belle riverboat

WELCOME TO CELEBRATION RIVER CRUISES

Cruising season begins april 1, 2024.

Join us while we celebrate our 40th cruising season in 2024! Our 750 passenger paddlewheel boat, the “Celebration Belle” is specifically designed for cruising the waterways of the great Mississippi River, offering casual sightseeing, luncheon and dinner cruises. We offer various cruises to meet any sailor’s enjoyment needs!

Captain's Narrated Lunch Virtual Tour

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(800) 297-0034 / (309) 764-1952, find us on facebook.

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About Celebration Belle

(800) 297-0034 (309) 764-1952

[email protected]

2501 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265

Group Sales and Marketing: Susan Yarolem (800) 297-0034 x 204 (309) 764-1952 x 204

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The Riverboat Cruise In Alabama You Never Knew Existed

Explore the scenic Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by taking a cruise on the unique paddle wheel riverboat, the Bama Belle.

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Alabama is home to several beautiful rivers, including the Black Warrior River. Located in west-central Alabama, the Black Warrior River is one of the state's most scenic rivers. One of the best ways to explore this scenic river is by taking a cruise aboard the Bama Belle.

Please note, the Bama Belle has permanently closed.

The Bama Belle, which is docked at Medeiros Point on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, is one of Alabama's most unique water attractions. It's also the city's only paddle wheel riverboat cruise.

Unless the Bama Belle is booked for a private event, it operates for the general public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For a detailed look at the riverboat's schedule, click here .

The Bama Belle offers a BBQ Cruise and Sightseeing Cruise. The BBQ Cruise boards every Friday evening at 7:00 p.m., and the Sightseeing Cruise is open to the general public on the weekends. To check the dates of these cruises, you can take a look at the riverboat's calendar here .

The BBQ Cruise costs $34 per person and includes a BBQ plate ($20 without the BBQ plate), and the Sightseeing Cruise costs $20 per person and has snacks, drinks and alcohol available for purchase. Both cruises last 2.5 hours and feature live music.

Note: Tickets for the Sightseeing Cruise are sold at the dock. However, the BBQ Cruise requires a reservation, which can be made here . Ages 6 and under are free.

The views you'll experience while cruising the Black Warrior River are incredible, especially at sunset.

The next time you visit Tuscaloosa, consider cruising the Black Warrior River on the charming Bama Belle. It'll be an experience like no other.

The Bama Belle

1 Greensboro Ave

Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

www.BamaBelle.org

If you enjoyed cruising the Black Warrior River while aboard Tuscaloosa's Bama Belle, you'll also enjoy cruising the Alabama River while aboard Montgomery's Harriott II. For more information about this riverboat, click here .

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The One Alabama Park Where You Can Feed Alligators

One of the state's best wildlife attractions, Alligator Alley in Summerdale, Alabama, is an animal adventure you won't forget.

Run, don't crawl to South Alabama for one of the state's best wildlife attractions, Alligator Alley in Summerdale, Alabama, an animal adventure you won't forget. This wildlife sanctuary protects and cares for over 600 rescued alligators and is open daily so you can give them a little love, too.

Alligator Alley owner Wes Moore founded the sanctuary in 2004, creating a safe place for alligators who found themselves in unnatural areas and faced imminent danger. According to the sanctuary's informational materials, any alligator over four feet long and determined dangerous to people or their property must be removed. Thanks to Moore and his team, many have found a safe home over the last two decades.

The sanctuary is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with feeding times at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. Final admission is 30 minutes before closing. When you arrive, you can explore the property on your own. You can get a bird's-eye view from a platform and stroll an elevated boardwalk overlooking gators just hanging out in a natural habitat along with other creatures like turtles, bullfrogs, ospreys, and owls.

While staff members interact up close with the gators during the live feedings, you can also participate by feeding them gator chow. The staff will guide you on the appropriate feeding method and happily answer any questions you may have about these impressive creatures.

