ATSF1958 Posted July 16, 2015 #1 Share Posted July 16, 2015 We booked the owner's suite last October and were not happy with the river trip. I sent a letter to the CEO which was acknowledged but never answered. A good example of their whole operation. Having the most expensive room on the boat we had the cheapest room in the nice old hotel in Spokane, not even a comfortable chair to set in to read the paper. I called the front desk and was told the hotel was full but I could upgrade to the governor's suite for $799. The next morning I talked to the computer guy that checked us in and told him how unhappy I was and he said he wold check into it and get back to me. This never happened. The room on the boat was nice but had a very small bathroom which was the same for all rooms. Food was surprisingly good but served luke warm with common slow service. Dinner could be 2 1/2 hours. We had one waiter who never remembered who ordered what and it always became pass the plate ordeal. We assumed he was new but learned he had been working there for six years. We thought the entertainment was good but difficult to make the shows because of the slow dinner service. Then to add insult to injury when I got home I discovered my credit card had been charged twice for the $906 bill and I had to call about that. I think my two unanswered complaints for one that had the most expensive room on the boat says a lot for their operation. American Empress has a lot of potential but it is not well organized and certainly did not meet our expectations. BEWARE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RvrCrzr Posted July 26, 2015 #2 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I will be cruising American Empress in Sept. I don't like slow dinners...so hopefully they speed up! Dinner is pretty slow on most ships I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisker92 Posted July 26, 2015 #3 Share Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) I had a similar experience on the Columbia Queen, except the food was lousy. The best food we had was on a little fish and chips place in Astoria called The Bowpicker. On the comment card everyone at our table wrote ,'fire the chef" Edited July 26, 2015 by Talisker92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosethorn40 Posted July 27, 2015 #4 Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) Was the hotel stay part of your "River Journey?" I ask, because when we traveled on the American Queen last April out of New Orleans, a hotel stay was part of the journey. One night at the Riverside Hilton in New Orleans the night before. Like you, I was not happy with the room. I had requested a King size bed as DH is 6'8" and we had a room with two double beds and a window that had a view of a brick wall. DH went to the front desk, and the hotel clerk was able to give us a room with a king size bed with no upcharge. The clerk told us that the American Queen cruise line typically booked the cheapest rooms for their passengers, regardless of the type of cabin you may have on board. For $1000 per day for a couple I had expected better. Besides the fact you were unhappy with the hotel, and the service in the dinning room (Bad on AQ as well), how did you like the cruise itself? The ports, scenery, tours, etc? Edited July 27, 2015 by Rosethorn40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted July 27, 2015 #5 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I had a similar experience on the Columbia Queen, except the food was lousy. The Columbia Queen is not running since 2008 or so! steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisker92 Posted July 27, 2015 #6 Share Posted July 27, 2015 The Columbia Queen is not running since 2008 or so! steamboats OOPs you are right= It was a Columbia River cruise and was on the Queen of the West Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted July 28, 2015 #7 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Queen of the West belongs to American Cruise Lines not American Queen Steamboat Company (American Empress and American Queen). steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted July 28, 2015 #8 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Just saw this thread another poster who complains & never returns Read the reviews for American Empress it gets better marks than AQ Wonder how the waiter worked there for 6 yrs maybe through another company :confused: I would love to do this cruise ...maybe next yr We had excellent meals & service on the AQ cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted July 28, 2015 #9 Share Posted July 28, 2015 LHT28, The thread was originally posted in the River Cruise Forum. I asked CC to move it over here. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riversights Posted July 29, 2015 #10 Share Posted July 29, 2015 My wife and I find the complaints about slow meals incredible. We love the slower pace, on fact we insist on it, even slowing our own pace to prevent the server from making a runaway of a great supper on the river. When we are spending big dollars to voyage on a majestic river, we want to whole experience, the lingering at the table, not the rush...to be where??:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondorner Posted July 30, 2015 #11 Share Posted July 30, 2015 There are two shows. With early seating, we sometimes finish dining quickly enough to get to the early show (designed for late seating folks). We don't try to do that on purpose, of course -- we, too, like to linger over a great dinner. But, no longer how long it takes, it's always finished before the late sitting folks come in (else, where would they sit?), and that's in plenty of time for the late show. For the late seating folks, they go to the show before dinner -- so, who cares how long it takes to dine? I'm sure it will be over before the crew goes to bed :rolleyes:. The activities in the paddle wheel bar generally don't start until after the last show. In other words, it's not possible to miss anything by taking as long as possible to dine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calliope Posted August 1, 2015 #12 Share Posted August 1, 2015 My wife and I find the complaints about slow meals incredible. We love the slower pace, on fact we insist on it, even slowing our own pace to prevent the server from making a runaway of a great supper on the river. When we are spending big dollars to voyage on a majestic river, we want to whole experience, the lingering at the table, not the rush...to be where??:D AMEN, brother (sister?), but I do expect the food to be served the correct temp and to the proper person!!! My Birthday dinner last February at Galatoire's in New Orleans lasted from 5:30 PM when we got there till 10:45 PM when we got up from the table. Now that is dining! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riversights Posted August 2, 2015 #13 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Five hours might seem a couple of lifetimes for some people, but at Galatoire's it's exactly what we would look forward to on a future rendezvous with the American Queen in New Orleans. Savoir faire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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