I hope you are starting to feel the momentum build as we venture out a bit more. Thanks to more rapid testing and the vaccine distribution picking up speed, I am feeling more optimistic than I have in quite a while.
Let me tell you why…
I just returned from being on a riverboat for a cruise! Yes, I know that may sound shocking but believe it or not, they are figuring it out and I felt safe and had a wonderful time.
A Beautiful New Lady
This past week I had the great privilege of sailing on American Queen Steamboat Company’s beautiful newest lady, the American Countess, as she embarked on her maiden voyage after being christened in New Orleans on March 21st. And what a beauty she is! But perhaps even more remarkable than her stunning physical beauty was the palpable joy that we felt from all those who were there to celebrate this milestone. We were beyond excited to think that this might be the beginning of some normalcy!
It takes years to get to a Christening.
The Christening of a new vessel is always a special occasion. It is the culmination of years of planning and execution, from the very beginning of inception to the moment the bottle of champagne or bourbon (in this case) is smashed on the hull or rail of the vessel (as a sacrifice) to ensure safe travel for its guests and crew. It is an emotional tradition, and the Christening of the Countess was no exception.
It had been a long road and one that was not without its challenges. From the herculean task of cutting the former casino boat in half and adding 60 feet in the center to the actual creation of the paddlewheel, which had to be fabricated from beginning to end, innovation was the name of the game. “You have to have the vision,” John Waggoner would lovingly say as he would encourage his team to see past the layers and layers of rust. He knew she was a diamond in the rough. With her soaring ceilings, two restaurants, a gym, spa, and every amenity imaginable, one would never guess walking onboard that she had not been a complete newbuild. That is a testament to a team that John described as the best in the business.
As a side note, may I say that the Countess has one of the best stateroom bathrooms I have ever seen on any vessel, and that is an accomplishment! She really is stunning.
The whole travel industry was ready for some good news.
But the day was particularly poignant because of what we all had been through this last year. The Countess had been ready to begin her journey up and down the Mississippi River last year, with a christening scheduled for April 4th, 2020. Sadly, as the world paused everything, she too would have to wait. But we were all ready for this day, those of us who were there to witness it, and most importantly, AQSC. The world would be watching, and American Queen’s planning had been meticulous; this would be safe, socially distanced, and show the world that it could be done, and it was.
We arrived the day before the event to have COVID testing done, with our results coming the following day before anyone would be allowed to board the vessel. We were thrilled to hear that all the guests, the crew, the staff, and even the bus drivers had tested negative.
The ceremony was beautiful with emotional speeches by those who had contributed intimately to the project, none more so than Founder and CEO John Waggoner. It had been a long wait, and he playfully gave us 15 reasons why this was going to be a perfect christening. And it was. His daughter, Angie Hack, the Countess’s Godmother, was filled with emotion in describing the journey her Papa John and the AQSC family had traversed, and there was not a dry eye in the house. We were all ready for a little good news, and this was indeed good news!
But what I think was really the standout after sailing onboard was the culture that AQSC has managed to create. From every room steward, waiter, bartender, or entertainer, you could see that everyone was thrilled to be there and happy that we were there. And that culture is by design, ‘they hire for attitude, as the rest can be taught.’
Did I mention that the Countess is stunning?
I am so excited that AQSC is finding a way to make this work. I felt completely safe and had a fantastic time! Congratulations to AQSC and all her staff and crew on the beautiful new lady cruising the mighty Mississippi, the American Countess. Sterling Journeys is fortunate to partner with American Queen Steamboat Company as a preferred supplier through my host agency, the Gifted Travel Network. It would be my pleasure to help you plan for this extraordinary trip as soon as you are ready! Contact Lise-Marie
