Yet another small cruise line has shut down in the wake of pandemic struggles
One of America's most beloved cruise operators, American Queen Voyages, has shut down.
The U.S. river cruise specialist, known for operating the iconic Mississippi River paddlewheeler American Queen, ceased operations on Tuesday; it blamed ongoing financial troubles related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"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.
"The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by changes in travel preferences and, as a result, AQV has become financially unsustainable," the company added.
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.
All sailings on the three riverboats that the company had scheduled to operate this year — American Queen, American Countess and American Duchess — have been canceled.
Cruise lines hurt by the pandemic
American Queen Voyages is just the latest in a string of more than a dozen small cruise operators around the world to shut down since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The American Queen Voyages shutdown comes just eight months after small-ship rival Vantage Deluxe World Travel collapsed, blaming pandemic-related financial woes.
Other cruise brands that have shut down over the past four years include luxury line Crystal and its two Asia-based sister brands, Dream Cruises and Star Cruises; Japan-based Venus Cruises; India-based Jalesh Cruises; Swedish-based Birka Cruises; U.S.-based small-ship specialist Blount Small Ship Adventures; and U.K.-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Almost all cited the financial effects of the pandemic.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages was the second-largest cruise brand in the U.K. before collapsing in July 2020.
Germany-based FTI Cruises and Spain-based Pullmantur Cruises also ceased operations during the pandemic. Pullmantur, which was partly owned by Royal Caribbean Group (the parent company of Royal Caribbean), was the first cruise company to collapse during the pandemic, just three months after cruise ships stopped sailing in 2020.
Caribbean-focused Sail Windjammer also shut down in 2021. It operated a historic sailing vessel once owned by the American financier E. F. Hutton and his wife, Marjorie Merriweather Post.
Of all these brands, luxury line Crystal is the only one that was able to restart operations. Crystal resumed operations in July under new owners, the high-end travel company A&K Travel Group.
All major cruise lines around the world paused sailings for many months at the start of the pandemic and only slowly returned to normal operations. This resulted in enormous quarterly losses that only recently have begun to moderate. The brands that have stayed in business have been forced to take on massive amounts of debt to survive.
American Queen Voyages promises refunds
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. The refunds will not come from American Queen Voyages, as the brand is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it said.
The company directed customers to fill out a claim form and submit proof of payments to American Queen Voyages at a new web page that it had set up for the process, aqrefunds.com. The process will be somewhat convoluted, as American Queen Voyages will at first deny the claim due to its bankruptcy filing. That, in turn, will generate a denial letter that customers can use to subsequently file a claim with the insurance company.
In an online statement, American Queen Voyages expressed gratitude "for the privilege of serving our guests, partners and agents, and for being part of our incredible local communities" over the years.
"It has been an honor to bring joy to so many lives, and we are deeply touched by the relationships we have formed and the memorable experiences we have created," the company said. "We sincerely regret any inconvenience this decision causes. Our goal is to ensure a smooth process for all AQV stakeholders."
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.