Want to do something now to help Save The Kimberley?

Hello Save The Kimberley supporters,
People often ask us what they can do to help in the campaign to stop inappropriate industrialisation of the Kimberley. The threat of an LNG processing precinct is at our doorstep, and quite a lot is happening in the campaign locally and nationally, so please keep updated by reading the 'latest news' page of our website and find us also on Facebook. To support Save The Kimberley financially visit our donations page.
We write to you today to tell you something simple and important that you can do from your own home if only you have a little time to spare.  A letter writing campaign has been launched in Broome to let our environment minister know that many of us have concerns about the gas and we need him to address these concerns. Environment Minister Tony Burke is expected to make his final decision on the cultural and environmental assessment for the project sometime later this year, so the more voices he hears, the better. Politicians tell us that letter writing is an extremely effective way to get politicians to listen, so please take the time to write a letter for the Kimberley.

Federal environment minister Tony Burke

Below is part of a letter writing guide from Environs Kimberley. You can see the whole thing at:
http://www.environskimberley.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2011-04-29-Letter-writing-flier.pdf
We would like to thank E.K. for making this information available to pass on to you.
For greatest effectiveness, please pass this on to any friends, family, or co-workers who might be sympathetic.
Warm regards,
The Save the Kimberley committee

Do you want to help in the fight against a gas hub on the Kimberley coast?
WRITE A LETTER TODAY!
Individual letters to politicians CAN make a real impact – it's well worth your time to send a letter, and to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do so too. Letter writing is one of the best ways we have to make ourselves heard directly by decision makers!
Letter writing is a tried and true part of the political process – let's make use of it.
Federal Environment Minister Burke needs to hear from the community that we don't want this gas plant to go ahead, and that we consider HIM responsible for making sure it doesn't!
Here are some tips to write a powerful letter:
MAKE IT SHORT AND SNAPPY. i.e. try to get it on to one page.  Your letter doesn't have to be wordy, or spout lots of science facts or figures to be taken seriously.  Write your letter in your own words, with a simple summary of your main concerns.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. e.g. …I've lived in Broome for xx years/I've visited Broome xx times… I am a small business owner/work in the tourism industry/am a teacher/nurse/doctor…
SAY WHY BROOME AND THE KIMBERLEY MATTERS TO YOU.  e.g. Broome/Kimberley is a very special place to me because:
…it's one of the few places in the world that hasn't been industrialized.
…very strong sense of place/community
…it's culturally diverse and tolerant.
…the Kimberley is one of the last large, intact natural areas in the world…

BRIEFLY OUTLINE YOUR CONCERNS.
Let the Minister know why you don't want the Kimberley industrialised, and what most concerns you about the proposed gas hub:
e.g…that the WA government is forcing the project on the community.
…I'm concerned about air pollution.
…I'm worried about what this will mean for my local community.
…I don't want Broome to become just another WA  mining town/the Kimberley to become another Pilbara.
TELL THE MINISTER YOU CONSIDER HIM RESPONSIBLE.
Make it clear that you consider the Minister has a responsibility to show leadership and protect the Kimberley's environment (i.e. decisions shouldn't just be made at the state level)
e.g. … Minister Burke, I understand that you have the final say on whether the gas proposal for James Price Point will go ahead.  You must not let this happen.
AT THE END, ASK A QUESTION SO THAT THE MINISTER HAS TO RESPOND TO YOUR LETTER.
e.g … Minister Burke, please tell me what action you plan to take to ensure that the Kimberley, one of the world's great natural areas, is protected? I look forward to your response.
SEND YOUR LETTER VIA THE POST, NOT EMAIL.

Address your letter to the Honorable Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.
The correct salutation to Minister Burke is Dear Minister (i.e. not Dear Mr. Burke or Dear Tony)

Hapag Lloyd Cruise Expedition Cruise 2012/2013

EXPEDITION CRUISES 2012/2013: HANSEATIC AND BREMEN OFFER TRAVEL TO THE WORLD'S BEST KEPT SECRETS

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Expedition Ships Provide Up-Close Adventures and Environmentally Conscious Travel

(New York, NY) June 1, 2011 – Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announces the arrival of their March 2012-May 2013 expeditions brochure. Their small and beautifully appointed expedition ships, MS HANSEATIC and MS BREMEN, will be offering 12 international (English/German) itineraries next season. They include travel in Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway, the Amazon, the South Seas and New Zealand. In addition, the expedition itineraries feature new ports of call in Madagascar and Mozambique and a maiden voyage through the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia's Far East. The HANSEATIC, the world's only 5-star expedition ship* and the BREMEN, a 4-star expedition ship*, were created to provide intensive exploration in the most elegant surroundings for a maximum of 184 guests on the HANSEATIC and 164 guests on the BREMEN.

