In 1995, we took our first trip on the Grand American Queen (and a number of trips since then) so I had to be on board for her 20th birthday celebration. I booked back to back trips to be on board during her launch anniversary as well as being on board the following week to celebrate the anniversary of her first passenger voyage.

The pre-cruise hotel, the Sheraton Memphis Downtown, was lovely. Although the desk clerk and meal tickets indicated that breakfast was in the hotel's dining room, it was actually on a banquet room on another floor.

Transportation to the boat from the hotel is on "steamcoaches". I did not use this because friends in Memphis provided my transportation to the boat. Read more