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GREAT RIVER STEAMBOAT COMPANY
Upper Mississippi River
JULIA BELLE SWAIN STEAMBOAT
Passenger Capacity: 150
Built: 1971
Length: 149 ft.
Officers & crew: American
Limited wheelchair access (ramp for boarding, but steps to access second
deck where main activities take place; person would need to ride on first
deck). |
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- Itinerary: Two
and three-day trips from La Crosse WI up to Winona MN, or down to Prairie du
Chien WI.
- Cabins: There are
no cabins on board, and sleeping accommodations are on shore at local hotels
- Dress: Casual.
Light sweater or coat for evenings or early mornings.
- Dining:
Most
meals are sit-down with buffets.
- Facilities & Activities:
This boat was constructed as a replica of an 1800 sternwheeler, with
features such as two forward staging planks, pilothouse with 7 ft.-diameter
steering wheel, steam whistle, and tall smokestacks. It has a steam
propulsion system with authentic vintage twin-reciprocating steam engines
manufactured in 1915 with over a million river miles logged on them. Other
features include a steam calliope with antique keyboard and Victorian-style
apppointments in the second and third deck dining salons. The boat has been
in several films including "Life on the Mississippi", "Tom Sawyer", and
the IMAX "Mark Twain's America". Live entertainment is usually jazz, blues,
and dixieland. Many crew members are also entertainers: a resident
calliope-player, guitarist, banjo-player, etc. Narrators and special guest
lecturers consisting of authors, historians, geologists travel on the
cruises. Theme cruises range from Mark Twain players to vaudeville and Irish
bands. Board games, bingo, and scavenger-hunts are conducted during the
cruise with both adults and children welcome to participate. Guest makeup
leans toward retirees, also family groups.
- Typical Rates, Deals &
Discounts: Rates begin at $289 per person double occupancy for a
two-day trip to Winona to $369 per person double occupancy for a three-day
trip to Prairie du Chien. Children, group, past-passenger, and other
discounts are available. On three-day trips, lunch & dinner on the middle
day are not included. The hotels, sightseeing, transfers, and most shore
costs are included in cruise price. Whole-boat charters start at $1,800 for
a 2-hour package with graduated rates for additional hours, starting at $650
per hour. On whole-boat charters food and entertainment are extra.
TO MAKE A RESERVATION:
Small
Ship Cruises
We work with several
agencies and tour operators who are experts in small ships.
For them to make a reservation for you, fill out the
Cruise Request
Form.
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