Flagship American Queen Paddlewheeler Returns To Service

  • Monday, August 9, 2021
  • Editors

American Queen Steamboat Company, part of the Hornblower Group, announced that the American Queen welcomes her first revenue guests in 18 months today, becoming the fourth vessel to return to service for the U.S. flagged cruise line. As the world’s largest and grandest paddlewheeler, the American Queen sets sail from New Orleans resuming the 2021 season on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. As the flagship vessel, the American Queen’s return to service is an important milestone as it marks American Queen Steamboat Company’s 10th anniversary of the company closing on the purchase of the storied paddlewheeler (Aug.

8, 2011) almost a decade to the day.  

“The purchase and restoration of the American Queen ushered in a new renaissance of U.S. River cruising ten years ago,” said John Waggoner, founder and chairman of American Queen Steamboat Company. “Our close-to-home cruise experience resonates more than ever, and I feel such pride seeing how far our offerings have expanded. Today the American Queen embarks from New Orleans, the American Empress welcomes guests in Clarkston, Wash.; our boutique paddlewheeler, the American Duchess, is docked under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and our newest riverboat, the American Countess, is calling on Nottoway Resort in White Castle, La.”

American Queen Steamboat Company bookings for 2021 and well ahead into 2022 and 2023 continue to reflect pent-up demand for cruising close-to-home. In addition, the cruise line reports 10+ record-breaking individual booking days in 2021, and the current sailing season is almost sold out with limited availability on remaining 2021 Thanksgiving- and holiday-themed voyages. American Queen Steamboat Company is also offering the FREEDOM sale, a bonus savings of up to $2,000 on select 2022 bookings made by August 31, 2021.   

Tourism represents the second-largest economy on the Mississippi River according to The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), a coalition of 101 mayors. The return of the American Queen Steamboat Company fleet to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers is a welcome boost to the region’s hospitality industry. 

American Queen guests will have an immediate economic impact on the port cities she calls on from pre-cruise hotel stays to visiting attractions and patronizing small businesses along the river,” shares Shawn Bierdz, president of American Queen Steamboat Company. “To meet the needs of having the entire fleet operational, our company is up to over 500 team members once again and continuing to grow with open shipboard and shoreside positions.”    

American Queen Steamboat Company began a phased restart in March under SafeCruise protocols and became the only fully vaccinated U.S. river cruise line for both guests and crew effective July 1. The 100% vaccination policy allows guests the freedom to cruise with confidence in accordance with the most current CDC guidelines. All guests must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination with their vaccination card prior to pre-cruise hotel check-in. SafeCruise policies are subject to municipality and state rules based on current regional conditions and may be modified without advance notice to adhere to local health and safety guidelines.  

For more information on American Queen Steamboat Company or to book a cruise on the American QueenAmerican Duchess, American Empress and American Countess, please visit www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com, call 888-749-5280 or contact your travel agent.
Travel
McLemore Announces International Hospitality Partnership With Seaton House And Dunluce Lodge
  • 6/23/2025

McLemore, a golf club and resort destination perched atop Lookout Mountain, announced a collaboration with recently opened and already famed United Kingdom hospitality properties, Seaton House ... more

Record 1.6 Million Tennesseans Expected To Travel For July 4th Week
  • 6/20/2025

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel domestically during the Independence Day holiday period (Saturday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6). This represents an increase of 1.7 million travelers ... more

Chattanooga To Host Global Storytellers For 2026 Women In Travel Summit
Chattanooga To Host Global Storytellers For 2026 Women In Travel Summit
  • 6/19/2025

Chattanooga has been selected as the host city for the 2026 Women in Travel Summit (WITS), taking place May 29–31, 2026, at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Organized by Wanderful, WITS is the premier ... more