Looking Forward to the Holidays and 2016
Transcription
Looking Forward to the Holidays and 2016
FA A STEA TY IE O C M AT SO BO M E RIC AUTUMN 2015 | Volume 1, Issue 3 Looking Forward to the Holidays and 2016 As we look forward to 2016, the American Empress embarks on her third season and features 32 departure dates sailing between Portland/Vancouver and Clarkston, Washington. The American Queen embarks on her fifth season and features 46 departure dates through the heartland of America. Both vessels offer new and exciting services, amenities and voyages: By: Ted Sykes President & COO American Queen Steamboat Company A s the holidays approach, consider making our home your home for the holidays with a variety of seasonally-inspired voyages. Experience the romance of the antebellum era and lively Cajun culture as you celebrate Thanksgiving along the Mississippi River on the American Queen (November 21, Memphis to New Orleans). We’ve also extended our sailing season on the American Empress with a Thanksgiving voyage along the scenic Columbia River (November 22, Roundtrip Portland, Oregon). Take advantage of this rare roundtrip voyage which includes expanded shore tours. Our exclusive lineup of Holiday-Christmas Markets (American Queen, November 28, December 5, 12 and 19 sailings) offers a little something for everyone including music, seasonal goods and locally produced crafts for you to enjoy. Magic is in the air at Nottoway Plantation as the melodies of Christmas echo through the halls of the great mansion and carry across the lush grounds. Our exclusive included Holiday Ball (December 12 sailing) at Nottoway Plantation is sure to delight. A pianist will serenade you as you enjoy a private multi-course dinner at the plantation followed by dancing. On our New Year’s sailing (December 26), the celebration carries throughout the week enchanting you with festive décor, confetti, champagne, newfound friends and the uplifting refrains of “Auld Lang Syne.” American musical treasure and special guest Lynn Roberts will also perform in the majestic Grand Saloon. Plus, SAVE 30% off any stateroom on select American Queen holiday voyages in December while inventory lasts! 1 • Commodore Services offer an exclusive level of hospitality and amenities to guests staying in suitelevel accommodations. • Mighty Mississippi Voyages traveling the entire length of the river with a southbound and northbound itinerary spanning three weeks aboard the American Queen. River Butler services are included for those staying in a Luxury Suite. • New Themed Voyages onboard the American Queen such as “Presidents & Politics,” which immerses guests in the history of the American presidency, and “Five Rivers of the Heartland,” which allows guests a rare opportunity to touch the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers in one incredible voyage. • An exquisite array of menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner inspired by the American Heartland and prepared by an award-winning culinary team. Menu choices include madeto-order omelets for breakfast, creative soups, salads and hearty entrees for lunch, and nightly five-course meals for dinner in the J.M. White Dining Room onboard the American Queen or the Astoria Dining Room onboard the American Empress. AMERICAN QUEEN HOLIDAY-CHRISTMAS MARKETS Bonfires on the levee are a popular antebellum custom for Christmas. The tradition is said to light the way for Papa Noel, the Cajun Santa Claus. Celebrating the Holidays: American Queen Style American Queen holiday cruises allow guests to experience southern holiday traditions and history L ooking for a unique holiday experience? American Queen Steamboat Company offers cruises that feature southern holiday traditions and culture. The south has a long history of holiday traditions that reflect the culture of the earliest settlers in the area. Several shore excursions and Hop-On, Hop-Off locations are modified to include seasonal aspects and the vessel is decorated throughout, sure to get any guest into the holiday spirit. St. Francisville, Louisiana welcomes our guests with several small-town holiday festivities and carolers in the streets. Holiday decorations can be seen throughout the vessel, adding to the beauty and atmosphere of the season. The city of Natchez, Mississippi places decorations throughout the town, inviting everyone to shop in the many quaint shops that line the streets. One premium tour available takes guests to The Towers, which are elaborately decorated with 100 Christmas trees. Upon disembarking the city for the next port, the people of Natchez bid adieu to the American Queen and her guests by playing traditional Christmas music from the levee. 