American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) set a new timeline for resuming operations by three of its vessels this year.
The American Duchess will resume service on July 20, as previously announced. Although it was previously planned that the American Empress would restart sailings on July 6, now its operations are suspended through July 19. The American Countess and American Queen won't operate before Aug. 8.
The decision to further delay operations on the American Empress, American Countess and American Queen was made "in an abundance of caution" due to ongoing governmental restrictions across ports, cities and public institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Here at AQSC, we are beyond thrilled to begin cruising again this July 20," said John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. "We hope that with this extended suspension and our ongoing work with local partners in each of the communities we visit will help bring our guests back to the river and allow us to continue offering the same high-quality, extraordinary cruise experience they are desiring."
AQSC recently partnered with Ochsner Health, a Louisiana-based healthcare provider, and also announced new company-wide health and safety protocols. Ochsner Health will work with AQSC to implement disease prevention and mitigation strategies across the fleet. The partnership includes real-time access to infectious disease experts in the Ochsner nation-wide telehealth system, allowing guests and crew to see a physician without leaving their stateroom.
AQSC also has relationships with regional health care providers along its routes so it can transport passengers ashore quickly and efficiently for treatment.
Here is the full breakdown on each vessel and its planned timeline for resuming its 2020 operation.
The American Duchess, which sails on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, intends to resume operations with the July 20-27 "Mark Twain's Mississippi" sailing from St. Louis to Red Wing, Minn., as previously announced.
The American Empress, which sails the Columbia and Snake rivers, will extend its suspension through July 19, 2020.
The American Countess, the newest paddlewheeler in the AQSC fleet on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, will extend its suspension through Aug. 8, 2020.
The American Queen, which sails on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, will extend its suspension through Aug. 8, 2020.
AQSC will contact all guests and travel agents impacted by the extended suspensions and will offer a future cruise credit for 125 percent of the cruise fare valid through 2022.
The company will continue to work closely with ports of call and the local communities it visits, as well as the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Coast Guard. For a full overview of the new health and safety protocols, click here.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