Expedition Highlights 2012 – 2013 on the HANSEATIC and BREMEN:

SEA OF OKHOTSK - PREMIER EXPEDITIONS:

For the first time, the HANSEATIC sets out to circumnavigate the Sea of Okhotsk, in Russia's Far East, taking guests to volcanoes, geysers and glaciers. Zodiac stops on the Sea of Okhotsk include: Iony, a tiny island populated by sea lions and Shantar Islands and Malminskie Islands, natural sanctuaries for songbirds, birds of prey, seals and sea otters.

Trip Details: from June 13-30, 2012, rates for this itinerary start at $10,810 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

ISLANDS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN – MAIDEN CALLS:

Guests will experience lemurs in pristine nature, animals in the wild, and wonderful beaches on romantic coasts on the HANSEATIC through Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. This tropic 16-day adventure will make stops at six new ports along the route, which include stops in the following ports in Madagascar: Maroantsetra, Nosy Hara, Morondava, Nosy Ve, and Toliara and a first time stop in Mozambique, at the picturesque city of Ilha dos Portugueses.

Trip Details: from December 3-19, 2012, rates for this itinerary start at $7,750 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE:

In 2012, the popular Northwest Passage will be offered onboard the HANSEATIC. It starts in Nome/Alaska amidst impressive testimonies of the Inuit culture before the HANSEATIC sails through the Canadian Arctic, the heart of the Northwest Passage and ends in Reykjavik/Iceland.

Trip Details: from August 14 - September 8, 2012, rates for this 25-day itinerary start at $19,780 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

ANTARCTICA:

Glaciers, icebergs, deep fjords and bays offer the setting for an unforgettable Antarctica expedition. In addition to observing bird colonies, guests will also have the opportunity to explore the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, bath in the hot springs on Deception Island and observe whales in the Antarctic Sound. All departs include round-trip airfare from Buenos Aires/Argentina to Ushuaia/Argentina.

Dates and rates for the Antarctica cruises' in late 2012 and early 2013:

Trip Details: November 30 - December 15, 2012, on the BREMEN, rates starting at  $9,220 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

Trip Details: January 3 - 18, 2013, on the BREMEN, rates starting at  $10,300 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

Trip Details: February 13 - March 3, 2013, on the HANSEATIC, rates starting at  $12,760 per person/based on double occupancy for an outside cabin

Expedition Travel At Its Best:

Both ships are well equipped for travel in difficult waters, holding the highest ice class ranking for passenger vessels (E4). Also shallow drafts and high maneuverability allow the ships to enter waters larger cruise vessels cannot reach. Guests explore the world's best-kept secrets in zodiacs (small motorized boats) with only 10-12 guests. Onboard experts include a team of experienced scientists, expedition leaders and specialists who guide landings and offer guests the rare opportunity to observe plant and animal life up close. However, what makes these expedition adventures standout for guests is the security of knowing that highly experienced captains are guiding the vessels and have together already traveled to the Arctic and Antarctica more than 200 times.

Educational experiences are the ultimate goals of the expedition trips. Thereby also, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is committed to promoting a responsible way of dealing with nature – among other efforts as a co-founder of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). In addition, the HANSEATIC and the BREMEN use low-emission diesel oil rather than heavy fuel oil on cruises to Antarctica, and have been doing so long before the introduction of the current, stricter regulations.

For more information on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' exciting 12'- 13' expedition itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com.


*According to the 2011 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

Orion II’s Vietnam Explorer voyages include 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites

UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Ha Long Bay

From Ho Chi Minh to My Son, Nha Trang to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is intoxicating. With energy and charm of equal proportions, and a regal history of passion, war and conquests to rival any European history, these 9 night Orion II voyages include not one, or two, but four UNESCO World Heritage sites - Hue, Hoi An, My Son and Ha Long Bay. Extraordinary, even by Orion standards!

Whether it is the organised chaos of cruising the Saigon River with its junks, exploring the traditional fishing village of Baie de Cu Mon, rarely seen by outsiders, or exploring Nha Trang with its Communist Party headquarters, beach brewery and $1 lobsters for lunch, a voyage with Orion promises, and delivers, the unexpected.

