From the birthplace of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll in Memphis to the house of nation music in Nashville, my 8-day cruise aboard the American Splendor was a musical delight. And it was much more fantastic to share the journey with my grandson Logan.
With a fulltime job and evening courses at Purdue College, Logan’s life is kind of busy. So it was a pleasure to get away collectively and expertise the music from my childhood with a younger man who was born a long time after the deaths of musical icons like Elvis Presley, W.C. Helpful, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Gram Parsons and plenty of extra.
“My favourite a part of the Music Cities Cruise was studying about artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Money and Patsy Cline, and experiencing a efficiency on the Grand Ole Opry, the place all of them as soon as carried out,” Logan stated.
Our cruise began in Memphis with stops alongside the way in which in Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville, Tennessee. We additionally had one full day in Nashville the place the Splendor docked on the backside of well-known Broadway Road, also referred to as Honky Tonk Freeway due to the various bars that line the road.
For our journey, Logan and I started with a two-night keep at The Visitor Home at Graceland earlier than we boarded the ship. All American Cruise Traces passengers obtain a complimentary one-night keep earlier than the cruise to verify everyone seems to be there when the ship departs.
The 2-night pre-stay has an additional charge ($725 for a solo passenger or $525 every for 2 friends in a single room) which incorporates two nights at The Visitor Home at Graceland, a cocktail occasion the primary evening adopted by a behind-the-scenes shuttle to Graceland to view Elvis memorabilia that most people doesn’t get to see.
For our behind-the-scenes, Logan and I bought to see and maintain (carrying cotton gloves) Elvis’ sparkly black cape that he wore in 1972 Las Vegas live shows. We additionally noticed the stitching basket utilized by Elvis’ mom Gladys, six Kahlil Gibran books Elvis learn and made notes in, Elvis’ monogrammed boots and different private household gadgets.
Logan holds a cape worn by Elvis together with a photograph of Elvis carrying the cape lengthy earlier than Logan was born.
The pre-cruise bundle additionally included breakfast each mornings at Delta’s Kitchen at The Visitor Home, plus admission to Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis (throughout the road from The Visitor Home,) a $20 lunch voucher on the enormous Graceland facility and a three-hour bus tour round Memphis earlier than boarding our ship.
Splendid American Splendor
As for the American Splendor, the ship definitely lives as much as her identify. The Splendor is elegant and comfy. Launched in 2016, the paddlewheeler has a 180-passenger capability. Our cruise had 154 passengers and 49 crew members.
On the day of boarding the American Splendor riverboat, most of us have been down vivid and early within the foyer of The Visitor Home at Graceland. Our baggage had been picked up in our rooms and was being loaded on the ready American Cruise Traces cruise coach whereas we loved breakfast at Delta’s Kitchen at The Visitor Home.
Out cruise coach was straightforward to identify outdoors The Visitor Home. It had enormous crimson, white and blue indicators noting that the cruise coach belonged to American Cruise Traces. The coach adopted us alongside the cruise so it will at all times be there on time once we wanted a bus. Sensible transfer by American Cruise Traces.
Quickly we have been stepping onto the coach for a morning tour round Memphis earlier than embarking on the attractive American Splendor simply in time for lunch.
Cruise coach tour of Memphis
First cease on our motorcoach tour round Memphis was Solar Studio the place Elvis made the preliminary recording that launched his spectacular profession. An 18-year-old truck driver for Crown Electrical, Elvis plopped down $4 to document “My Happiness,” as a birthday present for his mom, legend says.
We didn’t tour Solar Studio as soon as owned by Sam Phillips. Only a picture cease.
Subsequent was the Peabody Resort to observe the morning parade of geese from their penthouse atop the lodge to the foyer fountain. There the geese would splash and entertain guests till it was time to march to lodge elevators to return to their penthouse for the evening.
Then got here a go to to Lorraine Motel the place Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at age 39. The motel exterior seems to be prefer it has been caught in time. Vintage vehicles are parked beneath the second-floor balcony the place MLK was standing when he was shot by James Earl Ray from a rooming home throughout the road. Inside is a museum which might have taken a number of hours to tour. Only a fast cease outdoors.
Boarding American Splendor
Boarding the ship was straightforward. Stroll on, present ID, head to stateroom to verify baggage was there, choose up nametags which will probably be scanned each time we depart the ship and return. Then head to lunch.
Our stateroom
Our stateroom 522 was on the fifth Deck, roomy and cozy with an exquisite balcony with two chairs and a desk. The 2 massive beds had high quality white mattress linens and duvets with nightstands subsequent to each our beds. The room had a protracted dresser with loads of drawers, a small closet and a desk, mirror, Keurig espresso maker, massive flat display TV, two chairs and loads of cupboard space.
The lavatory had a giant bathe with a glass door, lengthy sink counter with drawers and cupboard space beneath. Toiletries are offered until you need to convey your personal.
