Mississippi River Boat Cruising

Mississippi Riverboat Cruise
The Mississippi river was named so by the Indians that once lived on the shores of the waters. They named it "Messipi", or Big River. Today you can experience the wonder of this river that has carved itself into the soul of American History. A Mississippi River cruise is the leisurely way to experience river culture firsthand.

On the Mississippi Riverboat cruise, there is a lot to see and do. Local Mississippi River cruises are an excellent introduction to the river traditions. Ask questions, and the people of the river will be happy to share their stories with you. You can jump right into the heart of the river by taking a Mississippi River cruise.

The Mississippi River is the largest and longest river in North America. This body of water is host to a diverse mix of ecosystems. The northern part of the river, known The Headwaters, begins in Minnesota at Lake Itasca as nothing more than a small stream 2ft deep. The water makes a steep descent as it passes through swamps, glacial lakes, rapids and dams. The Minnesota River meets the Mississippi at St. Anthony Falls. This area, known as the Upper Mississippi River, is where the river widens tremendously.

You can make the most of your Mississippi Riverboat cruises if you decide in advance what you'd like to do. Nature lovers will love these trips, visit from January to March and be sure to bring your binoculars if you'd like to eagle watch. Some great fishing is to be has as well, you can bring your own pole but there is always one for rent. If you enjoy dinner there are lots of different offerings from dinner and dance cruises to candle-lit romantic evenings on an overnight excursion.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has inspired many a river lover, and created generations of Mississippi River Boat cruises. The Lower Mississippi is a faster moving body of water, and it is more remote, with large stretches of woodland on either side. Here, the cities and towns are further set back from the water.

Wisconsin is the second state on the rivers journey south. Next, the Mississippi stretches to a width 4 miles as it flows through Iowa. Illinois is the next city on the Mississippi, and here, at Lock AND Dam 18 is where you can see Bald Eagle watching and Walleye fishing. Further south as you pass Quincy, Illinois is the Governor John Wood Mansion, a stunning example of Victorian Architecture.

Next the river winds through Missouri, where at St. Louis it joins up with the Illinois and the Missouri river, which is the largest river in the United States.

The Mississippi delta is a music lover's dream. This area is the birthplace of Zydeco, Rhythm and Blues, Ragtime, and Gospel. Be sure to try some of the southern inspired food, like gumbo: a spicy stewed rice dish with meat and beans.

At its final stop, the Mississippi meets Louisiana. Its winds like a snake through the backcountry. Some nights the river is shrouded in the gentle fog. The sound of crickets chirping and the abundance Spanish moss, add to the magic of the tender southern evening. Here you can watch the river make its way out to sea at the end of its journey.

© 2008 Destination360 All Rights Reserved

Best Cruises for Disabled Travelers

Best cruises for disabled travelers

If you have special needs, odds are your cruise line can accommodate you

By Anita Dunham-Potter
Travel columnist




Cruise lines have come a long way in recent years to make their ships more accessible to disabled travelers. It's not uncommon for the newest large ships to feature two dozen or more wheelchair-accessible staterooms with such accommodations as wider door frames, handrails, accessible furniture and closets, low sinks and wheel-in showers.

In the past, cruising could be a struggle for wheelchair users. Unfortunately this is still true on many smaller and older ships, where disabled passengers can encounter corridors and doorways that are too narrow, bathrooms that have lips at the threshold to prevent flooding, public rooms with thresholds that make them inaccessible, and elevator buttons that are too high to reach.

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, the act was not extended to foreign-flagged cruise ships until 2005, following a class-action lawsuit filed against Norwegian Cruise Line that went before the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled that cruise lines whose ships carry passengers to and from U.S. ports must provide features like grab bars, handrails and wheelchair-accessible water fountains; however, the court also held that cruise lines were not required to make major structural changes to their in-service vessels, such as widening doorways and adding new elevators.

Fortunately, many cruise lines are upgrading their older vessels simply because there is demand for fully accessible cruising. In fact, cruising has become the preferred style of vacation for many travelers with limited mobility because ships have become so user-friendly and offer a convenient platform from which to explore the world's exotic destinations.

