When I first asked my friend if she would be interested in a barge cruise, she asked if we would have to pitch our tents aboard the barge. It is easy to think of a barge as the flat boats used more for transporting cargo than passengers. I understood her concern and referred her to the RiverBarge Excursions website so she could get a better idea of what the barge cruise entailed.

The RiverBarge actually consists of several barges combined and pushed by the

work boat, the Jean. The guest accommodations compare to those on an ocean going cruise ship. There is plenty of room for two twin beds and adequate storage space throughout. The bathrooms have a full tub and come equipped with toiletries and a hairdryer. Guests are asked to conserve water as that is a precious resource about this most unique vessel.

The Ms. Nari, a towboat, propels the Riverbarge along the Mississippi River and that is when the river cooperates. The Pyramid and Arch trip started in Memphis and ended in St. Louis. Starting didn't happen as planned because the river was high and carried lots of debris, some of which got stuck in the rudder of the barge. That delayed us for almost a day. Instead of leaving early in the afternoon as scheduled, we left late the next day. But, all passengers are informed that their safety is of utmost concern and that the river has a mind of its own and the schedule is always subject to change because of this. Just a few passengers grumbled, some of us joked that the next port looked exactly the same as Memphis, others were content to not even move for the entire two weeks. Now that demonstrates just how relaxing the atmosphere of the RiverBarge can be. Although the barge is not huge, there are plenty of areas for entertaining oneself. One particular area is the bar and that isn't just for drinking. The entire back wall has a huge painting and provided at the bar is a check-off list of items to find in the mural. This provides unlimited entertainment as the

items are not that simple to find. The mural depicts a great flood in the area.

Our flight into Memphis had arrived late in the day, so we sat down to dinner shortly after embarkation. Meal times are scheduled, but flexible with no assigned seating. We fortunately sat in an area with a quite hospitable server and continued to sit in his area for each meal, as we knew that our service would be efficient and entertaining. We got spoiled from the start and although we knew that the service was equally good from the other staff, we wanted to stick with a good thing. The staff onboard is all American and they obviously enjoy what they are doing. They banter with the guests and often sit down for a few minutes and chat if they are not busy. Our particular cruise was not full, so the crew did have some free time to mingle with us. They took advantage of that knowing that the next cruise back to New Orleans was fully booked.

The brochure claims that they serve some local specialties, but we weren't quite sure what to expect. Meals were a pleasant and tasty surprise. Although not gourmet style food, the meals were well presented and carefully prepared. There is even an option of half-portions or a sampler plate at every dinner. Dinner is served, while breakfast and lunch are buffet style. And if, like me, you don't really care for buffet style, you will find that this buffet is better than most. Breakfast had a freshly prepared egg station where omelets, scrambled eggs or fried eggs were cooked to order. Lunch always had a sandwich option for those wanting a change from the hot foods. Desserts are definitely a specialty of the cruise and often it was difficult choosing. Beverages are included in the fare as long as they are non-alcoholic. I found some of the wines to be a bit pricey for the particular vintages.

Every day there is either a lecture or film about the next port or a particular event that happened in the area. I found a film about the sinking of the Sultana very interesting, so much so that I found a book in the well-stocked library and read it for more details. A worse disaster than the Titanic, the incident has faded from history. Every evening there is also some type of entertainment. On our cruise, banjo music, big band and piano was offered. Most of the concerts were well attended.

Outdoors on the top deck is the recreation area. There is a walking track and shuffleboard courts. These two spots were very popular throughout the cruise.

Although the guests were older and many retired, they still remained active. The library contained billiards tables, puzzles and games. One favorite spot aboard the ship was the pilothouse in the front. Passengers got a bird's eye view of the waterway and also could refer to maps of the area. There are plenty of windows onboard, so those spots are perfect for watching the scenery pass by. The upperdeck cabins all have balconies from where one can watch the land pass slowly by.

Our ports included some very small, but historic towns like Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardieu, Missouri. Volunteer welcoming committees greeted us each stop. Shuttles took guests to the further reaches of the town, which were mostly small enough to be very walkable. Museums, restaurants and shopping kept cruisers active during the visits ashore. The final stop at St. Louis marked the end of this excursion that passed too quickly by. Now, that port is an entire story in itself and definitely a pleasant ending to the cruise.

RiverBarge has several itineraries cruising the inland waterways of the US. What a spectacular way it is to experience Americana at its best. I have been scooping out my next itinerary and the cruise along the waterways of Texas is looking mighty appealing. Maybe I will see you onboard. Happy Traveling

RiverBarge Excursions - http://www.riverbarge.com/welcome/welcomeindex.asp