Contact Stoney Creek Travel
877-658-2582
Weaverville / Asheville, NC
So many times in our lightening fast world there's a pause, to dream of a time when life moved at a different, slower, more refined pace. If we look, many of those times can still be found in vacations, and cruises that offer us the spirit of yesteryear or the opportunity to cruise to interesting ports in the Caribbean and Europe -- but without clocks, crowds, lines or stress.
How can we know our present unless we know our past. We offer steamboat cruises and small ship cruises that emphasize history. The yachting experience offered allows passengers to cruise at their own pace and in their own style. It's all about personal choice -- a free form cruise vacation.
Steamboat Cruises
Steamboating helped build our country into what it is today. Cotton was king on the Mississippi River. The Ohio River was the passageway to the west. Nashville became a boom town because of the Grand Ole' Oprey and the Tennessee River. The Missouri River carried pioneers to the great frontier.
At one time, steamboat / paddleboat travel was one of the fastest ways to get from one place to another. Some were opulent; some were basic forms of transportation. Whichever, the sound of the calliope brought people to the riverside to gaze upon these magnificent boats -- and this still is a common occurrence. Steamboats are no longer the main mode of transportation. Now they are luxury cruises, but the aura of steamboating lives today.
Legends were made on the river. Notorious riverboat gamblers made fortunes. Plantations prospered. No-bodies became some-bodies in the western frontier. Mark Twain became famous because of his writings about the Mississippi River. The Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Rivers were paramount in the final outcome of the Civil War. Lewis and Clark followed the American river system to the Pacific Ocean and that led to the gold rush and the development of California. Then there was the cry "North to Alaska", and fortune hunters scrambled to be the first in line to stake their claim.
Now you can relive those exciting times on the Majestic America steamboats / paddleboats (Formerly the Delta Queen Steamboat Company and American West Steamboat Company.) Cruise the Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio in the Eastern USA, Columbia, Willamette and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest USA. Visit small towns along the river to learn about their heritage. Many of these towns haven't changed much since the turn of the century. Southern itineraries visit towns and sites prominent during the Civil War. See the colorful seasonal changes as you cruise the upper Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Rivers. Cruise the Pacific Northwest on the Three Rivers itinerary to learn about the Lewis and Clark expeditions and Native American heritage. See Alaska from the luxurious Empress of the North as it visits towns made famous during the Gold Rush era.
RiverBarge Excursions
RiverBarge Excursion cruises are another way to explore the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Missouri Rivers and gain an historical perspective. There are also intercoastal waterway cruises between New Orleans, Galveston, TX and Port Isabel, TX. These river barges slowly cruise along at a leisurely pace, stopping at small towns, cities and plantations along the way.
Comparison between river barge cruising and steamboat cruising
If you compare steamboat cruises with river barge excursions / cruise,
these are some of the main differences
- River barge rooms are like standard hotel rooms, similar to a Best Western or Holiday Inn hotel. Steamboat staterooms are decorated in luxuriously appointed in period style. RiverBarge rooms are larger. Selection is "first come / first serve" since staterooms are assigned at boarding.
- River barge dining is casual with open seating. Steamboat dining is more formal.
- River barge cruising includes scheduled shore activities for those who wish to participate -- cost is included in price of the cruise / excursion. Majestic America steamboats do not include shore activities in the price for Eastern and Southern river cruises. Pacific Northwest river itineraries do include shore activities.
- RiverBarge cruises do not have as many planned onboard activities. There is evening entertainment. River barges do have an exercise room, walking / jogging track, shuffleboard, whirlpool tubs, puzzles and games, video / book library, bumper pool, card tables. Evening entertainment is provided by entertainers from towns visited.
- Steamboats have planned onboard activities. They also have pools (Mississippi Queen and American Queen), games, book library, live evening showboat shows, celebrity authors, lectures. And, they have the famous calliope that plays when the boats stop and leave each port. The townspeople gather to welcome the steamboat and to say goodbye as the steamboat departs.
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Historic Travel And Tours
Steamboat & Small Ship Cruises
Travel Specialists in Historic Tours and Small Ship, Steamboat / RiverBarge Cruises
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Small Ship Cruises -- American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines offers small ship cruising in the Eastern United States, in the South, and in Florida.