What to expect on the newest ships
Most cruise lines now offer public areas and staterooms large enough for wheelchair use; these typically include an accessible bathroom with handrails and emergency call buttons. Braille-coded elevator buttons, room numbers and restaurant menus are also in place on most ships for those with vision disabilities, and guide dogs are also now widely welcomed. Many cruise lines provide TTY, a text-messaging system that allows easier communication for folks with hearing and speech disabilities. Some cruise lines also offer "dippers" to lower handicapped swimmers into the pools, and many cruise lines make an effort to include shore excursions that can accommodate travelers with special needs. Crew members are available on almost every ship to assist disabled passengers with buffet service and with embarkation and disembarkation.

Here are some things to consider before booking your cruise:

There are no additional fees for handicapped-accessible staterooms but, like all cabins, they are offered at different price points depending on size, location and amenities. There are a limited number of these accommodations on board each ship, so book early to avoid disappointment.

When booking a cruise, ask to see the ship's deck plans or view them online. That way you can see where the handicapped-accessible staterooms are and can reserve the one that works best for your individual interests and needs; you might, for example, wish to be near the elevators, lounge or weight room.

Contact a knowledgeable travel agent or call the cruise line's special services desk to better understand all the ship's requirements and limitations. For example, some lines require travelers with disabilities to be accompanied by an able-bodied companion.

Make sure all public rooms are accessible, and make sure the ship offers a good number of elevator banks.

Find out the accessibility of ports of call, and try to choose an itinerary that does not include tenders, small boats used to bring passengers to shore from the ship's anchor point. These boats are usually not equipped to handle wheelchairs.
Review shore excursions carefully since many are not appropriate for travelers with limited mobility. Read the brochure descriptions and avoid those excursions identified as requiring heavy exertion. Most cruise lines identify wheelchair-accessible tours in their brochures.

Let the cruise line know you are using a wheelchair so staff can make an appropriate table assignment in the dining room. You'll want to have easy access to bathrooms and elevators.

Be sure to request a wheelchair, or assistance with your own wheelchair, if you will need one for embarkation and disembarkation. There may be a short wait for the chair, but you will receive priority boarding.

Check with the cruise line if you are interested in bringing an electric scooter or renting one in port; policies vary.

Find the best ships for your needs
The Web site for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) offers a " Special Interest Guide for Wheelchair Travelers" that details ship information for disabled passengers. The guide includes such information as the number of wheelchair-accessible staterooms on a ship, the number of decks with ramps, whether the elevators accommodate full-size wheelchairs, and whether the disabled traveler must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion. The guide is a bit out of date and does not include a number of newer ships; if you don't find the ship you are interested in, you can make inquiries at CLIA's toll-free help number: 800-327-9501, extension 70025.

The Horowitzes can also consider the advice of Mary Wilson, of Coraopolis, Pa., who travels with her disabled daughter on several cruises a year. Wilson says that each cruise ship and cruise line is unique, and that each cruise will have its own advantages and disadvantages for wheelchair users. Look for ships with lots of hard flooring, she suggests, as carpeting can make it difficult to wheel around the ship. Also, do a safety check the last night of the cruise, when passengers are asked to place their luggage in the hallways for disembarkation; if the luggage blocks wheelchair access, ask the purser to have it removed early.

"We've never had a problem cruising, and if we find issues all we do is ask for help," Wilson says. "In our experience, cruise lines are very accommodating towards disabled passengers."

Don't let a physical disability keep you from enjoying a cruise vacation. All it takes is a bit of preparation, planning and a willingness to ask for.

Items to consider when Booking a Cruise

Booking;



An increasing number of cruise companies are adopting so-called automatic gratuity programs. The companies say such programs spare passengers the confusion of figuring out who gets what and the hassle of juggling money. Cynics may suspect the real purpose is to shanghai your wallet, but in fact, the amounts charged are close to what travel agents recommend customers tip anyway.

The confusion about cruise tipping is understandable. There are headwaiters, waiters, assistant waiters, cabin stewards and others who may expect gratuities -- or not. Some cruise lines, especially luxury ones, discourage tips. As recently as 2½ years ago, Seabourn Cruise Line staff members could be fired for accepting tips, says spokesman Bruce Good. Now they may accept them but can be fired for soliciting them.

