bama belle riverboat dinner cruise

The Riverboat Cruise In Alabama You Never Knew Existed

Jennifer Young

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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.

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Address: The Bama Belle 1 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Website: 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 .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Bama Belle is a riverboat attraction docked at Medeiros Point on the Black Warrior River at 1 Greensboro Avenue in Tuscaloosa . Operating intermittently since 2001 as the first attraction along the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk , the Bama Belle offers sightseeing tours and can be rented for private events.

The 90-foot, 54-ton riverboat was originally constructed in 1969 by the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company in Dubuque, Iowa. Prior to coming to Tuscaloosa, the riverboat was utilized at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee and known as the Captain Ann and later moved to Destin, Florida, and known as the Emerald Queen . The boat was brought to Tuscaloosa by Mike and Nikki Medeiros , and opened in September 2001 as the Bama Belle after being redocumented and recertified by the United States Coast Guard. It can hold up to 149 passengers.

Both Mike and Nikki Medeiros served as captains of the boat through December 2005 when Mike was killed in a car accident. After remaining closed for over a month and a half, the Belle resumed service with Tiffany Maxwell and John Gray serving as captains in late January 2006 . The following year, the Tuscaloosa City Council officially named the boat landing where the boat is moored "Medeiros Point" in honor of Mike Medeiros. In July 2009 , Nikki Medeiros sold the operation to Sandi Wyatt who continued to operate the attraction until June 2012 when coolant leaks caused an engine failure.

Craig Dodson of Jasper purchased the Bama Belle in 2015 . He made repairs and resumed regular public cruises in February 2017 . In 2019 Dodson put the riverboat up for sale.

• Ehlers, Matt (April 18, 2002) "The Belle of the Black Warrior." p.1D The Tuscaloosa News
• Cobb, Mark Hughes (December 13, 2005) "A riverfront memorial." p.1B The Tuscaloosa News
• Cobb, Mark Hughes (January 29, 2006) "Bama Belle rolls again." p.1B The Tuscaloosa News
• Morton, Jason (January 12, 2007) "Boat landing to be named for Bama Belle’s captain." The Tuscaloosa News
• Taylor, Stephanie (February 21, 2017) "The Bama Belle is cruising again." The Tuscaloosa News

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Bama Belle for sale, cruises and events still offered — for now

The Bama Belle riverboat is up for sale.

Owner and Bama Belle captain Craig Dodson, who purchased the boat in 2015 and returned her to operating on the Black Warrior River, said the boat is in good condition and runs just fine.

“I just want to do something else,” he said.

As the sale efforts are ongoing, Dodson said he would continue to offer private bookings — some are scheduled into October, he said — and some limited public cruises. Details on these $20-per-person trips can be found at the Bama Belle website .

And on Aug. 1, the Bama Belle will host two waterkeepers as the Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Hurricane Creekkeeper share a fundraising cruise on the Black Warrior River. Tickets are on sale for $40 each. The three-hour event, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will include dinner, live music and a complimentary sampling of local beers from Druid City Brewing Co.

But for Dodson, he said he’s fulfilled his part of the Bama Belle’s history.

“I kind of met the goals I had with it,” Dodson said.

Dodson declined to publicly name a sale price, but he said he would prefer the boat to remain in Tuscaloosa and is hopeful a local investor will make an offer.

But if the boat has not sold by September, Dodson said he would list it with a national broker.

“I really do want it to stay in Tuscaloosa,” he said.

Prospective buyers can reach Dodson via the Bama Belle’s website , Facebook page or telephone at 205-275-0560.

RELATED: Boat race between Bama Belle, Pickett Hastings brings crowd to Tuscaloosa Riverwalk

The Bama Belle was built in 1969 in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, Iowa, and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry up to 150 passengers plus crew.

The boat originally was christened the Captain Ann and later was renamed the Emerald Queen and based in Destin, Florida.

In 2001, Mike and Nikki Medeiros bought the boat, renamed it the Bama Belle and brought it to Tuscaloosa.

Mike Medeiros died in 2005, and his family sold the boat a few years later.

It stopped offering cruises in June 2012 after holes developed in the engine cooling systems’ coolers on the bottom of the boat, causing an engine to fail, and sat in various stages of disrepair ever since.

Tuscaloosa resident Thad Garner purchased the boat in February 2013, but never completed enough repairs to return it to offering cruises, and because the boat stayed at docks owned by the city of Tuscaloosa, the City Council repeatedly requested status updates from Garner on when the boat would be ready for use .

After years of this cycle, the City Council was set give the Office of the City Attorney the authority to seek a court’s intervention to force the boat’s removal from the city-owned docks.

That’s when Dodson, a businessman from the Jasper area, stepped in.

Garner sold the boat to Dodson in November 2015, who set about making extensive repairs — including taking the boat to Mobile for repairs to the underside — and returned the 90-foot, 54-ton paddle-wheel riverboat to seaworthiness by December 2016.

He considered selling the Bama Belle last year, but opted instead to give it one more go. He also began hosting bar hours on the boat during the week, when the Belle wasn’t sailing.

But now, Dodson has decided to sell it for good.

“It was fun,” he said. “I had a great time with it.”

RELATED: Tuscaloosa’s riverboat, Bama Belle, an enchanting place for all kinds of celebrations

Reach Jason Morton at [email protected] or 205-722-0200 .