True to its name, this cruise line sails on the smooth inland rivers and coastal waterways of the United States of America.
Ships are new and fully comply with the new USA safety regulations.
Because the ships are small, with no more than 100 passengers, they are able to offer unique personalized voyages. The ambiance is initiate, relaxing, and gracious.
The ships visit quaint villages along the east USA coast, charming Southern towns, and vibrant Florida cities. There is an emphasis on history, culture, and the natural beauty of the United States. Lecturers, authors, historians, and wildlife experts treat guests to behind the scenes tours and provide area information during the cruise.
Dining is an event all guests look forward to. In the spacious dining room, every table overlooks the water. Meals are informal. Don't like to dress for dinner -- you'll love the resort casual attire. Food is purchased from ports of call so it is always fresh, and it is always cooked to order.
Tastefully designed staterooms are all ocean view, spacious (over 200 square feet), and comfortable. Each room has 2 twin beds or a king bed, a large picture window and/or balcony, private bath, hair dryer, remote-controlled satellite TV, individual climate control, writing desk, full-length mirror, spacious closet, dresser, and twice-daily service by an all American crew.
Steamboat Cruises on the Columbia, Snake, Williamette Pacific Northwest Rivers / Alaska / and the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland,
Mississippi Rivers in Eastern & South United States
RiverBarge Excursions on the Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi Rivers in Eastern and Southern United States
Small Ship Cruising on Rivers and the Intercoastal Waterway in the Eastern United States, South USA, and Florida:
RiverBarge
Majestic America (Steamboats)
Small Ship Cruises -- Sea Dream Yacht Club
SeaDream Yacht Club emphasizes that it's yachting -- not crusing. We also label it as small ship cruising.
The ultra-luxury yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream 2 offer a casual, intimate, elegant, luxury cruises. Ships are clean, chic, and sophisticated. Past guests love their experiences, and many have taken several cruises on these yachts. In 2006, Conde Nast Traveler's Readers Choice gave SeaDream Yacht Club the highest overall score for any passenger ship large or small and it was the only cruise line rated in the Top 100 Best Travel Experiences For 2006.
So, why is it called a yachting experience instead of a cruise? SeaDream says yachting features an open and unstructured ambience that provides each guest the opportunity to enjoy the trip at their own pace and in their own style. No clocks, no crowds, no lines, no stress. Unstructured! Guests feel as though they are on their own yacht, and with only 110 guests and 89 crew, each guest receives personal attention.
SeaDream yachting is perfect for independent travelers who don't like to dress up formally and don't need a lot of scheduled entertainment to have a good time. The age ratios are: 1/4 of passengers are under 40; 1/2 of the passengers are in their 50's to early 60's; 1/4 of the passengers are over 65.
There are scheduled 7 day itineraries, and the yachts depart from scheduled ports and return to scheduled ports. However, what happens in between the departure and arrival is flexible. Captains have the authority to adjust the itinerary for local opportunities. For example, the yachts may make unscheduled calls at small ports that have an interesting event or may stay longer in a secluded bay so guests can continue to enjoy water sports. SeaDream yachts also overnight at many ports of call so guests can enjoy their time ashore to the fullest.
Food is 5* gourmet; caviar and Champagne are included -- as well as wine with lunch and dinner. All dining is open seating. Rooms are spacious with luxury amenities and abundant storage. All rooms are ocean view. The yachts feature an Asian spa and wellness center, small well-appointed fitness center, golf, simulator, small casino, piano bar, pool, hot tub, first run films in the main lounge or on deck, dancing. There is a complimentary open bar policy in public rooms and on deck.
Cruise itineraries are 7 or 14 night cruises. From May through October SeaDream I and SeaDream II sail to yachting ports in the French and Italian Riviera, Costa del Sol in Spain, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Greek Islands, and the Adriatic and Black Seas, including Nice, Monte Carlo, Cannes, St. Tropez, Santorini, Barcelona, and Portofino.
From November through April, the yachts visit harbors in the Caribbean such as St. John, St. Croix, St. Martin, Virgin Gorda, St. Barts, Jost van Dyke, Barbados, the Grenadines, Saba Nevis and more.
Small Ship Cruising -- The Yachting Experience in the Caribbean Islands and in Europe
