Richard P.
Yelp
There's something about life changes that will make you revisit your personal history. As I've been reflecting upon childhood in recent months, I decided to revisit one of the happier icons of my childhood - Louisville's Belle of Louisville.
The Belle of Louisville was built in 1914 and is the only remaining authentic steamboat from the American packet boat era. It's the most widely traveled steamboat in American history and a National Historic Landmark. It's easily one of the true icons of the Louisville waterfront area and it's difficult to imagine anyone spending any time at all on the Louisville waterfront without eventually immersing themselves in the history of the Belle of Louisville.
It's worth noting that the Belle of Louisville is now an actual organization and includes a sister boat, the Mary M. Miller - named after the first woman steamboat captain in the U.S. who also happened to be from Louisville.
My father is from Kentucky and my mother and I used to do a lot of religious conferences in Louisville. Belle of Louisville was one of my happy places. I've tackled the boat on both crutches and in a wheelchair and both are doable as a passenger (there are definitely areas that are not accessible - The Mary M. Miller is likely better in terms of access as it's a more modernized boat).
The Belle of Louisville offers a variety of types of cruises - sightseeing, a four-course dinner, live music excursion, sunset cruises, school programs, dining cruises, kids cruises, and even private events.
The Belle of Louisville was launched in 1914 under the name The Idlewild. In 1931, it began spending time in Louisville by offering excursions to Rose Island and Fontaine Ferry amusement parks. By 1934, it was staying it Louisville and did so through World War II. In the 1940's, it offered moonlight, big band cruises and was a USO night spot in support of the war efforts. In 1948, Idlewild's master made a death-bed wish to rename the boat Avalon and this was granted. In 1949, the boat was bought by Cincinnati investors and relocated. In 1962, it was retired and bought in auction for $34,000 and returned to Louisville. This was when it was named Belle of Louisville. After significant rehab, it was brought back to life in 1963 by participating in the Great American Steamboat Race against the Delta Queen.
The Belle of Louisville has an elevator lift to help with wheelchairs and provide access to the Ballroom Deck, however the Texas and Hurricane decks are not accessible. I've never had difficulty accessing the Belle of Louisville either on crutches or now as a wheelchair user. I've consistently found employees to be helpful, enthusiastic, and kind.
The Belle of Louisville offers both a food and bar menu. Prices are surprisingly affordable considering this is a tourist attraction. The full menu is on the Belle of Louisville website.
The Belle of Louisville cruises rain or shine. If the National Weather Service predicts sustained winds 25 mph or more or gusts of over 30 mph, then cruises will be cancelled. Similarly if the U.S. Coast Guard issues a storm or lightning alert, then a cruise is cancelled. However, the Belle of Louisville has both open and covered areas and cruises in rain are actually quite lovely (and yes, I've done them).
The Belle of Louisville offers discounts for active military and veterans (with ID).
Strollers are allowed onboard, however, they must be carried between decks if one goes to multiple decks. It's important to note that the elevator is used only for wheelchair users.
If you're expecting the Belle of Louisville to offer up something like a Disney cruise, you'll be disappointed. The Belle of Louisville is a historic landmark that is over 100 years and the experience is more about history than it is about luxury. I love this experience and revisiting it recently allowed me to reminisce about childhood and to also enjoy some of the updates made since my last cruise. I'll likely always be a fan of the Belle of Louisville and my recent visit made me realize how much I absolutely love this low-key, chill, and truly enjoyable experience.