2 Christmas markets are set up in several of the ports of call for the special guests of the American Queen. They feature local crafts including pottery, jewelry and art. These markets in Greenville, Mississippi and Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana offer a chance for our guests to shop for the perfect gift to take home to loved ones or souvenirs to remember a special trip on the American Queen. These holiday cruises are available November 28, December 5, 12 and 19 traveling between Memphis and New Orleans. And exclusive to our December 12 sailing, we are including a traditional holiday ball at Nottoway Plantation, complete with live music, carolers, dancing and a holiday feast. The event concludes with the traditional lighting of bonfires on the levees, a popular ritual in the south to light the way for Papa Noel. Plus, SAVE 30% off any stateroom on select American Queen holiday voyages in December. For more information, visit our website at AQSC.com. AUTUMN CRUISING ON THE AMERICAN EMPRESS Experiencing Autumn on the American Empress By: Terry Lunder Hotel Manager, American Empress T he Pacific Northwest spoils us all with brilliant colors, soon to become a beautiful fall memory. There is no better place to experience the season’s changing than on the river with its scenery and something novel to view around every river bend. The American Empress prides itself on presenting the best of local offerings from the Pacific Northwest. One fun activity that many guests enjoy is a visit to the local farmer’s markets. Should you get a chance to experience this, do not be surprised to find our chefs standing next to you checking the quality of the cherries, Walla Walla onions or other seasonal fresh temptations. The best known market is held in downtown Vancouver’s Esther Short Park. The market is the second largest in Washington State and boasts more than 250 vendors showcasing local crafts, handstitched fashion items, organic produce and artisan foods. The market is located directly across the park from the Hilton Vancouver Washington, which has made the market a favorite among visitors. Guests also have the chance to enjoy the simple pleasures of the season at Richland, Washington’s quaint downtown farmer’s market. This market has a small town feel where one can enjoy a variety of local seasonal offerings and some delightful snacks — not to forget the crew’s favorite hot dog stand with toppings such as cream cheese, bacon, mustard, grilled onions and barbecue sauce all together. The Country Mercantile is another tempting offering on our call to Richland. What began as a small produce stand with seasonal fruits and vegetables is now a place where you will find an amazing selection of the northwest’s finest gourmet foods, homemade ice-cream and the most decadent handmade chocolates and fudge, made with love straight from the kitchen. Browse through unique collectibles, home décor and gift ideas as well. The Harvest Festival is a popular event in the city that runs throughout October. In addition to farmer’s markets, guests can find local offerings as we sail along the river. Astoria, Oregon showcases a magnitude of arts and crafts in the historic downtown, charming visitors for more than 200 years. Onboard, we are pleased to support local farmer’s market vendors by featuring a EXTENDED SEASON THROUGH NOV. 29TH 3 variety of their products in our gift shop from snacks, to arts and crafts. Rest assured if you miss a gift for yourself or others. Look out little ghosts and pirates everywhere - Halloween is a big event onboard the American Empress as the crew reveals their costumes. All are welcome to join in. Additionally, there are art and craft decorating gatherings with fellow guests and the almost famous cabin door decorating contest. Ensure you have enough space on your camera for a fun and only slightly scary event if you make it onboard around Halloween. With American Empress’s extended season through November 29th, a wonderful opportunity is available to see the seasonal variety of the Pacific Northwest. This also means that for the first time, the American Empress can welcome you aboard for our Thanksgiving feast. We will be doing the cooking and dishes! We can’t wait to share Thanksgiving with our guests this year. It was a stunning foliage color display last year and we anticipate a repeat throughout the autumn months. We will have some warm, local apple cider waiting for our guests this fall to help celebrate this beautiful season. GET TO KNOW EXECUTIVE CHEF, PAUL WAYLAND-SMITH ‘A Labor of Love’ T he dining experience that accompanies cruising on American Queen Steamboat Company vessels often receives high praises and is under the direction of Chef Paul Wayland-Smith. Calling it “a labor of love,” Chef Paul ensures that his team continues to plate tasteful culinary masterpieces for our guests on both the American Queen and American Empress to enjoy throughout the year. Guests’ satisfaction and happiness provides him with the same satisfaction and happiness, encouraging he and his crew to continue striving to create the best dining experience possible. Chef Paul began working on the American Queen in 1995 and then returned in 2012, when she came back into service under American Queen Steamboat Company. While under the direction of Delta Queen Steamboat Company, he served in roles such as Executive Chef, Corporate Chef and Food and Beverage Director. For American Queen Steamboat Company, he has served as the Executive Sous Chef and Executive Chef on both vessels, while also assisting as a Hotel Manager onboard the American Queen when needed. Each day consists of a lot of interaction with his crew, to monitor processes and products that end at the guests’ tables. Chef Paul is actively involved in the development of the menus, tasting, providing direction to managers and, at dinner, on the line with his crew. In a similar fashion, Chef Paul began his career by watching and learning from others in the kitchen and earning his way into higher positions. He began washing dishes as a kid before being taken under the wing of a local chef while in high school, who provided him with his first cooking job. Never attending a formal culinary school, Chef