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Cape Fear Riverboats
Cape Fear Riverboats Celebrates 25
Years of Cruise Success
March
28, 2013 - Wilmington, NC - On April 2, 1988,
Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic downtown
waterfront changed forever when the Henrietta II's big
red and white 16-foot diameter paddle wheel churned up
the Cape Fear River. Against a strong ebb tide, the
Henrietta II docked at the foot of Market Street where
the City’s dock is located. In 2013 Cape Fear Riverboats
celebrates 25 years of cruise success with public tours
on Saturday, April 6 and retro cruises at 1988 prices on
Sunday, April 7. Other special events and cruises are
scheduled throughout the year.
Wilmington’s Market Street has long been considered the
gateway to Downtown Wilmington. For many years the ferry
from Eagle Island landed at the foot of Water and Market
streets, bringing visitors from the west bank of the
river. On that second day of April in 1988, passengers
on board the Henrietta II included City officials,
investors and friends of Captain Carl Marshburn, whose
idea it was to start a riverboat company in Downtown
Wilmington. Hundreds of Wilmington citizens showed up to
welcome the Henrietta II as she approached the town’s
historic riverfront.
"When we came under the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge I
could not believe the number of people lining the
riverbank standing at the foot of Market Street to
welcome us," recalls Captain Marshburn. "I had never
docked the Henrietta II before, so I muttered a prayer
to not blow this docking."
Marshburn and his crew put on quite a show that day. On
board were actors portraying Becky Thatcher, Tom Sawyer,
a riverboat gambler, and Mark Twain. Deck hands were
dressed as Confederate Navy re-enactors, and passengers
were greeted with a Dixieland band. To set a grand
stage, the Antique Car Club parked their classic cars
along Water Street. Touched and encouraged by the
welcome reception, Marshburn vowed to provide
Wilmington’s citizens and visitors with a cruise boat
they could be proud of. Twenty-five years later
Marshburn honors that promise as the Henrietta III, a
larger cruise boat that replaced the Henrietta II in
2000, graces Wilmington’s riverfront ready to cruise the
waters of the Cape Fear River. Over the past 25 years,
tens of thousands of passengers—comprised of visitors
and local citizens—have boarded the Henrietta II and III
for nearly 12,000 cruises.
To celebrate 25 years in Wilmington, Cape Fear
Riverboats will recreate the excitement of the Henrietta
II’s grand arrival back in 1988 with public tours of the
Henrietta III. On Saturday April 6, from 11:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m. residents and visitors are invited to
board and tour the Henrietta III, just as they toured
the Henrietta II twenty-five years before. On Sunday
April 7, Cape Fear Riverboats will offer three tours of
the Cape Fear River at the 1988 rate of $5.50 for adults
and $3.00 for children (prices valid one day only).
Throughout 2013, the cruise schedule will include
cruises and events that were popular during Cape Fear
Riverboats’ early years, as well as more recent
offerings, such as the breathtaking 4-hour Black River
Nature Cruise. Led by coastal ecologist and author Andy
Wood, Black River Nature Cruises aboard the Capt. J.N.
Maffitt are offered April through October on select
dates. Cape Fear Riverboats offers a variety of narrated
sightseeing, sunset, dinner/dance, interactive theatre,
special theme and private charter voyages. For more
information and a complete cruise schedule, please visit
www.cfrboats.com.
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