Mississippi River Cruises

As one of the 3 states which compose the Deep South, Georgia will still include quite a lot from the charm which defined Southern living at the plantation area`s height, with large magnolia trees, elegant luncheons and steam-powered river ships sailing the rivers of the state. Riverboat cruises might still be enjoyed throughout the entire state, providing travelers with simple sightseeing tours and longer dinner and wedding trips.

Savannah Riverboat Cruises

Savannah Riverboat Cruises will provide hour-long sightseeing trips on a daily basis around Savannah Harbor as well as the Savannah River. Cruises will take place on board a pair of riverboat replicas, the Georgia Queen as well as Savannah River Queen. The captain of the ship will double as guide and will share historical trivia or anecdotes throughout the entire cruise. Sightseeing tours will be provided during the entire year and take in the scenic riverbanks, with historic buildings and the town`s “Waving Girl” statue erected to honor a woman who waved at passing vessels over forty years at the ending of 1800s and beginning of 1900s. The company will provide dinner, brunch, gospel or murder-mystery cruise trips on certain days during the entire year.

Stone Mountain Park

Travelers to Stone Mountain Park from Atlanta may sail the Stone Mountain Lake on board the Scarlett O`Hara, a side-wheeler which is able to host one hundred and fifty passengers. The twenty-minute cruise will leave every 30 minute from the Riverboat Marina Complex. Guests crisscross the whole lake and are offered with views of the towering rock formations and lush green countryside. Another ship, the 300-guest paddle- ship Henry W. Grady, will be available only for private charters. Stone Mountain Park will occupy more than 3.200 acres of wilderness fifteen minutes from downtown Atlanta, and is home to the largest piece of exposed granite in the world, according to its site. The park will provide hiking, cable car rides, golf, a laser show and camping.

Chattahoochee Outfitters

Chattahoochee Outfitters will provide cruise trips on the Chattahoochee River on board the Spirit of Roswell, a sixty-three-foot stern-wheeler with 2 decks. Public sightseeing trips will depart from the Azalea Park ship launch in Roswell, about twenty minutes outside Atlanta. Cruise tours will last for 1 1/2 hour and will provide guests a close look at the surrounding countryside and three-studded riverbanks. The Spirit of Roswell is available for private charters for groups of up to sixty five people. Charters trips will range in length from 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and go to Morgan Falls and then get back to Azalea Park. Charter tours will be available from 10.00 until sunset.

Located on the shores of the Illinois River, Peoria is considered the home dock of the Spirit of Peoria, a 150-foot Mark Twain-era river ship replica. The 4-deck Spirit of Peoria will provide tourists the chance of reliving those nostalgic times of riverboat travel. Propelled by a 20-foot diameter paddle-wheel, the Spirit of Peoria will ply the waters of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers at a peaceful speed of around 7 to ten miles per hours. Get on board the get a glimpse of the welcoming hospitality of the crew members as you will be able to enjoy on Peoria`s only river ship.

Multiple-Day

You can select from one of 3 multiple-day cruise tour packages. Each and every all-inclusive package will include baggage handling, entertainment, round-trip transportation, complimentary drinks, overnight lodging and meals. You will be able to learn about the river`s history as you will relax in either one of the comfortable lounge chairs on the deck. You may visit the bridge and you may get to steer the ship.

Peoria to Starved Rock State Park

Select the 2-day, one-night or 3-day, 2-night option. You will leave the Peoria waterfront as calliope music will fill the air and spend a great day along the Illinois River as you will travel to the north towards Starved Rock State Park in Utica. Upon arrival, you should settle in at the lodge and then get a glimpse of the eighteen canyons of the park before taking your dinner. The 3-day, 2-night option will include guided trips of the park.

Grizzly Jack`s Getaway

This 3-day, 2-night cruise is ideal for families who wish to have some fun. You should enjoy the Grand Bear Falls indoor water park as well as the Enchanted Forest amusement park in Utica.

Peoria to St. Louis

You can select the 3-day, 2-night or 5-day, 4-night option. Leave from the Peoria waterfront and travel to the south along the Illinois River to Jacksonville, where you may spend the night. The next day, you will continue to the south to Grafton and spend another night at the lodge in Pere Marquette State Park. The 5-day, 4-night option will include an overnight stay in St. Louis, and will include guided trips to the Gateway Arch, museum and tours of Union Station. On your way back, you may spend a 2nd night at Pere Marquette Lodge before docking in Florence, where a motor coach will take you to Peoria.

One-Day

If you may not have enough time to enjoy one of the multiple-day tours, you should have no worries. You may still enjoy a relaxing cruise trip along the Mississippi or Illinois rivers. The Spirit of Peoria will provide abbreviated one-day tours that will include all the features of a multi-day tour, without the nightly accommodations. Departure ports may vary, so you should check the cruise route for departure places.

A pioneer in the industry of riverboat gambling, Iowa will feature more than a few casinos situated in a wide variety of spots throughout the state. If it is riverboat gambling you want, go the western and eastern borders of the state, where casinos will provide a wide variety of games for you to test your luck.

Locations

Most riverboat casinos from Iowa may be found on the western border of the state on the Missouri River, as well as on the eastern border of the state on the Mississippi River. Best options on the Missouri will include Argosy Casino, WinnaVegas Casino and Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs. Casinos on the Mississippi will include Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf, Wild Rose Casino in Clinton and Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque.

Games

All of the Iowa`s casinos will provide various games of chance like video poker, craps, roulette, blackjack or slot machines. A lot of will also provide poker, Let it Ride, Three Card poker, baccarat, video keno or Caribbean stud poker. The Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission have reported that between 2009 and 2010, the range of paybacks for all electronic machines was somewhere between 89 % and 92 % (for video keno, video poker and slot machines). According to American Casino Guide, this particular number will stay pretty much consistent each and every year.

