The whole Mississippi river system is composed of 50 rivers and part of it includes Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. It is referred to as the Western Rivers. The whole system is divided into three parts – Upper, Lower and Ohio River. Mississippi is known to be a historical cruising region however for the past years it has experience a draught in cruises. Good news is that you can’t close a great river. This year the region was reopened for several stream boat companies. They are established and built especially for navigating the Mississippi river. The demise of the cruising business was due to the Hurricane Katrina that damaged a huge portion of the river. After the storm, several companies canceled their scheduled trips using classic ships. It was also backed up by the recent financial crisis that hit America. No cruise service is available for two years to the most important river for travel and commerce in the country.
Definitely one of the most popular this year that would sail through the Mississippi is the Great American Steamboat which is considered a high profile in terms of history and marketing. This was first started by the veterans in the cruise industry. They have made renovations in terms of interior and technical system for smooth sailing. You will be transported to the Victorian time. The vessel from the American Queen is grand and she looks authentic. The shipyard has no signs of deterioration. The cabins are the same with the historical trims from the doors to the ceiling. The suites also feature large balconies.
The cruises being offered by the company normally would take a week. The 7 night cruises have a selling price of almost $2,000. Another competition is the American Cruise Lines which combines legacy and innovation when entering the market of Mississippi. They have a newly built vessel that can accommodate more than a hundred passengers. It is more intimate to those who like privacy. The first maiden voyage of the steamship will be on August 2012. Another small company is Blount Small Ship Adventures. They will only be offering less than a dozen cruises with less than a hundred passengers.
There are other options if you want a day or a cruise event through the Mississippi river. There are also pseudo cruises wherein passengers don’t sleep onboard a steamship but on the shore hotels. They are very cheap if you want to save money. This is very cheap. They cost less than $50 for day cruises. If you want to tour Mississippi, riding the steamship is one of the best ways to do so. It is best to do your research on which steamboat company you wish to ride. You will want to opt for the one with facilities.
By Elsi H
Mississipi River photo :twohearts34time
