Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993 TAG: 9305110506
SECTION: DISCOVER PAGE: 4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
Howard Barrett, who captains the craft, said it may be drawing more tour-bus business than even Barter Theatre in Abingdon, which would make it tops in the state for group events.
"Unless they're getting a couple of hundred [buses] a year, we're going to be the biggest one around," he said.
He and his wife, Joyce, launched the venture last year and now are busily booking cruises and meals for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, weddings, banquets, semvinars and tour groups.
"I'd say probably 60 percent of our business is tour buses and big groups," he said. "We are just booking them by the dozen."
This year, the Barretts will be adding a Sunday afternoon Civil War cruise with information about the area along the New River during that conflict. Pork ribs boiled with potatoes and catfish will be among the choices for that meal.
The Pioneer Maid probably is booked for about half its cruises for the coming year, he said, "which is kind of encouraging, because at this time last year we were zero-booked."
Whenever the Barretts go to tourism gatherings to tout their own venture, they carry with them brochures for other attractions in the New River Valley area.
"We've kind of appointed ourselves a marketing organization," he said.
People may not travel hundreds of miles to the New River Valley just for the cruise, he said, but they will make the trip when that is part of a well-rounded tour, which can include Barter Theatre, the Wilderness Road Museum at Newbern, "The Long Way Home" outdoor drama, antiques and specialty stores, hiking trails and country music gatherings.
A big drawing card for such packages, Barrett said, is the Factory Merchants Mall at Fort Chiswell, just on the Wythe County side of the Wythe-Pulaski line.
"The outlet mall is quite an attraction for tour buses," he said.
He estimated that cruise passengers accounted for filling 300 to 400 motel rooms in the area last year.
\ BOAT EXCURSIONS\ FROM NEW RIVER CRUISE CO.\ \ Moonlight Dinner Cruise, 7:30 p.m. Tuesvdays-Thursdays, $22.50; Fridays and Saturdays, $26.50. Buffet includes recipes from kitchens of Washington, Jefferson and others. Live music and dancing on weekends.
\ Narrated Luncheon Cruise, 11:30 a.m. daily, $14.50. Buffet includes deli sandwiches, salads and desserts.
\ Narrated Sightseeing Cruise, 3 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, $8; sandwiches, snacks, drinks.
\ Champagne Brunch Cruise, noon Sundays, $18.50; turkey, sausage, fruits, salads, fresh vegvetables and more.
\ Special rates available for groups of 20 or more. Prices listed for cruise and meals do not include tax or tips. Cash bar available.
\ For reservations, call 674-9344.
by CNB