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Popular tuscaloosa riverboat "bama belle" shuts down for the rest of 2020.

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One of the few paddlewheel riverboat cruises available in Alabama announced over the weekend it will not be reopening its doors after closing due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

After 19 years in Tuscaloosa, the "Bama Belle" will not open back up in 2020, according to a post on the riverboat's Facebook page Saturday morning.

Docked at Medeiros Point on the Black Warrior River, the river cruise was the first attraction along Tuscaloosa's riverwalk. The Bama Belle offered sightseeing tours and dinners. The boat was also a popular host for private parties and events.

There was no word on if the river cruise would be opening back up after this year.

To keep up with updates on the Bama Belle, visit the boat's website .

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Riverboat Dining in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is known for its Southern-style restaurants, many of which are barbecue restaurants. The city has more than 25 barbecue restaurants to choose from, but there’s just one place in Tuscaloosa where you can dine on barbecue on a riverboat.

BarBQ Cruise

The Bama Belle riverboat offers a Sunset BarBQ cruise along the riverbanks every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8:00. The cost is $20 per person, and it includes a buffet dinner and the cruise. Reservations are required. A full-service cash bar is also available.

You can charter the Bama Belle for bridal luncheons, weddings, receptions, family reunions, business trips and other occasions. In 2010, daytime charter rates started at $450 for 90 minutes or $600 for two hours. Evening rates started at $695.

The Bama Belle is an authentic split-wheel paddle wheeler. Her only means of moving are two paddle wheels, which are named Thelma and Louise. Power is provided by two diesel engines. The Bama Belle is 90 feet long.

Bama Belle Cruise Line 1 Greensboro Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 205-339-1108 bamabelle.com/

About the Author

Lani Thompson began writing in 1987 as a journalist for the "Pequawket Valley News." In 1993 she became managing editor of the "Independent Observer" in East Stoneham, Maine. Thompson also developed and produced the "Clan Thompson Celiac Pocketguides" for people with celiac disease. She attended the University of New Hampshire.

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• grilling ribs image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com

Pickwick Belle Riverboat,Wheeler Lake ,Tennessee Rive,rDecatur Alabama

Harriott II Riverboat

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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

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

Dinner Cruise

Come experience one of awesome dinner cruises aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat. This dinner cruise is one of the best traditions in all of Chattanooga, we have been dining on the TN River through downtown Chattanooga for 32 years!

From the start you can make a dinner reservation on our website or over the phone with one of our amazingly friendly crew! After telling us the amount of guests in your party you will be asked if you would like to add on The Southern Belle Riverboat Over the Top Package. What a wonderful add on package for your dinner cruise on the TN River! The Over the Top Package includes a guaranteed window seat, a bottle of wine or champagne, 2 of our keepsake Southern Belle Riverboat logoed wine glasses, and a commemorative photo! The majority of our dinner guests will choose to do this package, it enhances the dinner cruise experience for your evening!

When you arrive to board The Southern Belle Riverboat, you will park in the well lit parking lot directly across the street or maybe sneak a free spot on the street on Riverfront Parkway in downtown Chattanooga after 6 PM. You will walk down a small ramp and take a beautiful picture of our dockside vessel, Pier 2, which holds our beautiful event space, the Grand Chandelier Deck! This deck holds awesome birthday parties, class reunions, beautiful weddings and receptions, and the best social parties!

Once inside the Pier 2 you will enter Chattanooga’s largest gift shop, you can literally find anything you want in here that involves Chattanooga and even some things you wouldn’t expect in a tour gift shop! Jordan has done a great job with our gift shop, but especially this year! After grabbing one of our awesome drinkwares and t shirts you will proceed to check out and also check in at the ticket counter! You will get your boarding pass after giving your first and last name, our front office crew member will direct you to enjoy a cold beverage in the 3rd Deck Burger Bar, our dockside bar and lounge, before you start the boarding process for your dinner cruise aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat!

After hanging out with Dakota and Kelsay in The 3rd Deck Burger Bar and enjoying a cold beer, glass of wine, or an ice cold cocktail on our beautiful outdoor patio that overlooks the riverfront in downtown Chattanooga, you will come back downstairs and take your picture while boarding!

Once on board that’s when the fun starts, you will hear our Dixieland Jazz band and be transported back to days of the riverboat! You will take to your seat, hopefully on window if you purchased the Over the Top Package, and a steward will be over to pour you sweet tea, water and coffee before your beautiful dinner is presented for your dinner cruise!

Our dinner cruise buffet on a Friday or Saturday night dinner cruise will consist of a beautifully redish pink 24 hour slow roasted prime rib, shrimp creole on a bed of white rice, mixed green veggies, baby red potatoes, mixed green salad, a dinner roll, and a cheesecake for dessert! It is delicious meal and you will be sure that you fill up!

After the dinner is served the dance floor will be opened for all of our guests that are young at heart or if you are looking for romance head upstairs to our open air 3rd deck to enjoy the wind and the views. Everyone is encouraged to hang out with our captain in the wheel house and learn how to steer the boat and even honk the horn!

This dinner cruise is one of a kind in Chattanooga and you will not be disappointed! Our crew is here to make your riverboat experience the best possible riverboat experience you could have. Make sure you ask our crew for anything that will make you happier during your cruise through Chattanooga on the TN River! They will bend over backwards to make sure that your dinner cruise is an awesome experience for you!