Return to Savannah, Part II: A cruise on the Georgia Queen

 We'd seen the Georgia Queen (pictured above) on every visit to Savannah since 2017, but we never felt inclined to check out what the cruise ship was about.

That changed last month. I will say -- as a testament to how much the COVID pandemic stops to  make you think about doing certain things -- that we hesitated for a moment before discussing whether to try out the Georgia Queen. But when we realized we were going to be on its outer decks the whole 90 minutes of the relatively brief excursion, we decided not to fret. 

The Georgia Queen has elaborate tourist offerings, such as a nighttime dinner cruise. This would have had us in a confined area inside the vessel, not to mention its greater expense, so we decided not to even consider that. We'd do the simple daytime cruise from the downtown dock point west to a short ways pass the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, a cable-stayed cantilever span. The the Queen turns around and cruises in the other direction almost to the river's mouth at the Atlantic Ocean when it turns around again and heads back to port.

Above and next four below: One thing you come across a lot while on the daytime cruise ... is other vessels, large and small. The boat above is the free ferry from River Street to Hutchinson Island, where the city's convention center and adjoining Westin Savannah Hotel. But Savannah also is a major harbor for massive cargo ships as seen in the photos below. 

 

 

I went a little overboard when the Georgia Queen passed under the Talmadge Bridge, composing from all sides and angles, illustrated by the photos above and below. 

The next popular subject in my shoot aboard the Georgia Queen was the golden dome on Savannah City Hall, illustrated in the shots above and next four below.

The Westin Hotel (above) and adjoining convention center (below) on Hutchinson Island. 

The Cracked Earth Monument to soldiers who died in World War II (above) and a slice of the Savannah riverfront (below). 

East of the riverfront promenade there is heavy industry, exhibited in the picture and above and two below. 

Above and below: A cannon is fired from the grounds of old Fort Jackson. Our tour guide told us that the firings are timed to coincide with each Georgia Queen passing to entertain passengers. 

Above: Our tour guide says the vessel above is a wreck. I don't know how long it's been there, or whether it will remain there permanently. 

 

Above:  A view looking southwest from the Georgia Queen. The twin spires of St. John the Baptist Cathedral can be seen just left of the large structure.  

Several people in a section of the riverfront plaza (above) seemed enthralled by the Georgia Queen's return to port. Not far from them, and closer to the dock point, one of several daily riverfront street musicians performs (below). 

 

Next Up: More of the Historic District

PREVIOUSLY IN THE SERIES: 

Part I: Colonial Park Cemetery