Paul continued to grow his career by paying close attention to his mentors, researching the newest trends and culinary culture and attending continuing In addition to guests’ satisfaction, watching his staff develop and continue to move up in their careers continues to be one of the most important and favorite parts of his position. education classes. His on-thejob training has provided him with invaluable experience and knowledge in his field that is on display every night, with each plate that is served. As a result, Travel Age West awarded us with the Editor’s Pick for Best Onboard Dining in 2013. Chef Paul attributes continuing his career on the American Queen to his passion for his job and also the dedication of his Continued on PAGE 6 EXCLUSIVE PADDLEWHEELER RECIPE Avocado Corn Salsa C as served on the American Empress runchy sweet corn kernels and chunks of creamy avocado coated with a spicy lime dressing makes a great salad, salsa, or relish - depending on how you want to use it. It is perfect for football parties this time of year, or served on a bed of greens, or as a relish on fish or meat. Onboard, several of the ingredients are locally sourced. The corn is from the Willamette Valley, the onions are from Hermiston, Oregon (seven miles south of the Columbia River) and the avocados are from California. Ingredients: 3 ears sweet corn 1 sweet red pepper 1 small red onion 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 Tbsp. lime juice 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp cayenne (optional) 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 cup cilantro leaves 2 avocados 4 Directions: Cut kernels from ears of corn and put in a large bowl. Dice red pepper and red onion and add them to the corn kernels. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine oil, lime juice, vinegar, salt, cayenne, and pepper. Stir or whisk to combine and pour over corn mixture. Toss to coat vegetables thoroughly. Mince cilantro leaves and add to salad. Toss to combine. (Note: The salad can be made up to this point up to a day in advance. Cover and chill until about an hour before serving. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.) Just before serving, dice avocado, add to salad, and toss gently to combine. Makes about 3 cups Corn Avocado Salad/Salsa. 2015 SEATRADE CRUISE AWARDS American Queen Shore Excursion Named A Finalist A merican Queen Steamboat Company, and its shore excursion partner, Shore Excursions of America, were recently named a finalist for a prestigious industry award in the “Most Innovative Shore Excursion of the Year” category by Seatrade Cruise News. The shore excursion honored was “On the Front Lines of the Civil War” offered in Vicksburg, Mississippi for guests cruising on the American Queen. This shore excursion allows guests to take on roles as soldiers and nurses in the Siege of Vicksburg after receiving enlistment cards featuring real soldiers. They are guided through a tour of the 16-mile Vicksburg National Military Park by a character of Zachary Taylor-Harris, a private in the Confederate Army. He delivers news and updates of the battle to his troops, the guests, as they relive and learn about this important turning point in the Civil War. At the end of the tour, guests discover the fate of the soldier or nurse from Pictured left to right are Chris Hayman, Seatrade Chairman; Robert Buesing, Co-Principal of Shore Excursions of America; James Palmeri, Principal and Founder of Shore Excursions of America; and Antonius Heuer, VP Global Cruise, Oracle at the 2015 CLIA Germany Annual Dinner, September 9, 2015 in Hamburg, Germany. September 9, 2015 at Seatrade Europe, in Hamburg, Germany. Robert Buesing, Co-Principal of Shore Excursions of America, states, “I’m overwhelmed with pride. It is such an amazing achievement even to be nominated, especially in the company of such esteemed professional tour operators! It’s great to see the company’s hard work and dedication to product development paying off.” their enlistment cards. Guests learn that Private Taylor-Harris survives the war and becomes the great-grandfather of David Harris, the man who portrays Private Taylor-Harris in the experience. Seatrade Cruise Awards is one of the most prestigious and respected awards in the cruise industry and attracts thousands of nominations each year, from around the world. Finalists and recipients of these awards were honored at a the CLIA Germany Annual Dinner on This is the second time that the companies have been nominated in two consecutive years. MEET FELLOW PASSENGER, SUZANNE MARTINEZ S uzanne Martinez has been traveling on the American Queen for many years. She, along with her late husband, Richard, were present on the American Queen’s inaugural cruise year in 1995 and fell in love with steamboating from the moment they first saw the vessel coming around a river bend. Since 2012, she has traveled with American Queen Steamboat Company on 22 cruises on both the American Queen and American Empress and a total of 42 times including previous voyages on familiar vessels such as the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen. Because of the memories she has experienced and the familiarity she feels when onboard, Suzanne says that the American Queen has a special place in her heart. She loves cruising the upper Mississippi River because it reminds her of her childhood, growing up in the Midwest, and her family cottage on the river in Cordova, Illinois. Suzanne inherited the house and frequently welcomes the American Queen as she passes on the river with torches, signs and lights, regardless of what time it is. Onboard, her favorite place is the starboard-side balcony in the Engine Room Continued on PAGE 6 5 Previously, American Queen Steamboat Company and Shore Excursions of America were named a finalist in the same category for the “Redemption and Rehabilitation at Angola Prison” shore excursion offered in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Shore Excursions of America acts as the shore excursion department for American Queen Steamboat Company. Shore Excursion Specialists of Shore Excursions of America develop and manage all land experiences that are offered on the American Queen and American Empress riverboats. The goal when developing these exciting, cultural and educational shore experiences has been, and continues to be, focused on showcasing the people, uniqueness and charm of the small towns and roads less traveled along the banks of America’s rivers. Travel Protection A For Those Unexpected Times fter conquering the ‘tough decisions’ of travel planning, i.e., which destination and what dates, the question of whether to include a travel protection plan is often the next consideration for travelers. There are a number of reasons many choose to purchase travel insurance. The most common reasons are peace of mind, protection from the unexpected, and concern over losing the financial investment in a trip. “I think the longer you book in advance and the more expensive your trip, the more you should definitely consider buying travel insurance,” Tim Jarrell, publisher of Fodor’s, the travel guidebook publishing company, told the Associated Press (AP). A recent consumer study from the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA), supports Jarrell’s reasoning noting that travel insurance buyers are often doing one or more of the following: traveling with a group of people; taking longer trips; going on more expensive trips; or have considerable pre-paid non-refundable expenses. The same study showed that people who buy travel insurance tend to travel more frequently, be more well-educated and have higher household incomes than those who don’t. What’s more, the study revealed that one in six persons who buy travel insurance have actually filed a claim, a claim frequency rate far greater than for homeowners insurance. These facts don’t surprise Ted Sykes, President and COO of the American Queen Steamboat Company, who noted that “Insurance is one of those things that you feel neutral if you have it and didn’t have to use it but regret deeply if you didn’t, and needed it. Our passengers are well-educated, frequent travelers who understand the benefits. This is one reason we are so pleased to be offering Travelex Insurance Services to our guests.” Ask your Travel Agent or one of our Cruise Specialists for details when making your reservation. Plan Benefits Trip Cancellation Trip Interruption Travel Delay Missed Cruise Connection Baggage and Personal Effects Maximum Coverage per person (up to the limits below) 100% of Insured Trip Cost 150% of Insured Trip Cost $750 ($150/day) $750 $2,500 Baggage Delay $250 Emergency Medical & Dental Expense $50,000 ($750 dental sublimit) Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation $250,000 Travel Assistance & Concierge Services†Included Trip Cost Up to $2,500 $2,501 to $3,500 $3,501 to $4,500 $4,501 to $5,500 $5,501 to $6,500 $6,501 to $7,500 $7,501 and Up Plan Cost per Person Age 0-59 Plan Cost per Person Age 60+ $124 $216 $270 $347 $424 $501 Call for a Quote $250 $351 $452 $553 $655 $756 Call for a Quote †Travel Assistance & Concierge Services are provided by the designated provider listed in the Description of Coverage. The above is a brief description of benefits. For a summary of the plan details on benefits, coverages, limitations and exclusions of the insurance plan, refer to the Description of Coverage found under the Terms and Condition section on the website. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Transamerica Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, OH; NAIC #10952. 1263096 6 SAVE 30% off any stateroom on select American Queen holiday voyages in December. Continued from PAGE 4 wife Wendy, and strong family support system. Wendy, who also works for American Queen Steamboat Company, and Chef Paul met while working together onboard the Mississippi Queen. He claims he would not be able to continue pursing his passion without her support, and the support of his two daughters. As a prime example of our core values of Safety First, Teamwork, Integrity, Innovation and Service Excellence, Chef Paul has been a major contributor to the success of not only our onboard dining experience, but also to the satisfaction of guests throughout the years. With his hard work and dedication, we continually strive to improve our product with each guest in mind. We hope that together with Chef Paul, we can continue to train and enhance our employees’ skills and create the best dining and cruising experience possible for each and every guest. Continued from PAGE 5 Bar. The paddlewheel provides a light mist here, perfect for cruising in the summer. When asked why she continues to travel with American Queen Steamboat Company, she commented that she has a love for steamboating and the vessel; the food is delicious; and the crew has become like family — one crew member jokingly called