuine verandas. 

A choice of itineraries take passengers back to a slower pace of life on seven-night themed voyages that include the Civil War, Mardi Gras, Blues & Barbecue, Dixie Fest, Southern Culture, Louisiana History and Culture, Gardens of the River, The Great Steamboat Era and even an Elvis Presley tribute cruise, which includes a visit to Graceland (Priscilla Presley is the riverboat’s Godmother). The vessel’s main ports of embark and disembarkation are New Orleans, Memphis, St Louis, St Paul, Pittsburgh and Chattanooga.

Sales manager Graham Clubb explained: “We’ve already had an enthusiastically received UK travel trade launch for the American Queen and the Telegraph Cruise Show is the perfect launchpad to the consumer – we couldn’t ask for a better audience. 

"The American Queen is like no other river ship - she brings a unique perspective on America's history, culture and landscapes through the heartland of America – it’s all very Mark Twain/Gone with the Wind! She is the largest riverboat in the world and a marvel of American engineering with a giant paddlewheel, a sight to behold.”

Seven nights on the American Queen start from £2,495 per person inclusive of scheduled flights from London, transfers in the US, full board, excursions, entertainment on board, port charges and one night pre-cruise in a hotel.

More info: email sales@lightbluetravel.co.uk or call 01223 568904.

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Double Mississippi Value From Bon Voyage

Here’s an unarguable offer for great river-cruise value, with a ‘Buy one, get one free’ on a seven-night cruise along the Lower Mississippi – on board the most opulent riverboat ever built, the American Queen, courtesy of specialist operator, Bon Voyage.

This extra special twin-share deal, worth £2,900 and applicable for all bookings made by December 21, applies to the cruise element of this fly/cruise holiday – which sails from New Orleans to Memphis, and is valid for departures on February 21 and 28, plus March 7, 14 and 21.

This means the first traveller pays £3,650 inclusive of return flights from Heathrow, Manchester or Glasgow, overnight hotel in New Orleans (prior to cruise) and seven nights in a verandah cabin on board American Queen, while the second person pays just £940 to cover the cost of return flights and overnight hotel accommodation.

All meals are included – ranging from superb five-course dinners to intimate jazz brunches – along with wine with dinner and complimentary soft drinks throughout. There’s also night-time entertainment of cabaret, Jazz and Blues and excursions such as the Oak Alley Plantation, with its magnificent antebellum home.

Leisure facilities include swimming pool and fitness centre and River historians are also on board, giving daily lectures on the Mississippi and the Deep South.

More info: call 0800 316 0194 or visit http://www.bon-voyage.co.uk.

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The Mississippi - With Free Shore Excursions

Regular readers will know we featured a wonderful Mississippi River cruise earlier this year, sailing on the brand new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines (it was featured in our Spring edition and extensively here on Time Spent At Sea in one of our signature day-by-day blogs).

Well, American Cruise Lines have just announced a great incentive to cruise the mighty Mississippi with them in 2014 - free shore excursions. Reserve a stateroom for ANY of their voyages on Ol' Man River next year by December 25, and cruisers will receive at least one free excursion for each port of call.

ACL's Mississippi cruises for 2014 include seven different itineraries, New Orleans to Memphis; St Louis to St Paul; Memphis to St Louis; Nashville to St Louis; St Louis to Cincinnati; Memphis to Nashville; and New Orleans round-trip.

The free excursions include some of the following:

Adubon Museum: Discover the life of John James Audubon during a guided tour of the Audubon Museum featuring his artwork and personal memorabilia framed within a timeline of world events.

Natchez City Tour: On a guided tour of Natchez, enjoy the influences and traditions of Native American, European, Southern, and African American cultures throughout the Natchez historic district.

Mark Twain Home Tour: Visit Mark Twain's boyhood home and museum, followed by a narrated trolley tour of Hannibal showcasing many of the locations that inspired his remarkable works. 

More info: call (in the US) 1800 460 4518 or visit www,americancruiselines.com.

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Avalon's New Adventures For 2014

Avalon Waterways has launched its 2014 European brochure with three new suite ships as well as a new dedicated Asia, Africa & the Americas brochure featuring the Amazon for the first time. An early booking offer of £600 per couple is offered on any 2014 cruise booked before September 30, with additional offers available on European cruises.

The new dedicated Asia, Africa, & the Americas brochure features cruises on the Mississippi, Mekong, Yangtze, Nile, coastal cruising around the Galapagos and the introduction of a new Amazon cruise aboard the ship Aria. A new vessel, Isabela II, will operate its existing ‘Ecuador & the Galapagos’ cruise and ‘Discover the Galapagos and Peru’ cruise.

The 12-day ‘From the Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon’ (from £5,499) is available with departures from February to December 2014. Highlights include 2 nights in Lima (San Francisco Monastery and Larvo Herrara Museum), 1 night at the Sacred Valley (Temple of Sacsayhuaman and ceremonial site of Kenko), 1 night at Machu Picchu, 2 nights at Cusco (Santo Domingo Monastery and the Cathedral) before the 3-night Amazon cruise aboard the Aria. 

Avalon’s Nile cruises include three different itineraries with departures available from January to December aboard either the 5-star MS Mayfair, one of the newest vessels on the Nile, or the MS Kasr Ibrim. The itineraries include the 9-day ‘Highlights of Egypt’ (from £3,319pp); the 12-day ‘Pyramids, Lake Nasser & Nile Highlights’ featuring a four-night Lake Nasser cruise on MS Kasr Ibrim (from £4,115 pp) and 16-day ‘Egypt, the Nile & Lake Nasser’ (from £4,585pp). All itineraries are combined with overnight stays in Cairo with guided city sightseeing.

The 16-day ‘Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong’ itinerary (from £4,029pp) provides an amazing insight into the fascinating culture, scenery and history of this area, while the Yangtze cruises include the 12-day ‘Magical China & Yangtze River’ (£3,469pp) and 16-day ‘Enchanting China & the Yangtze’ options (£4,500pp) aboard the newly launched Century Paragon or Century Legend, state-of-art ships offering deluxe staterooms measuring 300sq ft and with private balconies.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury river cruising specialists.

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