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American Queen Voyages Cancels All Cruises, Shuts Down Operations by Eric Bowman Travel Pulse, February 20, 2024

Impacted guests are directed to visit www.aqvrefunds.com, however,
that currently leads to a broken website that says access denied.

The Hornblower Group has been acquired by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (SVP). American Queen Voyages will be sold, or if there is no sale, its operations will cease for good.

Adam Peakes, President, Hornblower Group released the following statement:

"Since 2011, American Queen Voyages (AQV) has proudly celebrated the American spirit of adventure and discovery. From our iconic paddlewheel river cruises through the heartlands to our small-ship expeditions in Alaska, we have been focused on providing guests with world-class travel experiences. It is most unfortunate that, despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, AQV has been unable to fully rebound from the effects of the pandemic. As a result, the financial impact has proven unsustainable and we have made the very difficult decision to sell the company, or, if a sale cannot be achieved, its operations will be wound down.

Please know this decision was not made lightly. We are deeply proud of our employees and crew for the outstanding services they have provided our guests over the years. As the backbone of the AQV experience we extend our deepest appreciation to our team for their unwavering commitment, passion and hard work, which has been exceptional. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our guests, partners, agents and the local communities where we call who have each been integral to our journey. It's been a sincere privilege creating unforgettable experiences and lasting memories with all involved. Thank you for the support and understanding as we navigate through this transition."

Original story text:

United States river cruise operator American Queen Voyages, part of the Hornblower Group, announced it has ceased all operations as of February 20, 2024.

The company sent a statement to employees that read in part: "The timing of this notice is necessitated by both the unforeseen business circumstances and an inability to obtain sufficient capital at a commercially reasonable rate to continue operations."

Unfortunately, the letter also stated, "this action is expected to be permanent." The phone line for American Queen Voyages is now a voice message that states the following: "American Queen Voyages has made the difficult decision to shut down and all future cruises have been canceled. Guests and customers should expect to be fully refunded for canceled cruises."

Impacted guests are directed to visit www.aqvrefunds.com, however, that currently leads to a broken website that says access denied.

Offices in Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans and Vancouver were all terminated.

In January, various trade organizations stopped selling American Queen Voyages over service issues. TravelPulse reached out to the Hornblower Group for more information.

Hornblower Group, Parent Company of American Queen Voyages, Is Acquired
February 21, 2024

Hornblower Group, the parent company of American Queen Voyages, which announced it was stopping all cruises and operations on February 20, 2024, has been acquired by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (SVP). The agreement allows Crestview Partners to maintain a minority position within the group and become the sole owner of Journey Beyond in Australia. The agreement also adds $121 in new-money financing, so Hornblower's total debt will be reduced by around $720 million.

American Queen Voyages will be sold, or its operations wound down if there is no sale. According to Hornblower, the American river cruise line has not rebounded from the pandemic. Hornblower has begun a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, which it expects to finish in around four months as it begins a restructuring process.

All services besides the river cruise line will continue to operate normally. It is unknown how much the cruise line will continue to operate in the coming months, if at all, but a dedicated website is available to obtain a refund for impacted guests.

Impacted guests who have booked an American Queen Voyages cruise should visit the line's dedicated refund website to submit a claim form and begin the refund process. They can also call toll-free at (888) 202-5784. For travelers outside of the U.S. or Canada, please call (747) 288-6437.

"The steps we are taking today will enable us to address AQV and strengthen our financial foundation as we continue serving our guests and commuters around the world," said Kevin Rabbitt, CEO of Hornblower Group. "With the support of our financial stakeholders, we will continue to advance our business initiatives and drive growth. We thank the entire Hornblower team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our vendors and partners across our businesses for their continued support."