Vietnamese society has undergone a profound transition in the past decade and these itineraries reveal the extraordinary vitality of the cities, where dynamic new businesses and stylish resorts blend with elegant French colonial history. Explore street markets and restaurants to sample the delicacies of a cuisine renowned for its originality, delicate flavours and creativity. In the countryside, picturesque rice paddies, serene river villages and patient water buffalo contrast with the extraordinary history and relics of the Vietnam War.

Take a step back in time as you walk through the narrow streets of Hoi An and see the exquisite spiritual architecture of My Son with its World Heritage listed Hindu temples that pre-date Angkor Wat. Enjoy every step of the way to Hanoi where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history. Motorbikes by the million dart the web of streets in the Old Quarter, a furnace of commerce for almost 1000 years and the best place to check the pulse of this resurgent city.

Even Ha Long Bay is explored with fresh eyes. Seen from onboard a traditional junk, wending peacefully through the islands, the soaring limestone karsts are spectacular; venturing into limestone caves with the expedition team on Orion II’s Zodiacs adds another dimension completely. With Orion II you do both!

In both 2011 and 2012 there are three scheduled 9 night Orion II Vietnam Explorer voyages alternating between Haiphong (for Hanoi) and Ho Chi Minh City and including Nha Trang, Baie de Cu Mon/Bai Nam Beach, Da Nang (for My Son and Hoi An), Chan May (for Hue) and Ha Long Bay & Cat Ba.


Orion II Vietnam Explorer voyages

Departing 18 and 27 November and 6 December 2011 & 12, 21 and 30 March 2012
9 night fares from $7,335 per person for an Ocean Suite
Junior Suites begin from $10,170 per person
Balcony Suites are $13,230 per person
Penthouse Suites are $14,760 per person

All prices twin share

Details of Vietnam Explorer itinerary available at http://www.orionexpeditions.com/expeditions/thailand/voyage_summary

Further information on Orion Expedition Cruises can be obtained by visiting the website www.orionexpeditions.com

For reservations or to obtain a brochure of 2011 or 2012 voyages call Orion Expedition Cruises: 61-2 9033 8777 (Sydney callers) 1300 361 012 (regional and interstate) / 0800 444 462 (New Zealand) or see your travel agent.

Email: info@orionexpeditions.com

Adventure Associates is moving!

From Tuesday 14 June, Adventure Associates' new street (and mailing) address will be:

Level 8, 309 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Our phone numbers remain the same:
Phone: (02) 8916 3000
Toll-Free: 1800 222 141
mail@adventureassociates.com

New fax number to be advised

www.adventureassociates.com

Cruise Weekly: 2012 River Cruise Guide

Clipper Cruise Special Caribbean, Venezuela, Columbia, Panama Canal

A 14-night sailing cruise through the southern Caribbean, calling at a string of exotic islands and ports along the northern coast of South America and culminating in a crossing of the Panama Canal, is scheduled for November 6 this year.

The luxury clipper ship Star Flyer will operate the cruise from Bridgetown, Barbados to Balboa, Panama, after a 29-night re-positioning cruise from Cannes.

After leaving Bridgetown, Star Flyer stops for a laid-back beach day at one of the 30 magical Grenadine islands before heading for the popular tourist port of St George's Grenada.

Closer to the Venezuelan coast, ports of call include the islands of Margarita, famous for stunning white-sand beaches, and Blanquilla, home of the renowned "Venezuelan Wall" a 300m drop-off of coral and sea life which plummets straight down only 20m from the shore.

Star Flyer continues westwards along the northern coast of South America stopping at three islands in the Lesser Antilles -- Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba – a mecca for scuba divers from many parts of the world.

Next is the pulsating tropical city of Cartagena in Columbia, a racy party scene for wealthy Latin Americans and Europeans  -- a prelude to the quiet Panama Canal crossing which takes around 10 hours to reach the Pacific Ocean terminal port of Balboa.

The 14-night cruise costs from $6210 including all meals and entertainment on board, port charges and gratuities.

From Balboa, Star Flyer will operate a seven-night cruise to Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica (from $2900) where it will be based until March 2012 cruising the pristine coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

All three ships in the Star Clippers fleet -- flagship Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer -- are currently sailing more than 70 wide-ranging itineraries to the best of the Mediterranean's cruising playgrounds until October when they head west to the Caribbean and  Costa Rica.

