Friday After 5 kicked off the summer season on a rainy Friday. But it was met with more sunny news for Owensboro. B and B Riverboats announced on Friday that they were running a weekend of cruises here in October.
The hope is that the first of these cruises will be successful enough to demonstrate that Owensboro could become a cruise destination. And, that eventually we could have our own riverboat here. It looks optimistic.
The cruises are beginning as we continue to attract people to our community for the many festivals and events that are springing up all over the community. With the number of weekend vacationers and people simply looking for new experiences growing, we have so much opportunity. Instead of creating a niche, we have the opportunity to be who we are — and watch it work for us. There is no better place to find our heart than at the river.
Envision the opportunity to come to Owensboro for a meeting, a family event, or just to experience the community. While you are here, you can take a two-hour historical cruise of our Ohio River with stories and commentary about our history. Imagine having a Bluegrass and Bourbon Cruise. B and B also does princess cruises and superhero cruises, a perfect fit for our Smothers Park playground to round out a great weekend for children.
B and B knows its business and has stood the test of time. They have their roots in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky market. That is where I met my husband. One of our first outings with his parents was a lunch cruise on the Cincinnati portion of the Ohio. Although it was 25 years ago, I still remember the cruise like it was yesterday. When we boarded the ship, I felt like we were doing something exclusive. The lunch was great, the views were fantastic and all of the guests were made to feel special. We took a photo when we boarded the ship and my mother-in-law bought them for me as a souvenir. I kept the photo in my journal. After my first meeting with Alan Bernstein, I revisited the photo. It was a B and B Riverboat Tour.
We have a window of opportunity in the next 24 months to continue to recruit these kinds of opportunities and let others know what is going on here in Owensboro. Each of us is an ambassador. Let’s keep it up!
By Candance Brake President and CEO of Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce