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We understand Covid measures and the required pre-cruise lateral flow test (offered free if passengers don't have proof of a negative test prior to embarkation) have slowed things up, but some of the paperwork involved at the pre-cruise hotel was overly lengthy. The local guide taking Ocean Voyager's included excursion was very happy to provide information on how we could do this and afterwards we took a cab back to the ship. On Mackinac, you can go on the included shore tour and still have plenty of time to hire a bike and ride around the eight-mile road circling the island. Ocean Voyager offers a flexible cruising style and passengers can do as much or as little as they choose. Shore tours are graded, and in the daily port talk the activity level and amount of walking involved is clearly set out; often with options for anyone with mobility issues. Here are a few of our first impressions of the ship, as well as some of the excursions and nine ports visited during the cruise.
American Queen Voyages shuts down, cancels future cruises amid reported service issues
American Queen Voyages cruises offer complimentary alcohol to all eligible passengers. American Queen Voyages bills itself as an all-inclusive experience, and that appears to hold up to scrutiny. While most cruises include food with your package, American Queen Voyages goes beyond that. Into the subsidiary Victory Cruise Line merged the new brands "American Queen Voyages EXPEDITION" (Alaska, Central America) and "American Queen Voyages LAKES & OCEAN"). The fleet currently includes two pairs of sisterships - Ocean Voyager (fka Victory 1) and Ocean-Navigator (fka Victory 2), as well as the chartered from SunStone Ships Inc (USA-based shipowner) newbuilds Ocean Victory (2021) and Ocean Discoverer (2023). In September 2016, the company announced a fleet expansion with a newbuild (American Duchess) scheduled for launch in July 2017.
Crew Members are Outstanding
I'm also a fan of the Engine Room Bar, where I enjoyed nightly music and views of the boat's paddlewheel. But the secret lies behind a door in the bar with a sign that's barely noticeable. Pop inside, and you can make your way down to the engine room, which is open to passengers interested in learning more about how the vessel operates. Cabins, all them outside-facing, are on the small side, but with such a destination-rich itinerary, you probably won't spend much time in them. Even on the two so-called 'sea days' out on the lakes there is a busy daily program of enrichment talks, quizzes, games, delicious English and Viennese-themed afternoon teas and the daily post-dinner concerts and dancing with the talented onboard trio.
Mississippi River cruises take hit as American Queen shuts down - MinnPost
Mississippi River cruises take hit as American Queen shuts down.
Posted: Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News
Local guides typically join each bus to offer insights about the history and attractions of each locale. Travelers are free to visit as many of the stops as they wish, and spend as much time as they wish at each, and are cautioned about the last run of the bus each day (the boat doesn’t wait for late passengers). The more casual River Grill, one deck above and far astern, offers buffet service for breakfast and lunch, a variety of sandwiches, and prime rib as well as other selected entrees for dinner each evening.
"We are continually working with convention and visitors bureaus and [using] these organizations' local expertise to improve, as well as provide new and diverse experiences for our guests." AQV also prides itself on hiring from the local communities along the rivers it travels. Given that American Queen usually sails the Mississippi and hires from the surrounding communities, many of its employees are Black.
Review of American Queen Voyages
The following AQV cruise itinerary map shows the company's destinations and all itineraries as rivers and ports of call. The company's main departure ports/homeports are with capital letters and bolded. These are Minneapolis-St Paul (Minnesota), Chicago (Illinois), St Louis (Missouri), Nashville (Tennessee), Memphis (Tennessee) and New Orleans (Louisiana). All owned by AQSC/AQV ships are stern paddlewheelers designed as the British Victorian era's steam-powered riverboats. Their interior decorations are marked by rich upholstery, ornate chandeliers, custom-made furniture of polished wood and with brass ornaments. "Please know this decision was not made lightly," he said in an emailed statement shared with USA TODAY.
But given the expedition-style excursions in some locations, I could see the demographic tipping slightly younger in the coming years. Most passengers on my ship had never experienced expedition-style sailing before. American Queen Voyages is best known for its fleet of paddlewheelers that sail America's waterways, but it entered the expedition cruising world in 2021 with Ocean Victory, an ocean-going, ice-rated ship. If you’re not aboard one of its riverboats, you’ll also be able to explore destinations such as Canada, New England, Alaska, British Columbia, Mexico and Costa Rica. Ocean Discoverer's Maiden Voyage (May 12, 2023) is planned as a repositioning cruise from Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas, Costa Rica) to San Diego CA. The inaugural 2023 season is based on day Alaskan itineraries Sitka AK-Vancouver BC and Sitka-Seattle.
In 2023 is scheduled the introduction of AQV's new 23-day itinerary "Grand Ohio and Upper Mississippi Rivers" (ship American Countess) departing from Minneapolis on July 24th and ending in Pittsburgh. Previously, passenger shipping operations were planned to resume on August 2 (American Empress), August 8 (American Countess, American Queen) and August 16 (American Duchess). All affected bookings received a full refund (100% cash) or 125% refund as FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking. Any booking may move to another departure date in 2020 and their current cancellation penalty applies to the new departure date. The new booking must be of equal or greater value and the customer is responsible for any increase in fare. The news comes after the line reportedly canceled three season-opening sailings set to take place on the Mississippi River later this month, attributing the changes to an extended layup schedule.
Port Thunder Bay (Ontario Canada) to host 15 cruise ship calls in 2023
The sisterships Ocean Voyager/ex Victory 1 and Ocean Navigator/ex Victory 2 have scheduled for 2023 itineraries (11- to 16-days long) leaving from homeports Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, Montreal. The itinerary's call ports include Marquette, Mackinaw Island, Sault-Ste Marie (Soo Locks passing), Savannah, Charleston, Fernandina Beach FL. Ocean Navigator also operates in the Western Caribbean (Yucatan Mexico) with roundtrips out of Cozumel.
"Despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, American Queen Voyages (AQV) unfortunately has been unable to rebound from the effects of the pandemic," the company said in a statement posted on a web page it set up to explain the shutdown. Unlike officers on large ships who tend to remain a bit aloof and distant, Captain Scott Dunham was not merely introduced at a welcome reception, but rather made an effort to greet everyone who wanted to shake his hand. In an interview with Cindy D’Aoust, who assumed duties as the new president of American Queen Voyages in January 2023, she emphasized her goal of “simplicity, affordability, and convenience” for the passenger river cruising experience. Each of the itineraries with American Queen Voyages begins with a complimentary pre-cruise night at a distinctive hotel in the departure city. We flew into Louisville mid-afternoon and made our way to The Brown Hotel, which was built in the early 1900s by J.
I stayed in a Deluxe Stateroom with a Private Veranda, the most common accommodation on the ship. The living area has a loveseat and a desk next to the queen-size bed—my husband and I didn't feel like we were tripping over one another at all, even when we had all our rain gear hanging up to dry. The balcony is large enough to fit two chairs, which are perfect for enjoying views of the Alaskan wilderness and spotting wildlife.
It wasn't a problem until one morning when a particularly haggard waiter went to grab one for us and came back a few minutes later with an apology that he "just can't find them right now." Every night, he greeted us, took our orders and brought each course, but there was virtually no following up in between courses to see how we were doing. I expect he was too busy juggling a large number of tables to have time to check in routinely with any of them. That same head waiter sat us every night at dinner and always made sure we had what we needed. However, by the final night of the sailing, he looked frazzled and exhausted. When we were underway, I spent a lot of time there, either writing or reading.
Cruise line buys up the Mississippi River ships from defunct American Queen Voyages - Star Tribune
Cruise line buys up the Mississippi River ships from defunct American Queen Voyages.
Posted: Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
I'm a picky eater, but on American Queen I was able to find something I enjoyed at every meal. However, on the second morning, during breakfast, I cut into my pancakes and was dismayed when raw batter oozed out. Elements like a steam-powered calliope (which one of the onboard musicians plays several times on each cruise, usually during sailaways) and the J.M. White Dining Room with its serious New Orleans ambiance add to the feeling of authenticity throughout. Our only grumble, also voiced by other passengers, was the check-in process.
Walking back, be sure to catch the stunning murals by Robert Dafford that capture Paducah’s rich history. Here, the premium experience for $129 per person was a bourbon tasting paired with small dishes of Southern comfort food at Hometown Roots. Started by Henderson-born Casey Todd, the restaurant focuses on local ingredients and has a grow wall filled with Bibb lettuce. McCarthy serves as the cruise “riverlorian” in addition to being a featured performer. With daily lectures that offer background information and little-known facts about the rivers and their history, these Riverlorian presentations were consistently some of the best-attended special events of the cruise.
Theaters, lounges, and card rooms are at the heart of the social spaces on board American Queen Voyages ships. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world.
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