For reservations contact your travel agent or Star Clippers on 1300 362 599 or email:starclippers@creativecruising.com.au
www.starclippers.com

Blount Small Ship Adventures Offers Two Ontario Cruises In 2011

Blount Small Ship Adventures is offering two new cruises this year that feature Canadian waterways in Ontario. The small size and unique design allow its ships to sail through waterways that bigger cruise ships cannot reach.

The company also offers savings of up to $1,000 per couple on select departures of the Ontario cruises when booked by Aug. 5, 2011. It is valid on new bookings only. Plus, AARP members receive up to $100 in shipboard credit.

The itineraries were developed as part of a partnership between Blount and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership. One of the cruises travels from New York City to Toronto, while the other goes from Toronto to Midland, Ontario, with a highlight on Georgian Bay.

“Skylines & Islands: New York City to Toronto” includes New York’s small towns, including Little Falls, Sylvan Beach and Oswego, as well as the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls. The ship will retract its pilot house to cruise the Hudson River and the Erie Canal.

“Discover Ontario: Scenic Georgian Bay” cruises the Welland Canal and explores Cleveland, Detroit and Goderich, Ontario. The cruise also sails on Georgian Bay and visits Manitoulin Island and Midland before returning to Toronto.

There are four 2011 departures. “Skylines and Islands” between New York City and Toronto departs on July 13 and Aug. 5. “Discover Ontario: Scenic Georgian Bay” departs on July 14 and July 25. The July 14 departure is not eligible for $200 discount per couple. For more information, call 800-556-7450 or visit www.blountsmallshipadventures.com.

Unique South American Cruise / Tour

A voyage to the Galapagos Islands on a private yacht, a round-trip to Machu Picchu on the Hiram Bingham luxury train and a stay in the Amazon rainforest are just a few of the highlights on an exclusive cruise/tour now available through ecruising.travel

The tour includes de luxe accommodation and breakfast throughout, all meals aboard the Yacht La Pinta, including beverages with dinner and several special feature lunches and dinners during the tour.

This unique 23-night itinerary departs on April 4, 2012. After international flights from Sydney, the tour starts and finishes in Santiago and includes 12 nights accommodation and expertly guided sightseeing at key attractions in Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

Various cities tours, a full day wine tasting in the Cachapoal Valley, the sacred Valley of the Incas and rainforest walks are just some of the activities.

The seven-night voyage to Galapagos includes daily lectures and briefings and land tours led by experienced naturalists.

The entire package costs from$15,559 and includes all taxes, port charges and entry fees, but is only for sale until July 4.

More details from ecruising.travel on 1300 369 848 or check-out www.ecruising.travel 

Oceanwide Expeditions offers 'Leica' photo workshops onboard m/v Plancius

Oceanwide Expeditions offers  'Leica' photo workshops for beginners and advanced photographers on board MV Plancius

You are interested in wildlife and photography in the Arctic and Antarctica?

You have not obtained the basic skills of photography yet, or you would like to travel with like minded experts?

Photo workshops powered by 'Leica' on board m/v Plancius will be the answer for those who want to enhance their photographic skills while travelling to the most stunning and breath taking regions of the word during expedition cruises to Antarctica or High Arctic. 

The seasons in the polar regions are diverse , there is a lot of wildlife and great landscapes to be discovered. You will bring a piece of this, your personal photo memories, back home

Oceanwide Expeditions announces a special cooperation with "Leica" . Experienced experts  from renowned German 'Leica Akademie'  will supervise photo workshops for beginners and advanced photographers onboard polar explorer vessel MV Plancius. Everybody is welcome to participate, no previous experience required.

The workshop groups (up to 20 participants per guide per landing, and up to 14 participants per guide on supplemented voyages) will be accompanied by a photo expert during activity ashore. Participants with a  special interest in photography use their personal photo equipment or test 'Leica' cameras free of charge .

Photo lectures and practical workshops will be offered during sea and landing days. Participants will learn more about objects, exposures and photo composition.

The workshops do not intend to instruct on how to use specific camera models, but more to give an insight on better photo results by respecting basic rules of photography. Photographers can also take part in other activities of their choice.

Photo workshops are mostly free of charge during 'Basecamp' voyages and other selected voyages. Workshops with supplement guarantee more focus on  photography in exclusive small groups (experts and those who want to become experts).

Free photo workshops are open for all passengers (beginners and experts). The workshops must be pre-booked with Oceanwide's reservation departments prior to departure. All photo workshops are powered by 'Leica' (except PLA29, 2012).

