AQSC-American Queen Steamboat Company announced that its American Queen ship had welcomed her first revenue guests in 18 months on Monday, August 9, becoming the 4th ship to return to service for the U.S. flagged line.
Currently ranked as the world’s largest paddlewheeler, American Queen set sail from New Orleans (Port NOLA, Louisiana) resuming the 2021 season on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. American Queen’s return to service is a major milestone as it marks the AQSC’s 10th anniversary of the closing on the purchase of the storied paddle-wheeler (on August 8, 2011) almost a decade to the day.
AQSC bookings for 2021 and well ahead into 2022 and 2023 reflect pent-up demand for close-to-home cruising. In addition, the line reports 10+ record-breaking individual booking days this year, and the current season is almost sold out with limited availability on the remaining 2021 Thanksgiving- and holiday-themed cruises.
American Queen Steamboat Company is offering the FREEDOM sale, a bonus savings of up to US$2000 on select 2022 bookings made by August 31.
The return of the American fleet to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers is a boost to the region’s hospitality industry.
The Company commenced a phased restart in March 2021 under SafeCruise protocols and became the only fully vaccinated USA river cruise line for both passengers and crew members effective July 1. The line's 100% vaccination policy allows guests the freedom to sail with confidence in accordance with the most current CDC guidelines. All passengers must show proof of COVID vaccination with their vaccination card before pre-cruise hotel check-in.