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 lessons 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. Useful, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Gram Parsons and plenty of extra.
“My favorite part of the Music Cities Cruise was learning about artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, and experiencing a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, where they all once performed,” 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 Avenue, often known 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 Strains passengers obtain a complimentary one-night keep earlier than the cruise to ensure everyone seems to be there when the ship departs.
The 2-night pre-stay has an additional payment ($725 for a solo passenger or $525 every for 2 visitors 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 large 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 cozy. 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 shiny 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 Strains cruise coach whereas we loved breakfast at Delta’s Kitchen at The Visitor Home.
Out cruise coach was simple to identify exterior The Visitor Home. It had large purple, white and blue indicators noting that the cruise coach belonged to American Cruise Strains. The coach adopted us alongside the cruise so it might all the time be there on time once we wanted a bus. Sensible transfer by American Cruise Strains.
Quickly we have been stepping onto the coach for a morning tour round Memphis earlier than embarking on the gorgeous 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 file “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 photograph cease.
Subsequent was the Peabody Lodge to look at 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 prefer it has been caught in time. Vintage cars 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 exterior.
Boarding American Splendor
Boarding the ship was simple. Stroll on, present ID, head to stateroom to ensure baggage was there, choose up nametags which will likely be scanned each time we go away the ship and return. Then head to lunch.
Our stateroom
Our stateroom 522 was on the fifth Deck, roomy and cozy with a gorgeous 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 an extended 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 an enormous bathe with a glass door, lengthy sink counter with drawers and cupboard space beneath. Toiletries are offered until you need to carry your personal.
Our lavatory
Our stateroom was cleaned day-after-day with a turndown every evening and a replica of the day by day “Ship to Shore” publication. The double-sided publication contained a wealth of data, together with a list of the day’s actions, when the ship docked and when it left, cellular phone numbers for ship officers and far more.
Our stateroom balcony
Eating
The eating room on the Fundamental 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 food on our ship was excellent, with options ranging from sweet potato pancakes for breakfast to crab-stuffed lobster tail for dinner,” Logan stated. “Every dish was as delicious as the one before it.”
Lemon meringue pie
For many who may get hungry later, the Sky Lounge and River Lounge all the time had snacks accessible and fridges stuffed with smooth drinks and fruit drinks. An enormous plus on the American Splendor is that every one drinks – wine, beer, cocktails, bottled water, smooth drinks, fruit drinks, tea, espresso – are included within the cruise value. 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 occasions however I all the time study 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 Artistic 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 additional 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 simple 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 occasions however tour information Kim shared two “hidden” tidbits on the concrete barrier. In a mural concerning the old style Paducah phone switchboard used earlier than the system was changed by an digital pc switching system in 1979, the scene options girls working the switchboard.
Look carefully at one lady with lengthy brown hair carrying a lightweight blue costume. “It’s Lily Tomlin,” Kim says. “Remember Ernestine the telephone operator in 1969’s Rowman & Martin’s Laugh-In comedy show? 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 earth 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 Forties. That’s when Kim talked about the tune “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Celebrating Paducah’s strawberry heritage, word the fella in gold paint in middle of photograph
Positive sufficient, sitting in the course of the strawberry area 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 reside musical leisure every night. Onboard pianist Jay Chalmers should have a repertoire of 1000’s of musical alternatives. When passengers requested a sure tune, 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 front of the jukebox and sing along with it and people would give me a nickel or a dime,” he says. “That’s when it occurred to me that you can make money 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 crew of Jennifer and Michael McLain confirmed their versatility on different musical devices as nicely.
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, workout routines, mojito tastings, margarita tastings, pilot home excursions, culinary demonstration, karaoke, line dancing classes, trivia, bingo and far more.
Visitor speaker Mark Wisner gave attention-grabbing talks on topics reminiscent of Mississippi River Hydrology, Mark Twain’s World of Knowledge, The Louisiana Buy, The Civil Struggle and American Artwork, Nation Music’s Massive 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 & Dwelling Historical past Museum. Cuddling the toy, Julia requested passengers to counsel a reputation for her new critter.
Seated aboard the ship’s rocking pig, Cruise Director Julia Settlemire reads identify recommendations for brand spanking new stuffed pig animal seated on the rocker’s head.
Dozens of names have been submitted. Julia unveiled the artistic pig names within the River Lounge with passengers selecting the preferred. Fairly acceptable for our Music Cities Cruise, the identify Piggy Sue was picked – a salute to the 1957 “Peggy Sue” tune by Buddy Holly.
Grand Ole Opry
In Nashville, the American Splendor had the right docking area – proper on the backside of Broadway the place we might stroll to many principal points of interest or experience 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 huge Nashville day, Logan and I walked to the County Music Corridor of Fame, the Johnny Money Museum and the Patsy Cline Museum. Plus we regarded into lots of the bars the place reside music was blaring – Blake Shelton’s Ole Crimson, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar, Child Rock’s Massive 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 was pleasantly surprised by how many great places there were to see in Nashville, all within walking distance from where 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 additional 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.
“When we entered the concert hall of the Grand Ole Opry, I was surprised at how close and intimate the stage felt with the audience,” Logan stated. “The choice of pew-style seating gave the venue a unique appearance that perfectly suited the country music atmosphere.”
Particular circle at Opry Home
Within the middle 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 discuss, take into consideration all of the legends it might inform about.
Over time, 1000’s 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.
Referred to as ‘The King of Country 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 an alternative, he was advised 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 referred to 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 just a few hundred with primitive radios and crystal units, has grown to incorporate thousands and thousands world wide.
It was that the Opry was pure nation, however that isn’t so anymore. After I attended a present again in 2006, one of many performers was a 16-year-old lady 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 fast ascent to stardom.
The present has a little bit little bit of all the pieces. And, as Porter Wagoner used to say, when you don’t like one singer, you may simply wait a couple of minutes and the present could 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 Strains 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 reminiscences.
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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