This is the place for anyone who wants to learn ALL about alligators, from the earliest stages of their lives to maturity. (Did you know the typical life span for an alligator is 50 years?) One revered resident is Captain Crunch, who is just over 13 feet long, weighs more than 800 pounds and is the world record holder for bite strength at 2,982 pounds.

Naturally, new generations of gators have originated at the sanctuary, which also has dedicated viewing areas for the hatchlings. The staff will even help you hold one of the babies before you leave.

As you might guess, Alligator Alley is a huge hit with animal-obsessed kiddos and a popular spot for birthday parties. Even so, people of all ages and walks of life will gain knowledge and a better understanding of alligators and conservation efforts. See the Alligator Alley website for admission fees and party pricing, and follow Alligator Alley on Facebook for the latest sanctuary news.

Looking for more family fun in this neck of our piney South Alabama woods? Be sure to check out Wales West Light Railway & RV Resort in Silverhill, Alabama – just nine miles and a 15-minute drive west from Alligator Alley. The park has a popular swimming hole in the summer and offers year-round train rides, including popular holiday-themed rides around Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.

There is a lot more to explore in this little area of Baldwin County, making it perfect for a little getaway. If you make the trip, consider this spacious Airbnb in Summerdale for your home base. This rural retreat is a guest favorite, and with three bedrooms and two baths, it sleeps up to six people.

Let us know if you visit! We would love to hear all about it!

Tiny But Mighty, The Smallest State Park In Alabama Is A Hidden Gem Worth Exploring

Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala, Alabama's smallest state park, offers camping and various water activities on the state's only natural lake.

Alabama is home to 22 beautiful state parks that offer a little bit of everything. One of these state parks is Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala, which happens to be the smallest state park in Alabama . To learn all about this tiny, but mighty, Florala State Park, take a look below.

Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala, which is formerly known as Florala State Park, is located in Florala, Alabama.

Covering approximately 40 acres, Lake Jackson Rv Park at Florala is Alabama's smallest state park. It offers both 30 and 50 amp sites for anyone wishing to camp here.

Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala is situated on the banks of Lake Jackson. This 500-acre lake is Alabama's only natural lake. In addition to Alabama, Lake Jackson also shares its shores with Florida.

Throughout the year, numerous people spend time on Lake Jackson because of its clean water. People also enjoy a variety of water activities this lake offers, including boating, tubing, skiing, fishing, and so much more.

Even though Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala is on the smaller side, it's still a great place for a day trip. It's also located on the Alabama Birding Trail, so you'll likely spot several beautiful birds during your visit.

If you do decide to visit the smallest state park in Alabama, be sure to stay at least until dusk. This way you'll get to experience a beautiful sunset.

For more information about Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala, including rates and other activities offered, you can view the Alabama State Parks website.

Have you ever been to Lake Jackson RV Park at Florala? If so, what did you think about it? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Another one of Alabama's smallest state parks is Blue Springs State Park in Clio. For information, be sure to take a look at the following article: Everyone In Alabama Must Visit This Epic Natural Spring As Soon As Possible. Or for those who love a good trek, the best hiking in Alabama can be found on Alltrails.

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Go on an autumn adventure, surrounded by fall’s fiery colors, with pennsylvania rail bike.

Pedal along a predominately flat path and to a pumpkin patch on this rail biking tour in Hawley, Pennsylvania.

This Panoramic-View Restaurant in Colorado Springs is a Must-Visit

Lumen8 Rooftop Social offers incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and the city of Colorado Springs, plus great food and drinks. Don't miss it!

What You Should Know About Hurricane Preparedness, From Our Local Experts

The Breathtaking Small Town State Park In Wisconsin That We Can’t Stop Thinking About

Explore the historic town of Merrill, Wisconsin, and the natural beauty of Council Grounds State Park. Enjoy fishing, hiking, and dining at local favorites.

