Queen of the Mississippi to Feature Expanded Entertainment

American Cruise Lines has announced plans for an extensive entertainment program for its 2012 Mississippi River itineraries aboard the brand new authentic sternwheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, currently being built in Salisbury, Maryland. The program will feature entertainment reminiscent of America’s legendary steamboating era. The grandest riverboat to ever grace the Mississippi, the sternwheeler will be a floating palace filled with luxuries and pleasures, and will certainly accommodate passengers who enjoy dancing and live entertainment and have a passion for the deep history of the mighty Mississippi and its river towns.

One of the seven lounges planned for Queen of the Mississippi, guests will enjoy getting together in the Paddlewheel Lounge, a festive, comfortable and luxurious sitting area where they will enjoy the sultry sounds of solo acts or live music of Dixieland bands, and dancing and laughing with new friends. Passengers will be able to play the calliope or enjoy a drink in the Calliope Lounge; step back in time with a Mark Twain impersonator or share stories with onboard experts and lecturers who will educate, captivate and entertain Queen of the Mississippi’s passengers.

Dependent on itinerary, Queen of the Mississippi will feature shows featuring spectacular costumes and entertainers as talented as they come. Specific details of the entertainment program will be available in the near future such as entertainers, lecturers, music programs and more.

Carnival Splendor Earns 100 USPH Score

The 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor earned a perfect 100 on its United States Public Health Service inspection conducted earlier this week. Since entering service in 2008, Carnival Splendor has achieved five 100 scores, as well as a near-perfect mark of 99, according to Carnival, which called it “an unprecedented accomplishment in the cruise industry.”

Carnival Splendor, which operates year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., received perfect marks on all 42 items that comprise the U.S. Public Health Service’s comprehensive Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) checklist.

The unannounced inspections, which are conducted twice a year and required for any cruise ship with an international itinerary calling at a U.S. port, evaluate vessels in a variety of areas, including adherence to proper food handling, preparation and storage procedures, and overall galley cleanliness. Ships’ potable water supplies used in spas and pools are also evaluated.