American Queen Steamboat Company starts cruises on Columbia, Snake rivers

American Queen Steamboat Firm (AQSC) has resumed its operations on the Columbia and Snake Rivers for the primary time in almost 20 months — for absolutely vaccinated vacationers, CruiseCritic.com studies.

The road introduced Monday the classically-inspired American Empress would set out in the present day on its first crusing from Vancouver, Washington (throughout the river from Portland, Oregon) to Spokane (Clarkston), Washington.

AQSC efficiently restarted operations on the Mississippi River in March aboard the brand-new American Countess, and Cruise Critic was onboard for the event.

At this time, American Empress turns into the primary ship to renew service on the Columbia and Snake rivers, in addition to the primary ship within the area to set sail carrying a totally vaccinated mandate for all passengers and crew.

“Our final voyage [on the Columbia and Snake Rivers] was in November of 2019,” Shawn Bierdz, President of American Queen Steamboat Firm, advised Cruise Critic in an interview. “It has been twenty months since we began up…which is wonderful when you concentrate on it.”

Sailings onboard American Empress’s 2021 season within the Pacific Northwest — which is sort of completely offered out, in accordance with the road — are open for reservation for passengers of any nationality which have been absolutely vaccinated with all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine accredited by the FDA or WHO.

All passengers aboard American Empress should present proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in by presenting a legitimate vaccination card or a picture of their legitimate vaccination card. These passengers who fail to offer proof of vaccination will likely be denied boarding and will likely be topic to relevant cancellation insurance policies.

AQSC says all crew are vaccinated onboard American Empress, as nicely. A fleetwide, 100% vaccination technique goes into impact as of the corporate’s July 1, 2021 departures (earlier departures really helpful full vaccination towards COVID-19, together with PCR testing).

Even with the mandate for vaccines, AQSC is having no problem in promoting American Empress’ return to the rivers.

“Of all of our vessels, American Empress might be essentially the most sold-out,” explains Bierdz. “About 13 out of 20 sailings are sold-out. So, it is a very excessive demand product.”

The ship operates voyages alongside the historic waterways that decision on a number of the area’s most original ports of name, together with Astoria, Oregon; The Dalles; and Stevenson, Washington. 

American Empress is massive sufficient to fall beneath restrictions on cruise set forth by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. By adhering to a full vaccination mandate, the corporate is ready to resume sailings on the Columbia and Snake rivers with out the necessity for check cruises, however whereas nonetheless providing more room onboard by introducing capability constraints to make sure no crusing goes out at 100% capability.

“It is capacity-constrained,” Bierdz mentioned. “We’re nonetheless beneath the CDC’s Conditional Sail Order so we’re working at 229 souls onboard, which incorporates company and crew…it is most likely about 70 % of the vessel’s capability.”

American Queen’s founder and CEO, John Waggoner, had advised Cruise Critic earlier this yr that he believed absolutely vaccinated cruises had been the way in which ahead to an trade restart. As a result of American Empress carries a full vaccine mandate, there isn’t any want for the vessel to conduct the simulated voyages being required of operators not mandating full vaccination of passengers and crew.

“We’re requiring 100% vaccination, and never 95 % vaccination that the CDC is permitting,” concluded Bierdz. “We do take security very severely. Our dedication to 100% company and crew being vaccinated…that is our dedication to our company: that they are going to be travelling with 100% vaccinated fellow company.”

American Empress is operating seven-and-nine-night voyages by means of November.

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