Our toilet
Our stateroom was cleaned on daily basis with a turndown every evening and a replica of the day by day “Ship to Shore” e-newsletter. The double-sided e-newsletter contained a wealth of knowledge, together with a list of the day’s actions, when the ship docked and when it left, mobile phone numbers for ship officers and way more.
Our stateroom balcony
Eating
The eating room on the Primary Deck aft was spacious with loads of room and window views. No reservations wanted. No seats assigned. Simply stroll in, sit down and be ready to be pampered. Menu decisions have been plentiful.
Dijon crusted roast pork tenderloin with maple candy potatoes and applesauce
“The meals on our ship was wonderful, with choices starting from candy potato pancakes for breakfast to crab-stuffed lobster tail for dinner,” Logan stated. “Each dish was as scrumptious because the one earlier than it.”
Lemon meringue pie
For individuals who would possibly get hungry later, the Sky Lounge and River Lounge at all times had snacks obtainable and fridges stuffed with mushy drinks and fruit drinks. A giant plus on the American Splendor is that each one drinks – wine, beer, cocktails, bottled water, mushy drinks, fruit drinks, tea, espresso – are included within the cruise worth. No signing a drink tab. Simply order a drink at virtually any time of day or evening and have one served to you.
Paducah floodwall
I took my first Mississippi River cruise in 1976 on the inaugural cruise of the Mississippi Queen. Since then I’ve returned to the mighty Mississippi and its fellow waterways many instances however I at all times be taught one thing new on any voyage.
Take the bus tour round Paducah. I’ve been to the Kentucky metropolis very often however by no means knew concerning the enjoyable message proper in entrance of my eyes.
A UNESCO Inventive Metropolis, Paducah is well-known for its Nationwide Quilt Museum and its pretty floodwall. On the hop-on, hop-off cruise coach tour round Paducah (no further price), tour information Kim Blaisdell identified locations of curiosity and shared fascinating historical past.
After the Nice Flood of 1937 decimated Paducah, a towering floodwall was constructed and coated in additional than 60 stunning murals by artist Robert Dafford. Stretching three blocks with a large sidewalk for straightforward strolling alongside the floodwall, every 14-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide mural depicts a second in Paducah’s historical past.
‘Hidden’ tidbits on floodwall
I’ve walked the floodwall many instances however tour information Kim shared two “hidden” tidbits on the concrete barrier. In a mural concerning the old school Paducah phone switchboard used earlier than the machine was changed by an digital pc switching system in 1979, the scene options ladies working the switchboard.
Look carefully at one lady with lengthy brown hair carrying a lightweight blue costume. “It’s Lily Tomlin,” Kim says. “Keep in mind Ernestine the phone operator in 1969’s Rowman & Martin’s Snigger-In comedy present? That was Lily Tomlin.”
Lily Tomlin is second seated from proper
Lily grew up in Detroit however her mother and father have been from Paducah and every summer season Lily and her brother would take a bus all the way down to Paducah to go to household. Then I needed to Google a video clip to point out Logan who on the planet this Lily Tomlin particular person was and why she is honored on the floodwall.
The opposite tidbit was simply obvious to Logan after tour information Kim stopped on the mural showcasing Paducah’s historical past because the “Strawberry Capital of the World” within the early Nineteen Forties. That’s when Kim talked about the music “Strawberry Fields Endlessly.”
Celebrating Paducah’s strawberry heritage, word the fella in gold paint in heart of picture
Certain sufficient, sitting in the midst of the strawberry discipline is an unmistakable man carrying spherical wire-rimmed glasses. John Lennon.
John Lennon
Shipboard music
Since this was a music cruise, the Splendor had loads of dwell musical leisure every night. Onboard pianist Jay Chalmers will need to have a repertoire of hundreds of musical alternatives. When passengers requested a sure music, Jay obliged. One night he got here out as Elton John to kick off his present.
Jay Chambers presents music as Elton John.
In Paducah, Terry Mike Jeffrey got here aboard for some nation and rock songs. Identified to focus on Elvis Presley music, Terry says he began singing for cash when he was three years previous.
“I’d stand in entrance of the jukebox and sing together with it and folks would give me a nickel or a dime,” he says. “That’s when it occurred to me that you could become profitable singing songs. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Terry Mike Jeffrey
In Dover, the Banjocats got here aboard for a night of bluegrass and classical music. The husband and spouse workforce of Jennifer and Michael McLain confirmed their versatility on different musical devices as properly.
Michael McLain
Jennifer McLain
The final musical group, the Laura White Trio, was cancelled as a result of the Splendor arrived a number of hours later than anticipated in Clarksville. A disgrace as a result of I’ve heard the Laura White Trio earlier than and they’re nice.
Shipboard actions
The Splendor appeared to have one thing happening from early morning to late at evening. Video games, crafts, workouts, mojito tastings, margarita tastings, pilot home excursions, culinary demonstration, karaoke, line dancing classes, trivia, bingo and way more.