Antarctica 2011-12:

PLA29, Basecamp Plancius, 27 Feb – 29 Mar 2012 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

PLA30, Polar  Circle - Antarctica, 09 Mar – 20 Mar 2012 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

PLA31, Antarctic Peninsula, 20 Mar – 29 Mar 2012 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

Arctic 2012:

PLA06, Basecamp Plancius, 25 Jun – 04 Jul 2012 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

PLA13, Northeast Greenland, 26 Aug – 07 Sep 2012 : supplemented with USD 420 p.P.,  group limited 5 – 14 persons

Antarctica 2012-13:

PLA22, Basecamp Plancius, 22 Nov – 03 Dec 2012 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

PLA23, Antarctic Peninsula, 03 Dec – 13 Dec 2012 : supplemented with USD 420 p.P.,  group limited 5 – 14 persons

PLA30, Basecamp Plancius, 26 Feb – 09 Mar 2013 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

PLA31, Polar  Circle - Antarctica , 09 Mar – 20 Mar 2013 : supplemented with USD 420 p.P.,  group limited 5 – 14 persons

PLA32, Special photo and wildlife voyage Antarctic Peninsula 20 Mar – 29 Mar 2013 : free of charge , all passengers can participate

SMH: A feeling for ice

Following a fine tradition, Ben Groundwater goes on expedition to a wilderness no longer so inaccessible.

Robert Falcon Scott knew the feeling. So did Sir Ernest Shackleton. Both Antarctic pioneers undertook brave missions in their quest for the South Pole and both had to deal with a similarly pressing issue: money. Or a lack of it.

Budgets were tight. The famed adventurers had to scrounge around London looking for benefactors, pay their crew next to nothing and live off the bare bones just to make their dreams of polar exploration come true.


Sounds familiar. Modern Antarctic adventurers - also known as tourists - have the same problem. Our polar journeys may not be as pioneering but they're certainly heavy on the wallet. You don't get to the world's least-visited continent without coughing up serious dough.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/a-feeling-for-ice-20110526-1f6jo.html#ixzz1Nhnfaqqf

Solo in the Southern Ocean

by Katrina Lobley - The Age / SMH

Small can be beautiful for solo travellers. The expedition ship MV Le Boreal accommodates 264 passengers but luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent caps passenger numbers to Antarctica at 200, so everyone can be transferred to shore more efficiently.

Passengers heading to Antarctica are promised one of Le Boreal's 104 balcony cabins, which means there's room to accommodate solo travellers, who are charged a single supplement of 30 per cent.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Solo passengers usually comprise 10 per cent to 12 per cent - or 20 to 24 people - of A&K's Antarctic sailings, which means you won't be Robinson Crusoe if you sign up on your own.

A&K's vice-president of business development, Bob Simpson, says the burgeoning solo-traveller market has been underserved but, as it grows, "we've definitely realised as a group this is something we need to focus on". Simpson says 70 per cent of A&K's solo travellers are women and they're usually in their mid-50s or older.

Spend 15 nights aboard Le Boreal on A&K's 17-night Antarctica, Falkland Islands and South Georgia expedition, departing Buenos Aires on December 17. It costs from US$US13,995 ($13,125) a person twin share; the single supplement costs from $US4195 for bookings by June 30. See abercrombiekent.com.au.

Elsewhere in the cruise industry, Royal Caribbean Cruises has noted the solo trend and is adding six single cabins to its Australian-based superliner Radiance of the Seas (prices yet to be announced).

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/travel/activity/cruises/sailing-for-singles-20110527-1f7od.html#ixzz1NgsRi1jZ

Great American Riverboat Revival Planned

Source: Seatrade Insider

The American Queen, the largest steamboat ever built

A group of seasoned cruise, travel and ship operating veterans with a missionary zeal to revive riverboating in America have joined forces to create the Great American Steamboat Co. starting with the largest steamboat ever built.

The 436-passenger American Queen would begin operating in April next year on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

‘This would be the first of a fleet of coastal and river vessels under the US flag,’ company president Christopher Kyte told Seatrade Insider in an exclusive interview.

The Great American Steamboat Co. is close to finalizing its acquisition of the American Queen for a reported $15.5m. Built in 1995 for $60m by the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., the 418-foot vessel has been under the control of the US Maritime Administration since late 2008 after operating briefly for Ambassadors International’s defunct Majestic America Line.

Kyte said only that the asking price had been $28m and estimated it would cost $100m to build the American Queen today.

