Terms & Conditions

General
Definitions
Deposit & Final Payment
Cancellation & Change Policy
Non-Performance of Cruises
Travel Protection Information
Included In Your Fare
Not Included In Your Fare
Hotel Stays & Cancellations
Advance Travel Information
Health
Health & Disability Requirements
Federal Maritime Commission Protection
United States-Flagged Vessels
Onboard Credit
Smoking
Dining Arrangements
Gambling
Animals
Accommodations
Airfare
Drones
Gratuities
Payment Options
Seller Of Information

GENERAL

The transportation of guests and baggage on board the vessels of American Queen Voyages™ are governed by these Terms and Conditions and the Passenger Ticket Contract, which will be sent to you approximately four (4) weeks before your vacation and is available upon request or online at www.aqvoyages.com. Your payment of the deposit or full fare constitutes agreement to the terms and conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract, whose provisions shall prevail, which includes limitations and exonerations of the liabilities and obligations of the Carrier. You should read and understand these terms and conditions carefully before making a deposit. The American Queen®, American Empress®, American Duchess®, and American Countess® are operated by American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC, are regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard, are American-flagged, and employ American officers, crew, and staff. The Ocean Voyager ™, Ocean Navigator ™, Ocean Victory ™ vessels operated by Victory Operating Company, LLC, and are registered in the Bahamas and are operated in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s passenger vessel safety requirements as codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “you” and “Guests” refer to all person(s) named on the front of the Confirmation and include all children or others under the care or control of the named person(s). The term “Carrier” includes American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC, Victory Operating Company, LLC, its parent, and affiliated entities, the vessels, the owners, charterers, operators, agents and masters and crews thereof, any substituted or connecting ship, the owners, charterers and operators and all launches belonging to any such vessel or owned or operated by the owners, charterers or operators. The term “Fare” includes voyage fare and all hotel, air transportation, land package(s), and shore excursions purchased from Carrier.

Fares are in U.S. dollars, are per guest, are based on double occupancy, and do not include air or land transportation. Stateroom categories SI, SO, and SD are based on single occupancy. For voyages operated by American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC, port charges of $249 to $1,560 per guest are included in the advertised fare. For voyages operated by Victory Operating Company, LLC, port charges of $559 to $799, dependent on voyage length per guest, are included in the advertised fare. All fares, itineraries, special interest series, themes, entertainment, shore excursions, and other voyage attributes are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right not to honor any published prices that we determine were erroneous due to printing, electronic or clerical error.

DEPOSIT & FINAL PAYMENT

For confirmation of individual reservations, a deposit of $1,000 per person is due within three days of your initial reservation for non-promotional fares on voyages nine (9) days or fewer. A deposit of $2,000 per person is due within three days of your initial reservation for non-promotional fares on voyages greater than nine (9) days. The balance of the voyage fare is due one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to the sail date, and all reservations not fully paid at such time will be canceled and subject to the cancellation provisions outlined in the cancellation policy below. Carrier accepts the following forms of payment: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, and check. Reservations made one hundred twenty-one (121) days or fewer before the sail date will require payment in full at the time of booking.

CANCELLATION & CHANGE POLICY

Guests who must cancel or change their voyage or any part of their vacation package for any reason, including medical or family reasons, are subject to the fees outlined below. All fares are based on double occupancy; on reservations in which one guest cancels, the remaining guest is responsible for paying any single supplement. Please see the Travel Protection Information section for details on cancellation protection. Carrier reserves the right to cancel all reservations for which final payment is not received one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to the sail date. All cancellations or changes are subject to a $250 per person administrative fee per cruise and segment if a multiple-cruise booking.

DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE PER-PERSON FEES
121 days or more $250-per-person administrative
120-91 days 25% of gross fare
90-61 days 50% of gross fare
60-31 days 75% of gross fare
30-0 days 100% of gross fare

Travel Protection premiums are non-refundable after a 14-day review period, provided you have not departed on your trip or filed a claim. Carrier is not obligated to refund any portion of the fare or other payments for guests who must leave the voyage prematurely for medical or other reasons.