Visitor speaker Mark Wisner gave attention-grabbing talks on topics akin to Mississippi River Hydrology, Mark Twain’s World of Knowledge, The Louisiana Buy, The Civil Warfare and American Artwork, Nation Music’s Large Bang of 1927 and extra.
For a shock exercise, cruise director Julia Settlemire purchased a stuffed toy pig when the Splendor docked in Dover for a shore tour to the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm & Residing Historical past Museum. Cuddling the toy, Julia requested passengers to recommend a reputation for her new critter.
Seated aboard the ship’s rocking pig, Cruise Director Julia Settlemire reads identify ideas for brand new stuffed pig animal seated on the rocker’s head.
Dozens of names have been submitted. Julia unveiled the inventive pig names within the River Lounge with passengers selecting the most well-liked. Fairly acceptable for our Music Cities Cruise, the identify Piggy Sue was picked – a salute to the 1957 “Peggy Sue” music by Buddy Holly.
Grand Ole Opry
In Nashville, the American Splendor had the right docking house – proper on the backside of Broadway the place we might stroll to many foremost sights or trip the cruise coach. Arriving the evening earlier than, we had an entire day in Nashville, capped off by an evening on the Grand Ole Opry earlier than our cruise ended.
After breakfast on that large Nashville day, Logan and I walked to the County Music Corridor of Fame, the Johnny Money Museum and the Patsy Cline Museum. Plus we seemed into most of the bars the place dwell music was blaring – Blake Shelton’s Ole Pink, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar, Child Rock’s Large A$$ Honky Tonk, John Wealthy’s Redneck Riviera Bar, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Alan Jackson’s Good Time Bar and plenty of extra.
“I used to be pleasantly shocked by what number of nice locations there have been to see in Nashville, all inside strolling distance from the place we docked,” Logan stated.
Logan with the American Splendor conveniently docked in downtown Nashville.
After a buffet dinner onboard the ship, we boarded cruise coaches for the Grand Ole Opry that was a part of the cruise bundle. No further cost. Settled into our ticketed seats we noticed Rhonda Vincent, Maggie Rose, Kruger Brothers, Gavin Adcock, Mandy Barnett, Dusty Slay, Flatland Cavalry and Don Schlitz take the stage.
“After we entered the live performance corridor of the Grand Ole Opry, I used to be shocked at how shut and intimate the stage felt with the viewers,” Logan stated. “The selection of pew-style seating gave the venue a singular look that completely suited the nation music ambiance.”
Particular circle at Opry Home
Within the heart stage of the Grand Ole Opry is a particular piece of wooden. It’s from the previous Ryman Auditorium. Are you able to think about what it has seen? If it might speak, take into consideration all of the legends it might inform about.
Through the years, hundreds of performers have stood on this circle – Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Johnny Money, June Carter Money, Roy Acuff, Little Jimmy Dickens.
Generally known as ‘The King of Nation Music,’ Roy Acuff (1903-1991) is honored standing on the previous Ryman stage circle in a photograph on the Grand Ole Opry Home.
Even a thin truck driver from Memphis named Elvis Presley. Singing a rocked-up model of Invoice Monroe’s bluegrass “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” Elvis didn’t obtain a heat welcome for his first and solely Opry efficiency on Oct. 2, 1954. As a substitute, he was instructed to return to driving a truck.
Piece of the previous Ryman Auditorium
When the Grand Ole Opry moved to its current 4,400-seat residence on the Grand Ole Opry Home in 1974, the round part of the previous Ryman stage was taken alongside as a reminder of the place the Opry had known as residence for greater than three a long time.
From its easy beginnings on Nov. 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry has by no means missed a Saturday evening broadcast. Its viewers, at first only some hundred with primitive radios and crystal units, has grown to incorporate hundreds of thousands around the globe.
It was that the Opry was pure nation, however that isn’t so anymore. Once I attended a present again in 2006, one of many performers was a 16-year-old woman making her debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
Her first disc wouldn’t hit the cabinets till a month later however, judging from the enthusiastic viewers, newcomer Taylor Swift was already starting her speedy ascent to stardom.
The present has just a little little bit of every part. And, as Porter Wagoner used to say, should you don’t like one singer, you possibly can simply wait a couple of minutes and the present may have out somebody you do like. You by no means know what you’ll see or hear in that unbroken efficiency circle on the Grand Ole Opry.
The subsequent morning, we departed the American Splendor and boarded an American Cruise Traces cruise coach as soon as once more for the airport and our flight again to Indy. Logan and I are nonetheless speaking about what we noticed and heard on our Music Cities Cruise. Many magical music recollections.
Pictures by Jackie Sheckler Finch
On American Splendor, these are the prices included within the fare:
- All onboard alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- WiFi
- All meals. No specialty eating places or added prices.
- All ship gratuities for ship workers.
- Pre-cruise lodge keep
- Most shore excursions
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