The new company plans cruises of three, five, seven and 10 nights from Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Chattanooga. Stops at historic towns and cities in America’s heartland, active excursions including hiking and biking and an emphasis on superb dining are highlighted. Rail-riverboat and rental car packages will be available.

Kyte, the founder and chairman of Uncommon Journeys, a specialist in train and ocean liner travel, is among the ardent ship buffs who comprise the management of the Memphis-based Great American Steamboat Co., which plans to open operations and reservations by Aug. 15.

John Waggoner, president and ceo of HMS Global Maritime, the operator of a vast flotilla of US-flag vessels from ferries to high-speed craft to riverboat casinos, will act as chairman. Delta Queen Steamboat Co. veterans Jeffrey Krida and Russ Varvel will serve as ceo and vp sales, respectively.

Kyte and the HMS group were bidding against each other for the American Queen when they decided to join forces. All share a passion for riverboats.

Krida had ordered the vessel’s construction when he led Delta Queen in the 1990s. It entered service in 1995 and later operated for American Classic Voyages and the Delaware North Companies before going to Ambassadors International.

Kyte described the American Queen’s condition as ‘excellent. The government did a beautiful job of keeping it.’ He said the vessel could be ready to sail in a matter of weeks but a three- to four-month drydock is planned that will add technological upgrades to improve operating efficiency.

The new owners also plan fresh touches like outdoor dining on the top deck, and the renowned American chef Regina Charboneau has been tapped as executive chef.

‘Food will be a centerpiece of the whole voyage, and hopefully what people go home remembering,’ said Kyte, describing the culinary concept as ‘really elegant, refined Southern cooking.’

While the vessel will be steeped in history, nostalgia and tradition, the company will provide active, contemporary features such as bikes on board to use in port, and fitness and wellness programs.

The Great American Steamboat Co. will market nationally and internationally. Agreements are being finalized for UK and Australasian representation. Within a year of American Queen operating, further vessels are envisioned.

Meanwhile, American Cruise Lines, which fields the 120-passenger Queen of the West on the Columbia and Snake rivers, is building its own classic paddlewheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, to enter service in August next year with seven-night cruises priced starting at $3,995. The vessel will carry 140 passengers, making it much smaller than the American Queen.

The Great American Steamboat Co. plans a range of voyage lengths with an entry price point for three-night cruises starting at under $1,000. Some short round-trips will satisfy demand for group business, Kyte said.

‘The more competition the better and the more awareness the better,’ he added. Even with the Queen of the Mississippi and the American Queen in operation, there will be roughly half the beds on the Mississippi as a decade ago. During the same period, the target market of over-55s has grown by 20m.

The Great American Steamboat Co. will focus on mature travelers seeking adventure with comfort. Rail-riverboat packages are planned, along with a Hertz program enabling passengers to drive to the boat and drop off their car.

Among the itineraries, a seven-night fall foliage cruise from St. Louis to St. Cloud will stop at colorful towns like Red Wing and Winona, with excursions offered to historic Galena in Illinois. ‘Sailing on embarkation day will be 9 or 10 p.m. so people can easily make same-day connections by air or train,’ Kyte said. Passengers could even attend a Cardinals game in St. Louis before embarking.

The American Queen has operated for several owners, but Kyte believes his group has the winning strategy. ‘It’s a passionate goal for everyone involved,’ he said, noting that Krida led Delta Queen ‘at its most popular and profitable time, in the mid-1990s.’

Waggoner had his eye on the American Queen even before Kyte himself, and he’d made a bid for the Cape Coastal ships some years ago.

As for Kyte, Uncommon Journeys is a master at packaging vacations focused on American history and culture. ‘We were always the top producer for the American Queen in every iteration, under Sam Zell in the 1990s and when Delaware North acquired it and American Classic Voyages,’ he said.

Memphis provides the perfect central location for the headquarters, as Kyte sees it, with half the American Queen’s itineraries sailing past, a good labor pool and a great hospitality school at the University of Memphis. ‘And city government, at all levels, really wanted to have us. They rolled out the red carpet in Memphis.’

Moreover, a new pier is ready to take the ship. Kyte described the Beale Street Landing as ‘glorious. It will trump anything on the river.’

He’s also inspired about creating hundreds of American jobs. ‘All up and down the river are great little towns like Madison, Indiana. A lot of heart and soul of those towns disappeared when these boats went away. It’s a huge amount of pride in bringing them back.’

Kyte called riverboats ‘a great American story. There’s nothing more iconic than what Mark Twain called floating wedding cakes. This is the stuff of dreams.’