CRUISE SHIP MAKES PIT STOP IN VALLEJO
Anchors out further due to dredging
The American Jazz river cruise ship was in the Napa River in Vallejo on Tuesday, anchoring out farther so it could tender passengers ashore as part of the American River Boat Cruise.
The cruise ship was also spotted in Benicia on Monday afternoon.
Count Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell as one of the ship's fans.
“As many of you might remember, we posted information about the American River Boat cruise coming to Vallejo beginning this spring. Their itinerary has been changed from Sacramento to Napa, Vallejo and Stockton,” wrote the mayor on his Facebook page.
“But, unfortunately, they are unable to find a berthing facility on the shores of Vallejo. So it would appear that they may have to anchor out farther, and `tender' passengers ashore.”
The San Francisco Bay Cruise is an eight-day trip that goes into the California Delta. According to the website of the cruise, the ship goes into each new port along one of America's original highways and glides past beautiful state parks, lush vineyards, tree-lined channels, and tranquil river bends on this labyrinth of waterways which descend from the snowcapped Sierra Nevada range.
The cruise goes to Sacramento, deep within the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay and Napa Valley.
McConnell says he was been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to urge them to dredge local river waters.
“This is no easy feat,” he said. “The Vallejo yacht club has been urging this dredging for some time. I am doing all in my power (which is limited) to encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to help us with the dredging. If the riverboat cruise does come to Vallejo, we urge all of you to give them a warm, friendly welcome and greeting! Let's use this as an opportunity to spread the good news about Vallejo around the world, and to make their visit a memorable experience.”
McConnell went on to say that it is his hope that “perhaps the museum Board of Directors can monitor their itinerary and times of arrival, and perhaps put a historical tour together for passengers to visit.”
“The American Riverboat Cruise passengers are very interested in the natural environment, and most certainly in historical aspects of the region,” the mayor said. “Let's give them a very warm friendly welcome to our little jewel of a city by the bay — our Vallejo. May they have warm positive memories of their visit to our shores.”
“The American Riverboat Cruise passengers are very interested in the natural environment, and most certainly in historical aspects of the region. Let's give them a very warm friendly welcome to our little jewel of a city by the bay — our Vallejo. May they have warm positive memories of their visit to our shores.” — Robert McConnell, Vallejo Mayor