NON-PERFORMANCE OF CRUISES

If Carrier cancels your cruise, or delays your cruise for more than 3 calendar days, and you do not accept an alternative cruise or choose not to travel on a delayed cruise, you are entitled to a refund of cruise fare and charges for accommodations, services and facilities (including port fees, taxes and other ancillary charges paid to the carrier in relation to your cruise) for the cancelled or delayed cruise. (Carrier may offer you an alternative to a refund, such as a future cruise credit, which you are free to decline to receive a refund).

In order to claim such a refund, within six months after the originally scheduled embarkation, please submit a copy of the boarding pass, proof of payment (and amount), and a copy of the cancellation or delay notice by email to: [email protected]. Carrier will review the request and respond by email within 180 days of the date the claim is made .

TRAVEL PROTECTION INFORMATION

You are strongly encouraged to protect your travel investment by purchasing travel insurance.  Carrier has partnered with one or more third-party providers who offer travel protection for our Guests.  For your convenience, travel protection may be purchased from these providers through Carrier.  Restrictions, terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions may apply, including time limitations on purchasing certain benefits. Please call Carrier Reservations toll-free at (833) 598-0119 for pricing and details.

INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE

  • One-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay
  • Ground Transfers Between Hotel & Vessel
  • Unlimited Guided Tours
  • Unlimited Expedition Adventures by Zodiac or Kayak**
  • Unlimited Beverages
  • Open Bars and Lounges
  • Acclaimed Cuisine in Multiple Venues
  • In-Room Dining
  • Unlimited WiFi
  • Crew Gratuities  (Valid for new bookings made on or after January 2, 2023)
  • Port Taxes & Fees***
  • Bicycles* & Hiking Sticks
  • Live, Daily Onboard Entertainment & Enrichment\

* River Cruises Only
** Expedition Cruises Only
*** Prepaid Charges

NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE

  • Airfare to and from your home city
  • Optional premium shore excursions
  • Discretionary gratuities
  • Travel Protection Plan
  • Transfer to and from the airport

HOTEL STAYS & CANCELLATIONS

One pre-voyage hotel night is included as part of the voyage fare. Guests are required to present a credit card upon hotel check-in to cover their incidental charges. A $50-per-person onboard credit is available upon request and dependent upon voyage date in lieu of an included pre-voyage hotel night on any voyage. On a back-to-back voyage, one included hotel night plus a $50-per-person onboard credit will be granted in lieu of taking a second included hotel night.

Guests who must cancel their purchased City Stay packages for any reason whatsoever are subject to the fees as outlined below.

DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE PER PERSON FEES
120-91 days 25% of gross fare
90-61 days 50% of gross fare
60-31 days 75% of gross fare
30-0 days 100% of gross fare

ADVANCE TRAVEL INFORMATION

For guests sailing aboard the American Queen, American Duchess, American Countess, American Empress: U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders do not need a passport or visa for travel. Homeland Security laws require that all guests travel with government-issued photo identification (ID) (such as a driver’s license) at all times. ID must be presented at the time of vessel check-in. Guests without proper ID will be denied boarding. Carrier is required to provide all guests’ ID information, including an ID number, expiration date, and place of issue, to the Coast Guard and other government entities before the vessel’s departure. Guests must provide this information to Carrier in advance. Travel documents will not be released until received. Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada entering the U.S. are required to bring their passports. For other nationalities, passports are required to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to check with your local U.S. embassy/consulate to confirm visa requirements and obtain the proper visa.

For guests sailing aboard Ocean Voyager, Ocean Navigator, Ocean Victory: Each guest is responsible for obtaining valid passports, visas, proofs of citizenship, and public health documents as may be required by governmental authorities or certain ports of call. Guest must provide identification information, including passport number, to Carrier in advance. If Carrier provides courtesy advice to Guest regarding necessary travel documentation, Carrier does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of such advice, and Guest remains solely responsible for independently verifying and obtaining appropriate documents. Passports must be valid for six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your voyage. Guest must present relevant travel documents at the time of boarding. Without proper documentation, the Guest may be denied boarding by Carrier, and Carrier will not be responsible for any refund or be otherwise liable to the Guest for such denial.