Alas, not all cruise lines that encourage tipping recommend the same amounts, and the job titles of the crew may vary too. But most suggestions are in these ranges, per passenger per day: Cabin steward/stewardess/attendant, $3 to $4; waiter/server, $3 to $4; assistant waiter/busboy, $1.50 to $2.50; headwaiter/head server, 50 cents to $1.

Bartenders are a special case. Many lines automatically include 15 percent for service in the bar bill, meaning you needn't tip.

Passengers traditionally leave tips in envelopes on the last night of the cruise, which can lead to quite a backup at the purser's desk. With automatic gratuity programs, you avoid that, obviously. But an important point about such programs is that you usually can opt out of them or increase or decrease the amounts by notifying the purser once you're on board. You don't have to do it their way.

Your best sources for tipping guidelines on your particular cruise are travel agents and the line you book. Here's a roundup of some lines' general practices. (All amounts are stated per passenger per day, unless otherwise noted.)

Carnival: The line has an automatic gratuity program (which it calls a "reverse gratuity program") on 10 of its 16 ships, with a daily charge of $9.75. The company hopes to expand the program fleet wide within a year, says spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz. In alternate dining rooms (outside the main one), the reservation fee includes a tip. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.

Costa: On Caribbean cruises, the suggestion is $3 each for steward and waiter, $1.50 assistant waiter, $1 headwaiter. On European cruises, the amounts are $1.50 steward, $2.50 waiter, $2.50 "assistant waiter team," 50 cents for maitre d' and "headwaiter team." Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity

Cunard: An automatic gratuity program, begun in 2000, charges $7 on Caronia and $11 to $13 on the Queen Elizabeth 2, depending on cabin category. Bar bills include a 15 percent gratuity.



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Crystal: The line suggests $4 each for stewardess and waiter in the main dining room; $2.50 assistant waiter, $4 for butler (penthouse only); an additional $6 per meal for alternate restaurants. Passengers can tip in advance when they book the cruise. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.


Disney: The line gives suggestions by length of cruise; on average per day, about $3.60 for steward, $3.70 server, $2.70 assistant server, 90 cents head server. You can tip in advance, as do about half the guests, a spokeswoman says. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.


Holland America: Advertises a "tipping not required" policy and declines to suggest amounts. "You're free to tip if you feel it's warranted," spokesman Erik Elvejord says. "To be honest, most people do tip." Bar bills do not include gratuity.


Norwegian: Automatic gratuity program charges $10 per day for ages 13 and older, $5 for children 3 to 12, no charge younger than 3. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.


Princess: Automatic gratuity program fleetwide charges $10 per day; the final two ships added to the program in July were the Royal Princess and the Regal Princess. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.

Radisson Seven Seas: No tipping is expected.

Royal Caribbean: It suggests $3.50 each for waiter and steward, $2 assistant waiter, 75 cents headwaiter. Passengers can tip automatically by asking at guest relations (purser) when they board. Bar bills include 15 percent gratuity.


Seabourn: "Tipping is neither required nor expected," the line's Internet site says. "Our staff doesn't expect it . . . and we pay them well," spokesman Good says. But he adds: "If the guest wants to give a tip, who are we to say no?"


Silversea: "No gratuities are required or expected" on this luxury line, where fares can average $800 per day and up, says spokesman Brad Ball. Passengers can tip if they want, "but we don't encourage it," even for spa treatments, he adds.


Windstar: The line advertises a "tipping not required" policy on its Internet site. "Gratuities are not encouraged at all," sales coordinator Jordan Marona says. "But if people want to tip, that's their prerogative."

Top three Cruise Areas

For 2008, let me plan your next GROUP Travel Cruise. In 2007, the amount of annual cruise passengers exceeded 12.6 million.

Top 3 reasons people cruise;
- Can visit several areas/destinations
- Pampering
- Fine Dining

Top 3 Cruise areas;
- Bahammas/Carribean
- Europe/Mediterranean
- Alaska

*Visit www.gottitravel.paradisenetwork.com for contact info (via phone or email)

HAPPY TRAVELING!