American Queen Voyages (AQV) has revealed its plans not to return to the Great Lakes next season and will sell its Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager vessels, shifting its business to focus on river cruises.
All current published voyages will continue to operate as planned through NOV 2023.
The company has announced a series of deployment changes and updates that will commence in early 2024 and extend into 2025.
Early bookings are now open for new routes, offering early savings on select dates.
Revised 2024 Itineraries Include:
- Lower Mississippi: AQV will start the season with its Lower Mississippi voyages, taking guests through the cities and historic port towns of the South aboard the 417-guest American Queen. Based on customer requests, the company will introduce new three- and four-day cruises.
- Upper Mississippi: Due to popular demand, AQV will offer cruises along the Mississippi from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. This 16-day journey combines encounters with wildlife and locks and dams, along with visits to the birthplaces of jazz and country music.
- America’s Heartland: The 245-guest paddle wheeler American Countess will navigate the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland rivers. New Experiential Voyages will include a bourbon-themed voyage featuring food and spirits experts, such as Dickie Brennan, chef-owner of the legendary Bourbon House in New Orleans.
- Snake & Columbia Rivers: Travellers can explore the Pacific Northwest aboard the 221-guest American Empress, including new wine-themed cruises. Depending on the voyage, guests can join a salmon excursion and bring their freshly caught and cleaned catch back to enjoy on the boat.
- Alaska & British Columbia: AQV will return to Alaska for its third season. Guests aboard the environmentally friendly 186-guest Ocean Victory will embark on expeditions using Zodiac exploration boats and participate in kayak excursions led by a team of naturalists and field guides in collaboration with California Polytechnic State University.
More information can be found here.
