River cruises are a great way to experience a different side of an area. Unlike ocean cruises, which typically focus on visiting major ports, river cruises take guests to smaller towns and cities throughout the country.
Riverboats are large, multi-level ships designed for navigating rivers, canals and inland waterways. They can accommodate large numbers of passengers, and many have onboard amenities like restaurants, bars and lounges.
Transportation
In many places in the world, a riverboat is the main form of transportation for people who want to travel between destinations on water. This can be a great alternative to driving or taking the bus.
In Venice, for example, you’ll find canoe-like boats that ferry tourists through canals crisscrossing the city. These are called gondolas, and they’re an excellent way to see the sights of the city without having to worry about the traffic on the roads.
Similarly, there are riverboats that travel between the various ports on the Mississippi River. They’re called packet boats, and they also carry passengers as well as cargo.
In the United States, they are still a common way to get from one point to another on a river. Historically, the most popular types were steam-powered paddlewheel boats. Today’s modern vessels are often more spacious than their predecessors, and they can accommodate more passengers in comfortable staterooms with full-height windows.
Entertainment
Despite the rise of online casino games and high-end land-based casino resorts, riverboat casinos remain a popular form of entertainment across America. Currently, there are 63 of these paddleboat gaming hubs operating in six states — Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri and Louisiana.
The most important thing to know about riverboat casinos is that they are legally permitted to operate within certain waterways and regulated by the states they pass through. This means that the state may require a license to operate and impose a tax on any winnings.
Other notable aspects of a riverboat include its accommodations, cuisine and entertainment options. The best way to experience this is by taking a cruise down one of the many rivers or canals in your area. You’ll get the chance to enjoy live music, a show or two and a boatload of fun. For the best deals, don’t hesitate to contact your local riverboat company for more information about upcoming cruises.
History
A riverboat has been a popular way of transporting passengers across rivers since the 19th century. They have been used for many different purposes, and one of the most popular was gambling.
There are many different kinds of riverboats, and they can be found all over the world. However, some of the most famous ones are those that run on the Mississippi River.
In the past, these boats were popular because they could travel at a fast pace. They also helped people to see different parts of the country.
Despite these advantages, though, they were very dangerous. There were many accidents and fatalities that occurred on these boats, which is why they eventually faded in popularity.
Steam paddle-wheelers were a common type of riverboats that were used for shipping freight and passengers. They were able to travel at a high speed thanks to their powerful boilers and the big paddlewheel at the stern that would churn up foam.
Safety
Riverboats generally are not as sturdy as ships built for the open seas. This is because they are not built for high winds or large waves, and thus do not need to be designed to withstand them.
Despite this, the riverboat still possesses advanced fire prevention technologies found on their larger oceangoing counterparts. Such features include sensitive smoke detectors, fire doors and fire suppression systems.
In addition, European waterways often provide docking locations convenient to local hospitals and other rescue vehicles, so that in the event of an emergency, passengers can easily be rescued.
Having spent time on a number of different sized vessels, Captain Alan Bernstein of Kentucky-based BB Riverboats provided Advocacy staff with a glimpse into the complexities of federal, state and local regulations that affect passenger vessel owners like him. He told us that he is trying to make it through the stifling regulatory requirements that are required of him as a small business.