This a ramble post so let's get that established.
On the trolleys, downtown should stay faux historic. Other lines like down Madison should be like those posted.
Bass Pro looks nice, still think they should have putt a handful of themed rides in it. Will see it in June.
I'm all for parking decks as long they blend in with designed facades and preferably liner buildings.
Read the article in the MDN about how Beale St. Landing is already outgrowing it's dock space with the coming boom in river cruises. We now know that Viking wants ships that carry 300 each and how they intend on docking two at a time here. They use long narrow ships so the floating dock space needs lengthened. What a pleasent problem to have for once. The whole state of river cruising seems bright. After I read that, I searched for more info again.
Memphis based American Steamboat has the 450 passenger American Queen. That boat was about all that was figured into designing BSL. No word on if they plan on another boat.
American Cruises out of Nawlins had the Queen of the Mississippi that holds lots less folks, but they added a similar paddlewheeler called American Eagle this year and will add a third on the river next year.
Interestingly enough is that the Delta Queen left Chattanooga where it's been a floating hotel earlier this year. It's in Houma LA being refurbbed and evidently headed back to the Mississippi.
Viking says 6 boats in three years starting in 2017 with options for 6 more. Yowzer, that's a boom in capacity. A 30% discount on the American Queen this year means 2,000 per passenger. That's a good rate. American Cruise say they have a high repeat ridership. They are also not shy about saying they are upping their marketing of extended stays after the cruise in New Orleans and Memphis. That's good news for Downtown hotels and even the airport as most of these are one way trips.
All that got me to thinking why not Disney Cruise Lines putting a boat on the Mississippi. I immediately think Steamboat Willy and Walt's love of Twain and Tom and Huck. All of the stuff above is geared to folks without kids and this would cater to families with kids, a first in this burgeoning industry. I think it's a perfect fit for Disney's Americana leanings. They are consistently highly ranked. I envision the largest ship on the river with upwards of 6 to 700 passengers. Forget paddles in the rear, go for a side paddle look. I found an old passenger boat from the Great Lakes that would be my template for a ship. Here is the SS Seeandbee
She was full of mahogany, a ballroom, clubs, and a dining room. She held 1500 passengers but was only 50' longer than American Queen. She drafted 15 compared to American Queens 8'7. She was about 20 ft. Narrower so a new boat would be wider in helping bring that draft up for the river. She'd carry half or less than the original with the scaled to size eminities found on Disney's Ocean Ships. She'd have shorter and less smoke stacks but she's my template for sure. I just see her in Disney's black gold and white
I can eve see them creating a private landing for a recreation area like Castaway Cay but themed to Tom and Huck.
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