Terms & Conditions

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 prior to your vacation and is available upon request or online at www.aqsc.com or victorycruiselines.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 ™, and 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, 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 $179 to $449 per guest are additional and not included in the fare. For voyages operated by Victory Operating Company, LLC, port charges of $409 to $749, dependent on voyage length per guest, are additional and not included in the 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 $500 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 $1,000 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, American Express 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 as 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 10-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.

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) 583-1632 for pricing and details.

INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE

One-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay
Ground Transfers Between Hotel & Vessel
Unlimited Included Guided Tours
Unlimited Included Expedition Adventures by Zodiac or Kayak**
Unlimited Beverages
Open Bars and Lounges
Acclaimed Cuisine in Multiple Venues
All-Day In-Room Dining
Unlimited WiFi
Bicycles* & Hiking Sticks
Live, Daily Onboard Entertainment & Enrichment

*River Cruises Only

**Expedition Cruises Only

NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE

Port charges
Airfare to and from your home city
Optional premium shore excursions
Discretionary gratuities to vessel crew and tour operators
Travel Protection Plan
Transfer to and from the airport

HOTEL STAYS & CANCELLATIONS

One included pre-voyage hotel night is provided 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.

VACCINATIONS

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests and crew on all sailings. Vaccination documentation will be requested and must be provided before boarding. For pre-boarding, a Health Questionnaire will be emailed to guests seven days before their pre-cruise hotel stay and must be completed within 48 hours of receiving the email. Guests will check-in at the pre-cruise hotel stay on the day before embarkation. At this time, all guests will complete additional health screening questions. Guests are also subject to Federal, state, and local health and safety guidelines, including Covid-19 testing. Vaccine and Covid-19 test information may be shared with third parties at Carrier’s sole discretion.

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 agent. 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 insuring 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 Voyager, Ocean Navigator and Ocean Victory are registered in the Bahamas, and operated in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s passenger vessel safety requirements as codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

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 an 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 agent, 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 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.

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 whatsoever is the Guest’s responsibility.

GRATUITIES

For guests sailing aboard the American Queen, American Duchess, American Countess, American Empress: Gratuities will be automatically charged to your onboard account at a rate of $19.50 per guest per cruise night.

For guests sailing aboard Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator, Gratuities will be automatically charged to your onboard account at a rate of $17.50 per guest per cruise night.

For guests sailing aboard Ocean Victory, Gratuities will be automatically charged to your onboard account at a rate of $20.50 per guest per cruise night.

Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

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