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Q:
Where does the tour go?
A: The boat leaves the dock and heads under the covered
bridge. The tour takes you upstream past downtown Frankenmuth
and past Heritage Park. We turn around about half a mile past
Heritage Park and return to the dock.
Q: Is
the tour narrated?
A: Yes. The Belle is equipped with a
state-of-the-art sound system that allows everyone aboard to hear
the historical narration from the seating areas.
Q: How
long is the tour?
A: Tours last approximately one hour. Several factors
may cause the tour to vary by just a few minutes in length, but generally
you will be back at the dock in one hour.
Q: How
much does the tour cost?
A: Adult tickets are $7.50 - Children 12 and under, $3.00 - No
charge for children under 3.
Q:
Is there a discount for groups?
A: Yes. Contact us toll free 1-866-808-2628 for group
arrangements.
Q:
Where does the boat board?
A: Our dock is located at the waterfall in River Place,
between the River Place Pedestrian Bridge and the Bavarian Inn
Covered Bridge (Holzbruke).
Q: When can
I board the boat?
A: Boarding begins approximately 15 minutes prior to a trip.
Q:
Where can I check departure times?
A: Tour times are posted each day at our ticket kiosk
located at the top of the waterfall in the River Place Shopping
Village.
Q:
Do you take reservations?
A: Our tours are open seating. For the best seats arrive
at least 15 minutes before a tour leaves.
Q: Is
the boat wheelchair accessible?
A: Our dock is completely handicap accessible. We also
have wheelchairs on board available for those who may need
assistance getting down to the dock or boarding the boat.
Motorized chairs and wheelchairs have complete access to the lower
salon deck.
Q: Where is
closest parking?
A: The
closest
parking is the gravel lot next to our ticket kiosk on the north
east side of the River Place Shopping Village. There are large
paved lots on the East and South sides of River Place Shopping
Village.
Q: Are
there restrooms on board?
A: The Bavarian Belle is equipped with modern restroom
facilities. However, boat restrooms do have a limited holding
capacity, so we suggest that guests use the public facilities located on the River Place
Shopping village before boarding.
Q: How
big is the boat?
A: The Bavarian Belle is a 150 passenger flat bottom authentic
paddlewheel
riverboat. The Belle is 93' long, 20' wide and drafts 18in
empty (22in loaded). The Belle
displaces approximately 55 tons of water when empty. The Belle's
lower salon is arranged to seat 60-80 guests on regular tours.
The upper deck is arranged to seat up to 100 guests.
Q: Can I smoke
on the boat?
A: Several regulations require the Bavarian Belle to be a
non-smoking vessel.
Q:
What food is available on the boat?
A: Our shack bar has soft drinks, bottled water, popcorn, hot
pretzels and candy. Hot dogs are available on some trips.
Q: Can I
bring beer on the boat?
A: No. We do not sell alcoholic beverages.
Q: I'm
afraid of the water, is the boat safe?
A: The Bavarian Belle is a U.S. Coast Guard Documented
vessel (has been inspected by the United States Coast Guard). The
Belle's hull is equipped with six watertight bulkhead
compartments each equipped with a Coast Guard approved emergency
bilge water pumping system. The Belle travels at about 3 knots
(walking speed) the length of a tour. We also carry over 150 type
III personal flotation devices (life jackets) in the unlikely event
of an
emergency. It also may ease your mind to know that the Cass River averages about 6 feet
deep the course of our tour and the Belle is over 15 feet tall.
Q: Do I have
to wear a life vest?
A: The Bavarian Belle has over 150 life vests immediately
available in the unlikely event of an emergency, however, life vests
are not required to be worn during the trip.
Q: Will I get
seasick on the tour?
A: The Belle is an authentic flat bottom riverboat.
Flat bottom riverboats are built for stability with very heavy
loads. The heavier the load the less the boat moves. The
Cass River is a very slow moving, low lying river that does not,
even in the worst conditions, get rough. Guests enjoy an very
smooth motionless tour.
Q: Can a
group
charter the Belle for a special event?
A: Yes. The Belle can be chartered for private
events including: dinner-cruises, weddings,
receptions, birthday
parties, anniversaries, reunions, business meetings etc...
For information specific to your event please call toll free
1-866-808-2628,
or email questions to
captain@bavarianbelle.com
Q: Do you sell gift
certificates?
A: Gift certificates are available during operating hours
at our Ticket Kiosk at the top of the waterfall in River Place
Shopping Village, or
call toll free 1-866-808-2628 or email
captain@bavarianbelle.com
Q: Are
souvenirs available on the boat?
A: We have several boat related souvenirs available on the
boat: captain hats, pirate hats, pirate hooks, pinwheels, postcards,
mugs etc....
Q: Are you allowed to
walk around the boat during the tour?
A: Guests are not required to stay seated during the
tours. You may visit the upper or lower decks during the tour, or you may
take a look in the pilot house. Generally the pilot house door
is open and you are welcome to talk to the Captain. As
circumstances allow, the Captain may invite you into the pilot house.
Q: Can
weather conditions cancel a tours?
A: High wind, high water, thunder storms, and ice are some
of the conditions that will keep us at the dock. High wind and
thunder storms are conditions that may cause us to cancel a tour
last minute. We watch several radar sites for current weather
conditions so we can give as much notice as possible if we have to
cancel a tour.
Q: Does the paddlewheel
really push the boat?
A: Yes. The Bavarian Belle is an authentic flat
bottom Mississippi riverboat. Forward and reverse motion is
generated entirely by the paddlewheel. The paddlewheel is
turned by two high pressure, 2000-3000psi, hydraulic motors supplied
by a diesel driven Sundstrand hydraulic pump.
Q: How many
engines drive the boat?
A: The Bavarian Belle is driven by a single 120 horsepower
4 cylinder Detroit 471 diesel engine. A second 90 horse 4
cylinder Isuzu engine supplies a 32 kilowatt
Norpro generator. We also use two
Mercury 50 horse 4 stroke EFI power heads equipped with
Kort nozzles as bow and stern side thrusters. The
thrusters are fixed mounted sideways and only push side to side.
The thrusters are electronically controlled by
Morse KE4 electronic controls.
Q: Are dogs allowed
on the boat?
A: Certainly living assistance (Seeing Eye Dogs) are
always allowed. Docile and well trained dogs are allowed with
the understanding that the dog's "person", is completely
responsible for correcting or cleaning up anything the dog may do to
or on anything or anyone. |
