Cruise & Ferry Review - Spring/Summer 2021

6 7 American Queen Steamboat Company to proceed with its planned 2021 schedule. It aims to begin the season with sailings on American Duchess on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, while American Queen (which also sails on the aforementioned rivers) and American Empress (which cruises the Columbia and Snake rivers) will both relaunch later this spring. The fleet will also welcome a new ship. Homeporting in New Orleans and featuring a renewed and contemporary design, American Countess, the latest paddlewheeler to join the American Queen Steamboat Company fleet, will debut on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers in March. American Queen Steamboat Company’s complimentary hop-on/hop- off shore excursions, provided through Shore Excursions of America, will be offered at every port to enhance the guest experience. Guests will also be able to enjoy narrated tours on each sailing, with stops in some of the most cherished ports and culturally significant attractions. Victory Cruise Lines was expected to resume operations with Victory I and Victory II on the Great Lakes and Eastern seaboard in May and June, while its new expedition vessel, Ocean Victory, was set to debut in July, homeporting in Canada and sailing the Alaskan and Pacific coasts. However, all these plans have been paused due to Transport Canada banning most cruise ships from entering Canada until 2022. “We continue working with government officials, fellow cruise lines as well as travel partners and look forward to returning to cruising when policies allow,” says Waggoner. Adjusted booking and cancellation policies now give American Queen Steamboat Company’s and Victory Cruise Lines’ guests greater flexibility, and they are responding well to the changes in this new age of travel. “We’re seeing steady bookings for the 2021 and 2022 seasons,” confirms Waggoner. “We believe that our enhanced operations and safety protocols provide guests with peace of mind and reassurance when booking a future cruise. We’ve also opened bookings for 2023.” CFR Ships from Victory Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company are scheduled to resume service in the first half of 2021 “ Our enhanced operations and safety protocols provide guests with peace of mind”