The Stunning Top-Secret Nature Trail in Oregon Nobody’s Ever Heard Of

Secret Beach Trail in Brookings, Oregon, is a delightful nature trail that remains a hidden gem. Come enjoy views of the Oregon Coast!

Experiences make excellent gifts! Grab an E-Gift Card here for an upcoming Cruise!

In 1985 a man that went by the name Captain Lump saw an opportunity in the City of Chattanooga. An opportunity for a riverboat on the TN River! That riverboat he had envisioned would become one of the top attractions in Chattanooga and one of the top things to do in Chattanooga! Thus in 1985 The Southern Belle was born and built not but 20 miles downriver from where she sits now by Serodino Shipyards, and the rest is history!

The Southern Belle Riverboat started out with a simple vision, give a great guest experience of Chattanooga, show everyone the beauty of the river, and give everyone a different perspective of the city of Chattanooga. That message is still the same, the boat crew at The Southern Belle Riverboat still strives to give our very valued guest a great cruise, great service, and a great experience.

The Southern Belle Riverboat was sold some years later to a gentleman named John Goldfine. He was a quirky man, but had a brilliant vision not only for the Southern Belle, but the entire city of Chattanooga! John Goldfine lived in Duluth, MN and heavily leaned on his key employees at the riverboat. Captain Vince Vita and Joy Reinert to name a few. Captain Vince became the General Manager a couple years later and ran the operation until he passed it on to Joy! Vince, among other things, was an ambassador not only of the riverboat but also of the city of Chattanooga. That sentiment has resonated with the crew ever since. The crew of the Southern Belle Riverboat has a bigger purpose than just your experience while you’re on board, but to make sure you have all the information you want and need to enjoy the beautiful city of Chattanooga.

This riverboat ride in Chattanooga used to only run a couple months out of the year and carry 20-30,000 passengers a year, we are proud to say we now cruise year-round and carry well over 100,000 passengers per year! This TN Riverboat has daily sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises, and dinner cruises as well as private charters! The Company has expanded into 2 vessels, a grand banquet hall on 2nd deck of our dockside vessel, and full-service restaurant above that!

Our goal is to not only serve the awesome locals and visitors of Chattanooga but to bring that joy to other cities across this nation!

The Southern Belle Riverboat is one of the top attractions in Chattanooga, has fantastic Chattanooga weddings, and is still the only way to have sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises, and dinner cruises while cruising down the TN River and enjoying picture-perfect views of Lookout Mountain and all the beautiful nature this great city has to offer!

Looking Forward to the future,

Jon Reinert General Manager Chattanooga Riverboat Co.

• Chevron down History of the Pier 2 @ the Landing

Pier 2 @ the Landing was purchased in June of 2006 and brought here from a scrap yard right outside of St. Louis, Missouri getting ready to be scrapped for metal. The casino boat was once known as the President and was docked in Louisiana and made it’s way to Davenport, Iowa after it was sold to continue operating as a casino boat. It was christened in 1992 and offered casino on all three levels.

It was reconditioned and renovated in New Hope, TN for 8 months undergoing new paint, wallpaper, carpet, the installation of a 2500 square foot kitchen and a banquet deck, gift shop and eventually 3rd Deck Burger Bar in 2010. The President had no engines but was pushed by a tug boat that fit into the circular facade and appeared as one unit, it had Captain quarters for the overnight crew and a crew kitchen.

The Chandelier Deck accommodates up to 400 guests and is the perfect setting for Proms, Weddings, Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners, Military Reunions, Family Reunion, Class Reunions, School Lunch Trips, Corporate events and much more! Situated on the Tennessee River and featuring an all enclosed climate-controlled deck with an outside patio that overlooks the City Pier, TN Aquarium, and the downtown skyline!

The Chandelier Deck is unique to where you can bring in your own food or we would be happy to cater your event, we offer, buffet dinners for a more social setting, plated dinners or hors d’oeuvres! The elegant room is lined with gold ceilings, small white lights running around the room and a 10 foot in diameter hanging from the center of the room!