HEALTH

In keeping with Federal, State and Local guidelines, Carrier has implemented measures aimed at preventing the introduction to and the spread of disease, including but not limited to Covid-19. Each Guest is subject to such measures which are more fully detailed in the Passenger Ticket Contract and our SAFECRUISE protocols.

HEALTH & DISABILITY REQUIREMENTS

Guests must notify Carrier in writing at the time of booking of any physical or mental illness, disability, or other conditions for which special accommodations or the use of a wheelchair is necessary or contemplated. Also, we must be notified of any medical treatment that may render the guest unfit for travel or constitute a risk or danger to the Guest or anyone else on board. The vessels may not carry a medical doctor on board. Acute medical conditions may require you to disembark to be attended to by shoreside emergency and medical response. You are advised that emergency medical evacuation may be delayed or impossible due to the nature of travel by water. Guests needing any form of assistance and those who are physically disabled must be accompanied by someone who will take full responsibility for any required service during the cruise and in the event of an emergency. Carrier reserves the right to refuse passage to anyone who, in our sole opinion, may affect the health, safety, or enjoyment of other guests. Guests requiring a wheelchair must provide their own collapsible wheelchair. Please be aware that some ports of call, shore excursions, docks, gangways, and other requirements may preclude a wheelchair guest from leaving the vessel; this decision will be made by the master of the vessel and is binding. Also, there may be certain physical conditions, including raised doorway thresholds from 2 to 16 inches, stairways, and narrow passageways within the vessel that may limit or preclude the accessibility of wheelchair guests to some areas. Carrier recommends that the Guest purchase travel protection, either the plan we offer or a plan from your travel advisor. With travel protection, you can relax and enjoy your trip with some peace of mind.

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION PROTECTION

Under Public Law 89-777, the FMC requires vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for fifty (50) or more passengers and which embark passengers from U.S. ports to maintain acceptable evidence of financial responsibility to indemnify passengers for nonperformance of transportation. Carrier maintains a surety bond its financial responsibility and holds a Certificate (Performance) issued by the FMC.

UNITED STATES AND BAHAMIAN FLAGGED VESSELS

The American Queen, American Empress, American Duchess, and American Countess have been designed and built in the United States. U.S.-flagged vessels are regular inspections and certifications by the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service, and the Federal Communications Commission. Ocean Victory is registered in the Bahamas and operated according to the International Maritime Organization’s passenger vessel safety requirements as codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DEPARTURES

If you need to join your voyage late or leave early, it is important to submit your request well in advance of your departure date. Various domestic and international laws govern the ability to join or depart from a voyage in progress, based on the ship’s itinerary and guest’s citizenship. Your advance request will enable us to tell you whether your proposed schedule changes are permitted. For more information, visit AQVoyages.com to submit your request or call (833) 583-1632. Please take note of the cut-off dates for submission of your request. No refunds or prorated fares can be granted if you join a voyage late or leave early. Some governments impose fines or other charges when a guest permanently debarks from a voyage before its final port of call, and the departing guest will be responsible for these charges.

ONBOARD CREDIT

It can be used toward onboard purchases not covered in the cruise fare. Onboard credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, has no cash value, and may not be used to pay gratuities. Any unused portion of onboard credit is forfeited at the end of the voyage.

SMOKING

Smoking is permitted only in designated outside areas onboard our vessels. All interiors of the vessels, including all cabins, staterooms, dining rooms, and lounges, are strictly non-smoking.

DINING ARRANGEMENTS

The American Queen, American Empress, American Duchess, and American Countess offer open seating for breakfast and lunch; there are two seating times for dinner. To make a dinner seating request, please speak with your travel advisor, group leader, or our Reservations Department at the time of booking. We will make every effort to honor your request. However, actual seating assignments are not guaranteed.

GAMBLING

Gambling is not available or permitted on our vessels.

