SS Columbia, Oldest US Passenger Steamer Moves From Detroit To NYC To Run On Hudson River

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Historically, steam vessels ran along the Hudson River, connecting the Hudson Valley with New York City to bring visitors to the natural and cultural resources of both areas. As the Hudson Valley struggles with the post-industrial transition of other rust belt regions, an enterprising and little-known project with a passionate team aims to reconnect the valley with its strategic waterway. Just this week, America’s oldest surviving passenger steamer made the first leg of its journey from Detroit to New York City for service on the Hudson River, functioning as a floating mobile museum and cultural space and restoring a historical transportation link.

After years in disrepair, the iconic SSC Columbia is leaving its grave on Detroit’s industrial waterfront and making its way to the Hudson Valley. On September 16th, the ship started for Toledo, where it is now preparing for its long trip up the St. Lawrence River, then down the Atlantic Coast to New York, where restorations will be completed. With the Erie Canal too narrow for the steamer, the relic will have to traverse through Canada before making its way down to New York.

Plans for reviving a Hudson River steamboat began in 2006, when preservationist Richard Anderson hatched the idea to bring the SS Columbia to New York and have her serve again, at an estimated cost of $15 million for restoration. Unfortunately, Anderson passed away in 2013 and will not see his project fulfilled, but the SS Columbia Project, paired with the historic preservation community of Detroit, has passionately gone through with his plan. In Detroit, volunteers partook in restorations, while preservationists, maritime engineers, historians, and civic leaders have also helped the ship begin its journey to New York.

The SS Columbia was used as an excursion vessel for most of the 20th century as a popular recreational boat on the Detroit River, mainly at the Boblo Island amusement park. Famously the first steamboat in the United States with a proper ballroom, the ship was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. When the park closed in 1993, the SS Columbia was no longer needed for ferrying Detroit patrons north to Boblo. After serving for 90 years, the SS Columbia survived threats to use her for scraps while the ship sat docked outside the Great Lakes Steel Company in Michigan. In 1996, the ship was auctioned off and by 2000, the steamer had significantly deteriorated: paint was chipped, wood rotten, and decks full of holes. 

The SS Columbia will winter on a dry dock in Toledo, where she was originally constructed as per designs by naval architect Frank E. Kirby and artist Louis O. Keil.Liz McEnaney, the SS Columbia Project’s Executive Director, told us that the SS Columbia made it the 8-9 knots to Toledo, faster than was expected, up the Detroit River, into Lake Erie, and to the Maumee River. 

A woman named Gloria Davis who rode the boat at 6 years old in 1936 called the ship “a floating time machine,” and said “I’m grateful that she is going to have a new life” and “it’s a miracle and testament to her construction and her spirit that she’s still here.”Another Detroit-native reflected on its move: “SS Columbia is the last of her generation, and if anything is worth saving in terms of our heritage in the Great Lakes region it’s her. SendingColumbia to New York is a bittersweet triumph because she could not be saved here in Detroit.”

We’ll be visiting the ship on its journey to New York so stay tuned! Check out the SS Columbia Project’s website and Facebook page for more.

All photos courtesy of Liz McEnaney. 

Contributed by marta elliott, http://untappedcities.com/

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Jumping Ship: Carnival’s New Money-Back Guarantee Explained

Contributed by Donna Tunney

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Carnival Cruise Lines endured a negative media frenzy earlier this year when its Carnival Triumph lost power due to an engine room fire and became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after, propulsion and power problems affected two other Carnival ships, causing the suspension of a cruise and missed port calls.

In order to convince potentially weary consumers to book a cruise, the line has launched the “Great Vacation Guarantee,” a policy that enables dissatisfied passengers to disembark the ship and end their voyage early. They’ll also receive a 110 percent refund, free transportation home, and a $100 credit for a future sailing – that is, if they weren’t sufficiently spooked to never book again.

