| For an unusual and distinctly American
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| | notwithstanding, New Orleans is back. You
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| cruise experience, paddlewheel cruises
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| | can visit the French Quarter (which abuts
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| can offer you a chance to see a different
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| | the Mississippi River) and at least one
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| and slower side of the United States.
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| | major cruise line is using New Orleans
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| The paddlewheeler may sound as American
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| | again as a port.
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| as apple pie and it certainly conjures up
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| | Probably the best known line for this
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| thoughts of Mississippi gamblers, dance
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| | type of cruise vacation is Majestic
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| hall girls, and the American frontier.
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| | America, which offers Mississippi River
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| However, paddlewheel ships actually
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| | and other paddlewheel cruises (
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| originated in China and can be found all
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| | Paddlewheels also are frequently used on
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| over the world. Americans in the 19th
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| | shorter day trips. Brunch cruises, short
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| century took the ancient concept of using
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| | sightseeing cruises, or even day-long
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| a paddlewheel and made two improvements:
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| | cruises can be found all over the country
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| they moved the wheel to the stern or back
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| | (including in Orlando, a landlocked
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| of the ship (ancient Chinese vessels had
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| | city). While this can be a great way to
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| the wheel in the front) and they powered
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| | sample the experience of a steamboat trip
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| these new vessels with the steam engine.
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| | without committing to a cruise, it's not
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| You can book a paddlewheel cruise from a
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| | going to be as true a steamboat
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| few different lines. Some of them also
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| | experience as a multi-day journey on the
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| feature old-fashioned furnishings and a
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| | river.
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| staff in period costumes. You may also be
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| | While the steamboat may seem
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| treated to some themed events during your
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| | old-fashioned or even clumsy, their small
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| cruise.
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| | size and design actually makes them far
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| Paddleboats cruised the Mississippi in
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| | more maneuverable than larger vessels.
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| the 19th century, but most of these ships
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| | Captains typically have a bit more
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| were working vessels. They carried
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| | latitude in setting their course and
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| merchandise as well as passengers up and
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| | itinerary, meaning that depending on the
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| down the river. Some of the best known
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| | time of year and the river conditions,
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| ports on the route include St. Louis and
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| | the captain may be able to travel to
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| Memphis, but the Mississippi runs as far
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| | slightly different areas to get the best
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| north as Minneapolis and as far south as
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| | views of wildlife or other sites of
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| New Orleans, where it empties into the
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| | interest.
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| Gulf of Mexico.
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| | Don't expect to find lots of passengers;
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| Accommodations on these modern versions
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| | a steamboat cruise will take only a few
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| of paddlewheel cruises tend to go back
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| | dozen to possibly a few hundred
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| to the style of the day when travel was
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| | passengers on any one trip. This means
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| more leisurely but also a bit grander.
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| | that passengers on a steamboat cruise
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| Expect stately touches on the ship and
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| | will get to know each other, interact
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| modern amenities along with antique
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| | with each other, and actually rediscover
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| furnishings. One does not grab a bite on
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| | the pastime of conversation. While you
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| a steamboat; it's more typical to dine.
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| | won't find as many activities on a
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| While paddlewheelers today do accommodate
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| | steamboat as on a large cruise ship
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| our modern preference for the casual
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| | (there won't be a miniature golf course,
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| lifestyle, this is about as far from the
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| | ice-skating rink, or rock wall), you will
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| "barefoot" cruise as you can get.
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| | find more opportunities to get to know
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| In their day, the American steamboats
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| | other people.
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| frequently offered gambling,
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| | Since steamboats have always been known
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| entertainment that for its day was
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| | for their music, you can usually expect
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| considered racy, and music from a
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| | lots of rollicking evening entertainment,
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| calliope. A calliope is a very loud,
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| | from jazz cruises on the Mississippi to
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| steam-operated instrument most frequently
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| | other dance bands in the North.
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| associated with the circus. You'll find
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| | Steamboats may be nostalgic and stately
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| them on some steamboat cruises today,
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| | but they aren't quiet, especially at
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| along with lots of music in the evenings
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| | night.
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| (the type depends a lot on the cruise you
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| | And while the Mississippi River cruise
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| take).
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| | has to be the quintessential steamboat
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| Before the Civil War, many Southern
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| | experience, you'll also find river
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| plantations along the Mississippi were
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| | cruises that go as far north as
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| deliberately built on the river so that
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| | Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington state
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| they could send their crops more easily
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| | and even Alaska. The Alaskan cruises, in
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| to market. Cruising by paddlewheeler
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| | particular, boast that they can access
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| allows you to see some of these
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| | ports and areas that are off-limits to
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| antebellum mansions the way they were
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| | the larger cruise ships.
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| meant to be viewed by a party
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| | Whether you're looking for a
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| approaching on the river.
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| | red-white-and-blue cruise experience or
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| Even many Southern cities on the
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| | just as slightly different spin on the
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| Mississippi were built to be visited not
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| | traditional cruise vacation, a
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| by land but by waterway. The grand dame
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| | paddlewheel cruise in the U.S.A. offers a
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| of all river cities in the United States
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| | wonderful vacation experience.
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| remains New Orleans. Katrina
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|
