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