By Tom Gannon
Just prior to December of 2019, river cruising was starting to have a major impact on travel. As the details of the pandemic were featured on the nightly news with pictures of stranded passengers on mega-cruise ships, the idea of cruising with only 150-170 people, typical of most river cruise ships, started to make sense. People were already questioning the size of many of the ships which can accommodate up to 6,000 passengers. Pre Covid-19 there were news stories of ambulances meeting ships after outbreaks of GI infections such as norovirus. Cases of Legionnaires Disease have also been problematic on mega-cruise ships. The outbreak of Covid-19 on several ships, particularly those far from land highlighted the inadequate medical care and lack of, even basis, prescription drugs in the ship’s pharmacies.
Another issue that was brewing was the inability of large ships to dock in some of the major tourist destinations. Just recently, you may have read about Venice banning the larger vessels. Ships sailing south from Rome, often can’t dock or, even drop anchor in Sorrento or Naples. If you are on a boutique ship 50,000 tons or less you are much more likely to be able to call at either port.
Travelers have been uncertain, in the short term, about leaving North America. While the American Cruise Line and, recently renamed American Queen Voyages (formerly American Queen Steamboat and Victory Cruise Line) have always had a following, they were never popular to the degree they are now.
Viking River Cruises saw the opportunity and built two ships primarily for the North American river cruise market. They have not had enough sailings, yet, to evaluate the impact, but travel writers think they are off the mark because of their ships are more than twice the size of European and North American ones.
What are some of the many plusses of river cruising? Travel Leaders Network in mid- October published an informative guide called This is River Cruising in which they talked about the many benefits of this style of traveling and highlighted three specific lines: Ama Waterways, American Queen Voyages and Avalon Waterways. They stressed that the food is generally much better because the ingredients are local and 150 guests are dining not 3,000. There are fewer categories of room with almost no interior cabins. The rooms, at least on the lines mentioned, tend to be spacious. Docking is at the center of quaint villages, cosmopolitan cities or near major historical and cultural attractions. There are free tours at every port featuring local guides. Traditional options are offered that appeal to those interested in history and culture, as well opportunities that are fitness oriented such as jogging, bicycling, hiking or kayaking. Particularly on the North American fleets, themed departures are featured such as: different types of music, wine, cuisine, history, etc. You are never far from medical attention, even in rural Bulgaria, they boasted that any place along the Danube was no more than 30 minutes from a doctor or clinic.
Brittany Chrusciel writing for Travel Weekly in an article dated October 7, 2020 states that “ U.S. river cruising set its paddlewheelers to full steam ahead and began to chart a new course.” The name change of American Queen Steamboat Company/Victory Cruise Line was already mentioned and American Cruise Lines announced a complete overhaul of its paddlewheel fleet, including name changes to some of its vessels. Chrusciel further states the above is a positive sign that “ American river cruising is not only back, but it it’s not the same product as when pandemic halted operations in 2020.”
American Queen Voyages will be promoting its usual array of river cruises in the heartland including the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Illinois River, as well as Great Lakes cruises, New England, Alaska, and Washington State. Their plan is to extend cruises in Alaska in an expedition format and offer voyages to Central America, as well.
American Cruise Lines will be “ treasuring the old but foraying into the new” according to Chrusciel. Plans including updating the fleet of four traditional paddlewheelers to complement its newest ship, the American Melody. The interior design will update paddlewheel cruising to that of the newest, modern riverboats. According to the line, its coastal ships and river vessels cruise in more than 30 states. Their goal is to cater to clients looking to venture from home, but not quite abroad. ACL features the heartland, Pacific Northwest, New England, and the Southeast.
On my A list are four of the five lines mentioned above: Ama Waterways, Avalon, American Voyages and American Cruise Line. Ama and Avalon have attractive offers for single travelers.
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