News Archives - Steamboats.org

American Queen Steamboat Company Using Ochsner Health’s Safe to Return Employer Solutions to Safely Return Guests and Crew as part of New Health and Safety Protocols

May 23, 2020May 23, 2020

American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) is partnering with Ochsner Health by implementing Ochsner’s Safe to Return Employer Solutions to help improve and maintain a healthy and safe return of guests and crew to its paddlewheelers. Ochsner Health will conduct assessments of the American Queen, American Duchess and American Countess and will work with AQSC on implementing disease prevention and … Read more

American Extends Cruise with Comfort Plan and Protects Travel Advisor Commissions

May 14, 2020May 12, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today that it has extended its popular Cruise with Comfort program and will continue to protect 100% of travel advisor commissions on all Cruise with Comfort bookings. The program will now include all cruises departing through October 31st, 2020 and may be applied to both new and existing bookings. American implemented … Read more

Domestic Bookings Rise as Cruisers Seek to Support American Business

May 14, 2020April 30, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today, a strong increase in demand across its domestic portfolio of river and coastal cruises. The company cites increased awareness of U.S. cruise options along with guests’ desire to support all-American businesses, as the primary reasons for the increase. Advance bookings for the 2021 season are robust, with next year’s passenger … Read more

American Queen Steamboat Company Extends Temporary Service Suspension

May 14, 2020April 27, 2020

American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) announced that it will extend its temporary operations suspension across all boats through June 21, 2020. The decision to extend the suspension reflects the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued wide-spread governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions. AQSC thanks its guests, travel agent partners, vendors … Read more

Viking officially opens reservations for new Mississippi River cruises

May 14, 2020April 26, 2020

Viking today opened reservations to the public for its new Mississippi River cruises, which will launch in 2022. The company’s first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, will debut in August 2022 and will sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul. Viking’s arrival will bring modern river cruising to the Mississippi and … Read more

Viking annouces Mississippi River Cruises

May 14, 2020March 30, 2020

New Purpose-Built Ship Will Bring Guests to America’s Heartland Beginning in 2022. Viking today made the highly anticipated announcement that it will further expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of new Mississippi River cruises, honoring a commitment Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen made to loyal past guests to launch the Mississippi product by early … Read more

American Cruise Lines Travel Advisor Assurance Plan

May 14, 2020March 24, 2020

American Cruise Lines has unveiled its full Travel Advisor Assurance Plan following the Line’s voluntary decision to suspend cruise operations through April 30th, 2020. The new plan contains some of the most guest and agent friendly policies in the river cruise industry. Most significantly, the plan includes assurance from American that it will protect Travel … Read more

American Queen Steamboat Company Temporarily Suspends Service

May 14, 2020March 14, 2020

American Queen Steamboat Company announced that it will immediately suspend operations across all ships and will resume service on April 12. The decision was made following wide-spread governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions. AQSC thanks its guests, travel agent partners, vendors and team members for their patience and understanding during this rapidly evolving … Read more

American Cruise Lines to Accelerate Expansion: 3 New Riverboats to Debut in the Next 20 Months

May 14, 2020February 26, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today that it will launch two additional modern riverboats for the 2021 season. Construction is already underway on the new riverboats and will ramp up as American Jazz, the Line’s 3rd modern riverboat, is readied for its 2020 debut in New Orleans. The two riverboats coming next year will be sister … Read more

American Countess Completes Second Successful Sea Trial

May 14, 2020February 21, 2020

The American Countess is American Queen Steamboat Company’s Fourth Vessel Launching April 5, 2020 American Queen Steamboat Company is excited to announce that the American Countess completed its second successful sea trial on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 marking the sixth major milestone of the new ship’s development. The upcoming ship will be christened in New … Read more

American to Add Another Modern Riverboat to the Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruising Close to Home

May 14, 2020February 17, 2020

“Cruising close to home” just keeps getting better and better. American Cruise Lines will add another brand new modern riverboat to its fleet on the Columbia & Snake Rivers in 2021. In just the past few years, American has introduced the first modern riverboats in the U.S.A, built 5 new small ships, and doubled its … Read more

American Cruise Lines Signs 20-Year New Docking Agreement with Vicksburg

May 14, 2020February 14, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today that it has signed a new 20 year docking agreement with the city of Vicksburg, MS. The new agreement was finalized yesterday by City officials and includes a financial contribution from American Cruise Lines for improvements to the docking area as well as funding for beautification of the facility. In … Read more

American Sets Sales Records: River Cruising is More Popular Than Ever in the U.S.A.

May 14, 2020February 13, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today the strongest start to Wave Season in the company’s history. Wave Season, the cruise industry term for first quarter sales, has surpassed company expectations, with records broken in nearly every category. Demand for small ship cruises across the U.S.A. has been on the rise for some time according to American. … Read more

Charles A. Robertson, American Cruise Lines Founder, Passes Away – Charles B. Robertson Named New CEO

May 14, 2020February 13, 2020

The Board of Directors of American Cruise Lines, Inc. announced today that Charles B. Robertson will be appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. This appointment follows the recent death of Mr. Robertson’s father, Charles A. Robertson, who was the company’s founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive. “My father was a visionary and … Read more

American Queen Steamboat Company Wins Gold at 2020 Travvy Awards for Best River Cruise Line in the U.S. for the Fourth Consecutive Year

May 14, 2020February 13, 2020

American Queen Steamboat Company has earned the prestigious Gold statuette in the 2020 Travvy Awards for Best River Cruise Line in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year and the Silver statuette for Best Cruise Line in the U.S./Canada. The annual Travvy Awards – known as the Academy Awards of the travel industry – were … Read more

Former Davenport, Iowa Mayor, Frank J. Klipsch, Joins American Cruise Lines

May 14, 2020January 29, 2020

American Cruise Lines announced today that former Davenport, Iowa Mayor, Frank J. Klipsch, has joined the cruise line as its Director of City Partnerships and Special Projects on the Mississippi River. Mayor Klipsch has led a distinguished career in government, community service, and organizational development, including two terms as Mayor of Davenport and as former … Read more