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Guests are also encouraged to tip local tour guides $5 per day and bus drivers $2 per day. The 186-passenger expedition vessel is easy to recognize in port or at sea, with its distinctive inverted X-Bow and a bright blue wave painted across its exterior. In the summer, she travels Alaska as part of American Queen Voyages' fleet, but in the northern winter (austral summer), she heads south for Antarctica with Albatros Expeditions. As an expedition ship, she carries with her a small flotilla of Zodiacs (small inflatable boats) for off-ship exploration, which is my favorite "amenity." American Queen Voyages trips are all-inclusive and will provide food and alcohol as part of your package. You’ll also be able to take advantage of guided tours, Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities and a pre-cruise hotel stay with your fare.
What’s included
In a letter to employees on Tuesday, the line said their positions would be terminated at 5 p.m. Local time at all locations where the company operated, and the action was expected to be permanent. “You should expect to be fully refunded for deposits you have paid on cancelled AQV cruises,” the company wrote. Before the shutdown, American Queen Voyages operated the overnight cruise division of the Hornblower Group, which will be acquired, according to a press release shared with T+L. B.B. King, Billie Holiday, Ike and Tina Turner, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Thurgood Marshall, Ella Fitzgerald, the Harlem Globetrotters, and many others have found sanctuary in this simple home-like setting with 11 bedrooms.
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Luxurious amenities display the opulence of the American Victorian era while also featuring every modern convenience. Each stateroom features lush bedding and fine linens as well as in-room bottled water and fresh fruit. Onboard cuisine is gourmet and something to satisfy every craving is available 24 hours a day, from grand meals in the Dining Saloon to American favorites in the Front Porch of America. Enjoy a swim or a workout in the pool or athletic club or borrow a book in the Mark Twain Gallery; after a day of exploring, enjoy nightly entertainment that includes everything from showboat style performances to calliope concerts to swing dancing.
American Queen Voyages
"How many of you booked this cruise especially to see Cleveland?" joked the shore excursions manager in one of her daily port talks. There might have been a ripple of laughter in the audience but passengers were invariably pleasantly surprised and had any preconceptions upturned when they got back from the city the next day. American Queen Voyages is the only cruise line on the Great Lakes that currently sails from the historic Navy Pier, which is also a vibrant downtown waterfront attraction, in Chicago.
Victory Cruise Line's suspension was due to Canadia's travel restrictions. All affected bookings received a full monetary refund (100%) or 125% refund as FCC with rebooking. In September 2022, AQV partnered with the National Museum of the Great Lakes (Toledo Maritime Center on Maumee River, Toledo OH) to offer Lakelorian guided voyages starting May 2023. On two Toronto-homeported boats (Ocean Voyager, Ocean Navigator), each sailing features a permanent Lakelorian-licensed tour guide. The Lakelorians conduct onboard lectures and discussions (held in the ship's Compass Lounge or Seascape Tavern) themed on the visited city and also answer questions throughout the AQV cruise. Many exhibit a laidback elegance, with casual dresses and khakis prevalent in the evening.
Great Lakes cruise business -- and Cleveland's port -- take a hit with American Queen shutdown - MSN
Great Lakes cruise business -- and Cleveland's port -- take a hit with American Queen shutdown.
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 23:25:22 GMT [source]
It’s the home of the hot brown, a distinctive breakfast offered piping hot in a mini-skillet. Now served throughout the day, a hot brown is an open-face turkey sandwich loaded with bacon, tomatoes, and mornay sauce, and has been a Louisville tradition since it was created in 1926 by hotel chef Fred Schmidt. When we arrived at the hotel, we were promptly welcomed by cruise staff, assigned a room, and briefed on the following day’s embarkation procedures. Luggage transfers to our cabin and bus transportation to the American Countess were scheduled by the cruise line.
Why is American Queen Voyages shutting down?
Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Due to "unprecedented demand" for 2022 voyages, in mid-February 2021 AQSC and Victory Cruise Lines announced the brands' 2023 ship deployment and itineraries. The season's highlight is the introduction of the chartered ship Ocean Discoverer. The AQV brand is affiliated with the corporation "HMS Global Maritime Inc" - Florida/Fort Lauderdale-based company managing its marine operations. In September 2020, Hornblower acquired SEA-Shore Excursions of America (2011-founded tour company, based in Easton, Pennsylvania, that specializes in exclusive cruise extension land tour packages. SEA was founded to serve exclusively AQSC and Victory Cruise Lines. AQV company's current President is Cindy D’Aoust (former CLIA President & CEO) while Isis Ruiz is the CCO (Chief Commercial Officer).