Regulations

All players will have to be at least twenty one years old to be able to gamble in these casinos, which will stay open twenty four hours per day. Admission to each and every casino will be free. If you may win a jackpot or cash drawing of at least $1.200 in this state, you will have to give 5% from your winnings for tax purposes. You may file a state income tax return in Iowa and may get some of that amount of money refunded.

History

Iowa is considered the very first location in the nation to legalize riverboat gambling, and ships began to operate in 1991. At first, bets could be of not more than $5 and all patrons couldn`t lose more than $200 during a specific season in any casino. Three years later, those particular wager restrictions were removed. In 2004, the state legislature voted to allow casinos to be situated on moored barges in water basins made by human hand, thus eliminating the restrictions which the casinos had to be on board ships.

A dinner cruise on board a riverboat is the perfect way of celebrating a special occasion like an anniversary or a birthday. The Savannah Riverboat Cruise Company has operated cruise tours on the Savannah River since 1991 which range from murder mystery cruises to harbor sightseeing trips. Dinner cruises leave from River Street behind City Hall; each and every cruise will last for about 2 hours.

Standard Dinner Cruise

The Savannah Riverboat Cruise Company will provide dinner sailing during the entire year. The ships will sail at 19.00, and boarding will start one hour before departure time. This cruise will be suitable for the entire family, and under kids under four year old will travel for free. Passengers are provided a gourmet buffet dinner with seasonal vegetables, carving station and a wide variety of desert selections. Tea and coffee will be included in the price, and you may buy other type of drinks from the cash bar. After taking your dinner, you may dance the classic tunes from the `50s performed by live bands, or enjoy the Savannah River`s views from the upper deck.

Gospel Dinner Cruise

The special gospel dinner cruise tour is provided on each and every Monday night from early April through late October. The buffet meals will include regular low-country cuisine, consisting from barbecue pork, cheese, sweet potatoes and dessert. Live entertainment is offered by local gospel singers.

Gullah Geechee Cruises

The Civil War-themed “Journey to Freedom” cruise tour will operate from early April through late August. Passengers will be served a traditional Southern-style buffet meal, which will include smothered pork chops, seasonal vegetables and shrimp. Additionally, guests will be able to enjoy sweet iced tea or peach cobbler for dessert. The meal will be followed by narrations, dance and music. From early May through late August, the cruise line will provide an identical cruise that will celebrate the vibrant Gullah Geechee heritage.

The Ships

The Savannah Riverboat Cruise Company will operate two different river ships that are decorated in regular white, blue and red. Each and every ship may host up to six hundred guests. The Georgia Queen is a paddle-wheeler ship with two different climate-controlled decks as well as an open-air 3rd one. The Savannah River Queen is a riverboat that has a snack shop, an open-air viewing deck, three dining rooms and three bars. This ship provides a private VIP room which may host up to thirty passengers. The ships will be available for private dinner cruise charters, weddings ceremonies, business events or parties.

Reserving

You may book riverboat dinner cruise tours directly from the company, either online or by phone call. Alternatively, you may reserve through a local cruise line, which will need at least three days advance notice. Cruise fares may vary quite a lot between these two cruise lines, so you may want to shop around a bit, but take into consideration that some ticket cruise fares will not include port fees or any other taxes. You may be charged a flat-rate processing fee for making your booking as well.

Montgomery was since 1846 the capital of the Alabama state, and the historic downtown region lies on the shores of the Alabama River. The Harriott II, the only operating ship of the city, is owned by the Montgomery city. It`s docked beside the Riverwalk Park`s amphitheater, a modern development of riverside entertainment. The Harriott II will offer sightseeing excursions, dinner cruises, sunset trips as well as themed evening cruises like Disco Cruises or Blues Cruises.

The Harriott II

Take a small trip back in time on board this genuine replica of a nineteenth-century paddle-wheeler, which has been launched in 1981 and refurbished completely in 2009. The vessel has been named in honor of the Harriott, the first ship to function between Montgomery and Mobile, carrying cotton in the `20s. The vessel is almost 100 feet long and may host almost four hundred guests. The lower deck will contain the dining area, and the ship will be climate-controlled, featuring two open-air decks. The Harriott II is decked in white, blue and red with beautiful interior decorations along with table dressings. The vessel is United States Coastguard approved. Passengers may find free evening parking available near the Harriott II ship dock at Wells Fargo, in the Coosa Street`s parking deck, or any other metered parking spot.

Dinner Cruises

Dinner cruises on board the Harriott II are to be considered a family business. Besides dancing and live entertainment, the cruise will provide organized activities for kids. The buffet meals will include a wide variety of entrees, potatoes, bread rolls and salads. Drinks will be available to be purchased from the cash bar.

Dinner Cruise Schedule

Dinner cruises are provided on board the Harriott II each and every Friday evening. Embarkation will start at 19.00 for departure at 19.30, and cruise trip will last for about 2 hours. The itinerary is a scenic round-trip cruise on the Alabama River.

Cruise Tickets

Cruise tickets have to be bought at least two days in advance. As of 2011, tickets for adult dinner cruise will cost $40 and kids` tickets will cost around $20. Less expensive patio tickets for the cruise without dinner will be available as well. The Alabama City has a no-refund policy. Cruise tours will not function with less than thirty five guests; in this case, those who already have a ticket will be provided a substitute cruise. You will be able to buy cruise tickets over the internet, by phone call or at their physical address at 200 Coosa Street, Montgomery. A 10% discount will be available for guests who hold valid military ID.