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No definite answer to that yet, seems like she´s heading to a shipyard and might go into service again. American Countess and Duchess are already in the Houma area for being scrapped. The American Queen is still sitting in New Orleans. steamboats

Unfortunately rumors are that all three Mississippi river boats will be scrapped - American Duchess, American Countess and American Queen. steamboats

Actually they ask whether your card should be charged in USD or in your local currency. If you opt for local currency X is charging you another 3% conversion fee. So if your card has a 2.5 % conversion fee USD is the better option. Actually with my German card I would have to pay the 3 % charged by X plus the conversion fee of my credit card (as the credit card doesn´t mind which currency the charge is made but that it´s made by a non Euro bank). steamboats

Not the first company which tries to operate on the Spanish speaking market. So far they all failed. And this ship is not suited for warm weather destinations. steamboats

Yes, it´s the former Queen of the West. steamboats

The Ocean Victory is an expedition ship built for polar regions. It was not really the right ship for Alaska but for the Med???? steamboats

No, you´re not reading it wrong. But it proves that not everything on Wikipedia is correct. The Isle of Capri casino boat never had a steam engine. And the Duchess never got one built in. This would take a lot amount of space for the boilers plus the steam engine. And you need more staff to operate it. Plus you either have to find a historic steam engine or build one new (and I don´t know of anyone who is able to do this). As Empress of the North she did both - Alaska and the Columbia river system. I´ve been on when she was in Alaska. steamboats

Nope, the American Queen has a steam engine which propels the paddlewheel. The Duchess also a old casino boat with diesel engines. steamboats

Sold to American Cruise Lines https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/american-cruise-lines-purchases-american-queen-river-fleet/ American Queen, American Countess, American Dutchess and American Empress. No buyer disclosed for the Former Cape boats. steamboats

MSC has both - tender boats and buses between Stazione Marittima and Marghera. Both is used for embarkation and disembarkation. Luggage will be transferred to Stazione Marittima. steamboats

According to Plantours all people were able to continue the cruise. No major injuries. steamboats

It depends in the cruise line. MSC usually docks in Marghera. Other cruise lines in Fusina. NCL moved to Trieste, RCI ans Celebrity to Ravenna. On embarkation day I would drop my bag at the cruise terminal and check in but then go into town instead to the ship and take a later shuttle. The bus ride is about half an hour. The boat maybe 45 min. So you lose a lot of time going back and fourth. steamboats

MSC docks in Marghera which is an industrial port. The check in is at the cruise terminal. Guests are bussed or ferried over to Marghera (and back again for departure). The Fusina ferry is not even close to Marghera. And even with the ship docked in Fusina there´s no way walking to the ferry (been there last year with another cruise company). steamboats

The MSC Shuttle gets you to the ZOB next to the Central Station. From there it´s about 15 to 20 min walking to Ballindamm. Or you take a taxi from there. steamboats

By May 2025 you will need ETIAS (which is similar to the US ESTA, CA/UK ETA) - a pre registration for countries participating in a visa waiver program. ETIAS - Entry Requirements for Visa-Exempt Travellers to Europe (schengenvisainfo.com) May 2025 is the lastest given information for this program to set in. steamboats