Overview
- Stephanie Simonot has bought the Prairie Lily from Mike and Joan Steckhan and plans to open for the 2026 cruise season in May.
- The Steckhans will stay aboard this season to mentor the new crew and help meet federal safety requirements for passenger vessels.
- Training for required operator certifications can take months, so hands-on guidance is meant to speed compliance and keep the transition smooth.
- Last summer’s sailings were cancelled because low flows built up sandbars on the South Saskatchewan River, which blocked navigable channels.
- Prospects look better this spring thanks to above‑normal Rocky Mountain snowpack and Water Security Agency work to address sandbars, though weather remains the deciding factor.