Taking a closer look at the new “guarantee” policy, a few things jump out:

To qualify for the refund, transportation, and $100 credit, passengers must notify the ship’s guest services desk within the first 24 hours of the voyage. That’s not much time. The first day of a cruise tends to be chaotic. People are unpacking, finding their way around the ship and recovering from travel. A Carnival spokesman said the clock starts ticking when the ship departs the port, and that’s typically 4 p.m. Twenty-four hours is probably not enough time for most passengers to make an informed decision about whether to stay or go. (But just enough time to make them think they can).

That being said, refunding 110 percent of the cruise fare paid is a nice bonus, albeit a small one. On a five-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami in mid-December, for example, an inside cabin sells for $219 per person via the Carnival website, thus entitling the customer to an extra $21. Book a suite on that same cruise, for $699 per person, and the bonus refund is close to $70 – pocket change to some, but it could offset some portion of the onboard bill, which is not reimbursed under the guarantee.

The cruise line also pledges to cover return air fare, ground transportation, and hotel costs, if necessary, for those who call it quits. Consider that hotel rates are particularly high in the Caribbean during winter season, when a last-minute stay in a mid-range property can easily run $300 a night. As a result, this actually can have a lot of value, potentially worth hundreds of dollars, depending on the passenger’s final destination and whether an overnight is involved.

As a part of the guarantee, Carnival will handle the return arrangements. And if your vacation is coming to a close after just one day, you probably don’t need any more aggravation. Let the cruise line figure it out for you.

Our conclusion? The Great Vacation Guarantee is a solid, valuable offer that will entice mostly first-time cruisers to give Carnival a try, without fear of losing money or time.

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5 Cruise Myths, Debunked

Contributed by Donna Tunney

Christian Lambert Photography

Of all the vacation trip choices out there, cruising appears to have the greatest need to defend itself. Non-cruisers often are misinformed about shipboard life, landlubbers are anxious about the possibility of seasickness, and those who dislike closed spaces will avoid cruise ship cabins — just to name a few. But we think that these “obstacles” shouldn’t dissuade consumers from booking a vacation at sea. Here are five cruise myths, debunked:

1. Mass market ships are just party boats.
While it’s true that many cruisers aboard  lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International are looking for a festive atmosphere, others who want peace and quiet can easily find it on those very same lines. Today’s cruise ships are large enough to provide tranquil spaces, in the form of adults-only pool and lounge areas, out-of-the-way bars, and intimate dining venues. Passengers can read a book, sip a drink, or enjoy dinner well away from the mayhem in all of these spaces. If you are looking for extra relaxation, take a look at a ship’s deck plans and review public area descriptions to see if the facilities fit the bill.

2. Cabins are claustrophobic.
Cruisers have a wide range of cabin choices these days. For those who don’t like closed spaces, a balcony cabin is the answer. Of course, not all vacation budgets can accommodate such staterooms — but options like a partial-view porthole cabin provide a less-cramped ambience at very small increases in cost. (A partial-view cabin refers to one that has a window that’s partly obstructed by something outside, such as a lifeboat.) Disney Cruise Line also boasts “magical portholes” in many of its inside cabins, featuring screens displaying outside views to give the illusion of a window.

3. Cruises are more expensive than land trips.
Cruise rates change very frequently, based on occupancy levels day to day and week to week. The industry currently is offering some of its lowest rates in years on summer and fall Caribbean cruises, many as low as $50 or $60 per person, per day. Considering that all meals and entertainment are included in the fare, consumers are likely hard-pressed to find a better value. (Tip: You can find one if not more of such cruises in ShermansTravel’s weekly Top 25 deals.)

4. I’ll get seasick.
High winds and rolling seas can make a cruise ship tilt from side to side as it steams toward its next port call. But anti-seasickness medications are always available — for free — from a ship’s medical office. Passengers have also had luck with anti-seasickness wristbands, found in any pharmacy and reusable.

5. I’ll be bored on a ship.
This statement may have been true 20 years ago, but certainly not today. Outdoor activities on many ships include ropes courses, climbing walls, basketball courts, mini-golf courses, dive shows, and more. Inside, a vast array of music performances, movies, games, and sports bars provide hours of entertainment. That’s not to mention shore excursions where cruisers can stretch their legs dockside (a weeklong cruise will typically have at least three ports of call).

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