A resident "riverlorian" — a historian who is well-versed in the history of the rivers on which the vessel sails — also gives several talks during each voyage. Ours provided lots of fun facts about the efficiency and capacity of cargo riverboats, which far exceed those of semi-trucks and trains. The entire American Queen experience — from the ship's exterior design and interior furnishings to the history of the places we visited — evokes the mid to late 1800s. Although it has backup engines that help with maneuvering, American Queen boasts a large wooden paddlewheel that's powered by a pair of 90-year-old steam engines rescued from a retired steamboat. Free for the vessel's passengers in all ports, buses run along a predetermined route at regular 15- or 30-minute intervals. Designated stops along the way feature points of interest where passengers can hop off for a visit before catching the next bus to another attraction or back to the boat.
10 of 444 American Queen Voyages Cruise Reviews
A quintessential American paddlewheel steamboat, American Queen looks every bit the part. Its crisp white exterior, bright red paddlewheel and black smokestacks topped with festive crowns befitting a queen complete the picture of grandeur. Wherever the boat goes, it draws curious, awestruck stares, and locals line up along the riverbanks to greet it when it arrives and wave goodbye when it leaves. Every port of call features an included excursion; several with entry to museums and attractions that you would normally have to pay for. We particularly enjoyed Valley Camp, one of the 'lakers' that once carried cargo around the Great Lakes and is now an atmospheric museum ship and within walking distance of the docking spot in Sault Ste. Daily gratuities are $19.50 per day per person on river voyages, $17.50 on lakes and ocean voyages, and $20.20 for Expedition voyages and will be automatically added to your bill.
With that in mind, the fact that — even on my recent 2022 sailing — American Queen's onboard guest population is predominantly white while the crew is predominantly Black struck me as particularly poignant. Not wanting to make a big deal about it (particularly because we arrived 15 minutes prior to the closing time), I didn't say anything. Our waitress, who was experienced enough to see there was a problem without my saying a word, sent the head waiter over to ask what was wrong. I quietly told him, and he apologized, stressing that passengers should always speak up so the crew can do better next time.
In Toronto, there was the option for a city highlights tour, for an additional charge, which ended at the ship in the afternoon. Able to leave our suitcases in the baggage room, we opted to explore independently from the centrally located hotel and then take the included transfer later in the day. Within a couple of days we were being addressed by name and waitstaff and bartenders made food recommendations based on personal preferences, showed us to preferred places in the dining room and remembered our favorite cocktails.
Highlights for me included the Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum — where a local family spent two generations making the inner frames for horse saddles — and the historic mansions in Madison, Indiana, as well as the Augusta Distillery in Augusta, Kentucky. There, we deviated from the suggested activities and stopped in for an excellent tasting where we were allowed to draw or "thief" our own bourbon from barrels where it was aging. Conversely, the highly anticipated day on Mackinac Island lived up to expectations. This unique destination has no motorized vehicles and the only way to get around is in horse-drawn buggies (the equine residents during the summer season outnumber the island's permanent population), by bicycle or on foot. It was really neat to return to the ship at lunchtime to see a couple of dray horses tucking into buckets of grain after delivering supplies to the vessel.
Since 2022, AQV's riverboat fleet's VP of Marine Operations is Captain Jethro Beck (former employee of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, HAL-Holland America Line, Seabourn, Princess, P&O Australia, Shell Oil Co, Global Marine Group). In January, AQV canceled all scheduled February voyages (with a planned restart of operations in March), and all major travel agencies stopped offering AQV cruises. American Queen cruises the upper and lower Mississippi, as well as the Ohio and Tennessee rivers on five- to 14-night theme cruises. Cruises depart from New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, St. Paul, Louisville, Nashville and Cincinnati. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. In an online statement, American Queen Voyages said customers who had paid for future cruises should expect a full refund through its insurance company, Argo Surety.
This is a particularly good cruise option for passengers with disabilities as, unlike those on many European riverboats, elevators go to all key decks. The Grand Lobby Bar is open most days from 11 AM until the last guests are ready to say goodnight. Double doors adjacent to the bar allow access to the theater, a multi-level space that’s perfect for port talks, cooking demonstrations, afternoon movies, or informative presentations. For this itinerary, special guest Michael Veach, a noted bourbon historian and member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, held court with several presentations and tastings for passengers who were eager to learn about bourbon’s history and how the spirit is made. The 1995-built American Queen cruise ship was initially operated by Delta Queen Steamboat Company (now defunct). Now operated by AQSC (American Queen Voyages), the 436-passenger riverboat is similar to fleetmate American Empress, and also to ACL-American Cruise Lines vessels Queen of the Mississippi/now American Heritage and Queen of the West/now American West.
The Countess feels somewhat like a boutique hotel, with 123 passenger cabins, (most suited for two passengers). The décor is pleasantly contemporary with a tasteful, subdued color scheme, well-chosen art and sculptures, and fresh floral arrangements in all public spaces and on all dining tables. While an ocean-going cruise ship might have multiple pools, dining spaces, and attractions for all ages, river cruising offers a leisurely pace, intimate spaces, and a focus on the people one meets and the small towns and scenery along the route.
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