her his “Steamboat Mom”. Suzanne added that beyond all of these reasons, the American Queen provides a comfortable environment where she has made many friends, and will continue to build life-long relationships with crew and fellow passengers alike. She often travels to visit her “steamboat friends” and they occasionally coordinate a trip together onboard. In her free time, she enjoys photography and spends a lot of time keeping up her two homes. We love having guests such as Suzanne, who help exhibit the values and culture we hope to build within this Steamboat Society of AmericaTM community. Her friendship to our crew, our executives and other passengers make her well-deserving of this feature. We appreciate your loyalty and will see you onboard again soon! Bon voyage! FA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS A STEA TY IE O AT SO BO C M M E RIC NEW! ACTIVATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY Take advantage of all the benefits that await you by registering your membership today. There are 3 ways to register: 1: ONLINE: www.AQSC.com/SSOA 2: EMAIL: via the activation link 3: CALL: (888) 749-5280 A s a member of the American Queen Steamboat Company’s Steamboat Society of AmericaTM, you now have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive benefits and incentives for cruising frequently with us. In addition to our Classic m embership, earned after completion of your first cruise on the American Queen® or American Empress®, we offer f our levels of elite membership. These Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond levels bring additional benefits and are reached after cruising the designated number of times with us. All Classic members will receive the following after one cruise: HThe Paddlewheeler quarterly newsletter HFriends and family can come aboard for a tour and breakfast or lunch aboard American Queen or American Empress while in port when member is a cruise guest. Not available in ports of embarkation/disembarkation. HAdvance information on new itineraries HExclusive invitations to cruises, select pre-cruise events, and promotions STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA STEA sapphire ruby diamond sapphire sapphire emerald diamond diamond sapphire emerald emerald diamond ruby emerald ruby O “Members only” luggage tags Membership status name badge Dedicated reservations line providing special service for members Receive a $50 onboard credit per member Complimentary laundry service* EMERALD (After 10 cruises) (After 20 cruises) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A All Classic benefits, plus: A A (After 5 cruises) SAPPHIRE FA A STEA STEA STEA STEA A A A TY IE TY IE TY IE TY IE TY IE AT SO BO M C C C C C TY IE TY IE TY IE TY IE C C C C TY IE TY IE TY IE C C C TY IE TY IE C TY IE TY IE AT SBOOAT SO BO M M O O O O O O O O O O O O O O F F F C F A C F A C F I C F ACO F I C F A C F FA I CM F R F A F A C AI M C I M E RA M E R I M E R C E RAI CM EFRA EFRAI M I M E RIC C A A C I I R M M E RA E I I E A IM E R I C R M R M E E M ER M ER M ER RUBY Priority check-in and vessel boarding C FA C E RIC M E RIM O TY IE ruby C AT SO OAT SBO OAT SOOAT SO AT OAT S OAT SO AT OAT SO BO AT OAT S AT OAT SOAT SO BO B B O SO BO MSBO B BO BSO BO MSBO MB O MB M O M M M M M M M M TY IE M C C FA O TY IE TY IE C O OAT SO AT BO BO MS C C E RI M C T SO STEA HPrivate cocktail party hosted by the Captain and vessel officers onboard STEA HMember access for breakfast or lunch when American Queen or American Empress are in port near hometown. Not available in ports of embarkation/disembarkation. HDesignation pin for Steamboat Society of America™ mailed after activation and upon reaching each level milestone M E RIC DIAMOND (After 30 cruises) All Ruby benefits, plus: All Sapphire benefits, plus: All Emerald benefits, plus: Additional $50 onboard credit per member ($100 total) 10% discount in onboard gift shop Two cabin category upgrade at time of booking Preferred reserved dining room seating One cabin category upgrade at time of booking Welcome back signed card from the Captain plus a set of American Queen or American Empress notecards Additional $50 onboard credit per member ($150 total) Members on their 10th, 20th and 30th cruises will receive a deluxe official wall certificate and onboard Captain’s presentation of framed painting signed by Michael Blaser. For more information and reservations, contact your professional travel agent or American Queen Steamboat Company at (888) 749-5280 or www.AQSC.com. Only sailings operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company (since April, 2012) count toward membership level. Membership benefits are non-transferable, combinable with other applicable promotional offers and must be applied to future cruise travel. Additional rules and conditions apply. Vessel access and onboard visits by members: capacity controlled on a daily basis, not available in ports of embarkation/disembarkation, reservations and government guest security information is required, guests must be accompanied by members and is limited to four times per calendar year. *Complimentary laundry service is limited to one in-room laundry bag per 7-day cruise.; no dry cleaning services available. AQSC reserves the right to change SSOA program rules, benefits, terms and/or conditions at any time without notice. 100115 7 A FA STEA TY IE O C M AT SO BO M E RIC One Commerce Square 40 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103