What a great wedding venue in Chattanooga to have your Chattanooga wedding! The best place to have a wedding on a boat, and also the best place to have a wedding on the river! The Southern Belle Riverboat does it all from rehearsal dinner in Chattanooga to rehearsal dinners on the river! We have a full wedding rental and can supply everything down to the cake!

• Chevron down History of the 3rd Deck Burger Bar

The 3rd Deck Burger located at Ross’s Landing in downtown Chattanooga was a brainstorm idea where a space was created right next to the Southern Belle Riverboat and the 3rd deck directly above the Southern Belle’s gift shop and Chandelier Deck on Pier 2 that is a setting for banquets, class reunions, weddings, rehearsal dinners, proms, receptions, and corporate parties. The owners wanted to create an environment where folks felt like they were at home, with cozy couches, tv’s, darts, ping pong, foosball, and welcoming relaxed atmosphere.

Great burgers & fries with a cold beer was first on the list to offer to our guests! We use black Angus handcrafted 1/2 lb. burgers with skin-on fries for a filling and delicious bite. Not to mention, a great view of the riverfront with views of our historic bridges, Walnut, Veterans, Market, and Oligiati Bridges, with the Tennessee Aquarium as the backdrop. On any given day you’ll see kayaker’s, paddle boarding, folks rolling blading, biking from our Chattanooga rent a bike program to just flying a kite at Coolidge Park.

The 3rd Deck Burger Bar offers poker on Monday nights, Game Night on Tuesday nights, Ping Pong Tournaments in the works and Dart Leagues on a regular basis! There’s always things to do in Chattanooga, enjoy Ruby Falls, Rock City, Incline Railway for a scenic journey on Lookout Mountain, then join us downtown for a cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat and then hop off and join us in the 3rd Deck Burger Bar for a cold spirit, friendly conversation and incredible views!

The 3rd Deck Burger Bar offers you stunning overlooks of the TN River from it’ s outdoor patio, see things like the TN Aquarium, The Riverbend Festival, The Chattanooga Ducks, and the Chattanooga Cycle boats. You might even catch Chattanooga ducks scarfing down some food kids are throwing to it on the banks of the TN River. You can down see boat rides in Chattanooga and dinner boat rides from the 3rd Deck Burger Bar patio by watching The Southern Belle Riverboat pull off the dock of the Chattanooga Riverboat Co.

Dakota Case now manages the 3rd Deck Burger Bar and has done a fantastic job in customizing the experience around the customers’ needs and wants. Whether it be a couple from overseas wanting to have a bite to eat and a good conversation with a local, to a burger bar party where we can fit 300 ppl for an enormous amount of fun. The 3rd Deck Burger is great activity for families in Chattanooga and The 3rd Deck Burger Bar is also a fun activity for a couple in Chattanooga.

Come say hey to Mark, Shelley, Jen and the rest of the crew at the top attraction in Chattanooga!

• Chevron down History of Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with a population of 176,588 in 2015. The fourth-largest Tennessee city, it is the seat of Hamilton County. Located in southeastern Tennessee in East Tennessee, on the Tennessee River, served by multiple railroads and Interstate highways, Chattanooga is a transit hub. Chattanooga lies 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Atlanta, Georgia, 120 miles (190 km) southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee, 135 miles (217 km) southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, 120 miles (190 km) northeast of Huntsville, Alabama, and 148 miles (238 km) northeast of Birmingham, Alabama.

The city, with a downtown elevation of approximately 680 feet (210 m), lies at the transition between the ridge-and-valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau. Surrounded by mountains and ridges, the official nickname for Chattanooga is the Scenic City, reinforced by the city’s reputation for outdoor activities. Unofficial nicknames include River City, Chatt, Nooga, Chattown, and Gig City, referencing Chattanooga’s claims that it has the fastest internet service in the Western Hemisphere.

Read more about Chattanooga

(Source:  Wikipedia )