Because of the low Mississippi River, the American Symphony couldn’t maneuver in Memphis. Instead, after breakfast at The Guest House at Graceland, we climbed aboard a cruise coach for a four-hour experience to Vicksburg. The snug coach offered snacks and water plus a midway cease at a relaxation space to stretch our legs.
I didn’t thoughts the experience as a result of it was fascinating to look at the surroundings alongside the drive. My brother Joe loved seeing the distinction between the passing panorama and his Colorado residence. I additionally commend American Cruise Lines for arranging the coach experience as a substitute of cancelling our cruise.
Having a customized personal cruise coach is an enormous plus for American Cruise Lines passengers. It actually is simple to acknowledge the particular bus when it pulls up with its purple, white and blue stars and stripes and the phrases “Cruise Close to Home.”
American Cruise Lines’ cruise coach waits for us at The Guest House at Graceland.
Cruise line motorcoach an enormous plus
The cruise coach follows the Symphony and offers personal hop-on hop-off transportation to shore excursions in addition to offering rides to and from airports for our cruise. By having its personal personal coaches, American Cruise Lines ensures that transportation will probably be there once we want it. It can also be good to see the pleasant faces of our coach drivers once we board one of many buses.
Several years in the past, I used to be on a Mississippi River cruise with one other cruise line the place passengers climbed a steep hill within the July warmth to catch a scheduled bus for a tour. An hour glided by and the rented bus hadn’t arrived. When the cruise director known as the bus firm, she discovered that that they had forgotten concerning the reservation and can be comfortable to ship a bus on the way in which. Too late.
Not a great factor. That tour was cancelled, after all. Passengers have been sad as a result of that they had regarded ahead to the tour and, as a substitute, needed to stand ready within the sizzling solar for greater than an hour.
Cruise line representatives have been sad as a result of their passengers weren’t happy and since the cruise line needed to refund tour charges to passengers.
And that bus firm certain acquired a severe unhealthy mark towards its fame. American Cruise Lines prevents such unhealthy happenings by offering its personal snug cruise coaches.
Greeted by scrumptious lunch
When we arrived in Vicksburg and boarded the American Symphony, we have been welcomed with lunch. The restaurant on the Main Deck has table-to-ceiling views and open seating at each meal. I’ll write extra concerning the delicacies later.
Our stateroom is massive and cozy with a beautiful balcony.
Hotel General Manager Mason Hollandbeck mentioned the American Symphony can carry 175 passengers. On our cruise, now we have 160 passengers and 155 crew members. Quite a pampering passenger/crew ratio. No marvel I really feel as if the crew is at all times spiffing up the boat or asking if we would have liked something.
Heading to our stateroom, Joe and I have been fairly comfortable to see the place we will probably be staying for every week. Our stateroom No. 417 is bigger than many resort rooms. It has a telephone, massive display TV, Keurig espresso maker and one of many largest mini fridges I’ve seen on any cruise vessel. And the fridge is definitely chilly. Some cruise vessel fridges aren’t even cool, not to mention chilly.
The toilet has a roomy bathe with good water strain and loads of sizzling water. The beds are tremendous cozy with premium white linens, quilt and pillows.
A big mini-fridge is chilly and roomy.
Large floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doorways result in a non-public balcony with two chairs and a desk. All American Symphony cabins have balconies. The cabin décor options soothing colours of sunshine blues and earth tones. A desk with a chair and a spherical desk with two upholstered chairs gives good seating. A dresser with six drawers and a closet are nice storage areas. The boat has free Wi-Fi and our cabin has satisfactory plugs for digital units.
Outside our cabin door is a helpful gadget. Instead of getting to hold a “Do Not Disturb” or “Please Make Up My Cabin” signal, just a little gadget on the wall permits us to flip to a inexperienced message for the steward to “Make Up Room.” When the steward is finished, he modifies the message to “Welcome.”
A helpful gadget exterior our stateroom lets the room steward know to make up our room.
Lovely home windows galore
Exploring the ship, I’m comfortable to find all of the wide-open areas with expansive glass home windows galore. The American Symphony has a complimentary self-serve laundry facility, a health heart with free weights and low-impact aerobics machines, a strolling monitor on the highest deck, a small library with books and video games, solar deck with lounges, and two speedy elevators.
The Sky Lounge gives drinks and snacks across the clock.
With a objective of “bringing the outside in,” American Symphony gives 3 times as a lot glass as different riverboats in addition to panoramic views from the boat’s lounges. An open-air SkyStroll circling the highest deck is sure to be one in all Joe’s favourite Symphony spots. The high deck additionally includes a dramatic cutout that cantilevers over the lounge and café on Deck 4.
The eating room options many table-to-ceiling home windows for beautiful river views.
Of course, the Symphony’s retractable gangway on the bow is a really eye-catching characteristic. The uncommon gangway permits passengers to disembark in non-traditional areas even in ports with out a dock current.
Lounges provide locations for video games, studying or stress-free.
American Symphony gives soothing colours of blue and earth tones plus musical artwork works.
So now Joe and I are off on our first Symphony shore tour. We will probably be boarding that fantastic cruise coach once more for a quick cozy experience.
Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch
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7 Night – Lower Mississippi River Cruise from.. American Symphony (cruisecompete.com)