ANIMALS

Only designated service animals are permitted onboard. You are required to notify Carrier in advance of departure if you plan to bring along a service animal because of a disability. Supporting documents may be requested.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We want to remind you that cruising aboard one of our elegant paddlewheel vessels is unique. While many guests love the allure of the traditional paddlewheel experience, others may find the turning of the paddlewheel and nostalgic purr of the engines to be slightly noisier than they would like at times. Please be mindful of that when selecting your stateroom so that you reserve the appropriate accommodations for your ideal river cruise experience.

AIRFARE

Economy Class Roundtrip Air Add-on is available for an additional cost from these airports ATL, BOS, BWI, CLT, DEN, DFW, DTW, EWR, FLL, IAD, IAH, JFK, LAX, LGA, MCO, MDW, MIA, MSP, ORD, PBI, PHL, PHX, SAN, SAV, SEA, SFO, TPA, YUL, YVR, YYZ. Airfare is available from all other U.S. and Canadian gateways on request and for an additional charge. Ground transfers between pre-hotel and vessel are included. All airline fees, surcharges, and government taxes are included, however airline-imposed personal charges such as baggage fees may apply. Custom Air arrangements may be made 270 days prior to sailing (custom air fees apply). Guests who elect not to participate in American Queen Voyages Economy Class Roundtrip Air Add-on Program or do not purchase transfer arrangements from American Queen Voyages will be responsible for their own transfer arrangements to and from the ship. American Queen Voyages reserves the right to choose the air carrier, routing, and city airport from each gateway city. Any changes to an issued airline ticket will incur a minimum of US$350.00 per ticket change fee, plus any additional charges imposed by the subject air carrier. Any additional costs including penalties for cancellations/re-bookings will be made at the passenger’s expense unless otherwise required by law. All airline tickets issued by American Queen Voyages are non-refundable. American Queen Voyages has no responsibility for altered travel plans caused by airline delays or for any act, omission or event occurring while not onboard. In some cases, AQV may not be able to confirm ancillary services including, but not limited to airline seat assignments, frequent flyer credit, special meals, and wheelchair requests. In some cases, these ancillary services may not be offered by the airline, or in other cases, may be arranged by a passenger’s travel advisor or directly with the airline. Airline-imposed baggage fees and other fees may apply and be charged by the air carrier at the time of service.

Potential Surcharge Based on Price of Airfare: Airline fares sold as part of your cruise package are based on a good faith estimate of fares in effect at the time of your cruise. You may be charged an additional amount if the airfare at the time of your cruise exceeds 10% of the originally estimated airfare.

DRONES

Guests are permitted to bring drones onboard the vessel. However, they may be operated only onshore and outside the port area. The operation of drones on board the vessel is strictly prohibited. Any onboard use may result in confiscation of the drone until the conclusion of the voyage or disembarkation of the Guest (at the Guest’s expense). While onboard, drones must be stored safely within the stateroom.

Guests assume full responsibility for understanding and complying with local regulations related to drone usage, including obtaining any necessary permits or permissions. All liability related to or arising from drone operation is the Guest’s responsibility.

GRATUITIES

Gratuities are included in your fare for vessel crew and shoreside motorcoach drivers/guides. Additional gratuities to local shoreside guides and/or crew are of a personal nature and at your discretion.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Carrier offers the following options for payment: e-check*, debit card, physical check and Uplift. Additionally, we accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and Diners Club.

* Electronic Check (“e-check”) is an acceptable form of payment if reservation is paid in full no later than 31 days prior to cruise departure. Carrier accepts no responsibility for e-check processing fees including but not limited to insufficient funds (NSF) fees independently assessed by issuing banks. If e-check payment is declined by issuing bank, guest must provide payment via cash, credit card (acceptable to Us), wire or ACH within ten (10) business days upon receipt of denied e-check payment notification; otherwise, cruise reservation will be automatically canceled and assigned stateroom/s returned to inventory for general sale. Reservation is not considered confirmed unless payment has been received by American Queen Voyages.

SELLER OF TRAVEL INFORMATION

American Queen Voyages is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel, Registration No. ST44182; CA Seller of Travel Registration No. 2151839-50; WA Seller of Travel Registration No. 603356182

 

 

 

 

 

Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC and Victory Operating Company, LLC
Website Update:  12 November 2023