Maid of the Mist
Niagara Falls, New York
Perhaps no river cruise is more iconic than that on the Maid of the Mist, the boat that braves the crashing waters at the base of Niagara Falls from May to October. Most Americans and Canadians have had a visit to the falls on their bucket lists since childhood.
Brian Hayden, a spokesperson for the Buffalo and Niagara, N.Y. Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it is well worth the distinction.
“Last summer alone I went on the Maid a half-dozen times,” said Hayden, “and the awesomeness of it never wanes. You haven’t experienced Niagara Falls until you’ve seen it from the Maid of the Mist.”
The Falls have long been a key crossing point for commerce between Canada and the United States. The Maid of the Mist herself once was a vessel built purely for industrial purposes, shuttling workers back and forth across the river as early as 1846. A suspension bridge built for that purpose in 1848 eliminated the need for business use of the ship, and the tourist attraction it is today was born.
In nearby Buffalo, groups can enjoy a calmer sightseeing cruise aboard the Spirit of Buffalo, a 73-foot schooner that plies the waters of near the mouth of the Niagara River and Lake Erie. Passengers can learn about the history and environment of Buffalo and Lake Erie and assist the crew in hoisting sails. The company also offers sunset and dinner cruises, as well as private charters.
Celebration River Cruises
Quad Cities, Iowa and Illinois
A riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River sounds as American as Mark Twain himself. However, when thinking of boating on the “Muddy Mississippi,” most will picture the lazy riverboats of St. Louis on their way south toward the Louisiana Bayou. Rarely do people think of the more northern states touched by its waters such as Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
However, it is these three states that serve as destinations for Celebration River Cruises’ Celebration Belle.
“It’s the only portion of the Mississippi that runs east to west,” said Susan Yarolem, sales and marketing manager for the outfit. “It’s actually one of the prettiest sections of the river.”
She described one of the company’s most popular cruises: a daylong trip from the company’s homeport of Moline, Illinois, north to Wisconsin. The cruise happens once a year in the fall, just when all the leaves have begun changing, and is always a best seller. “It’s stunning,” Yarolem said.
Besides lengthier voyages such as the fall-themed cruise, the ship does a variety of day trips and special excursions based upon the time of year, including big-band-themed cruises, gospel cruises and even Broadway and movie-music cruises.
Yarolem is proud of the 30-year-old, family-operated company’s ability to satisfy the needs of large groups, no matter what they might be.
“I’ll never forget one group that came all the way from North Carolina,” she said. “They said it was the best group tour — not just cruise but tour — that they had ever been on.”
www.celebrationbelle.com
