American Queen Voyages, which had made stops via the Mississippi River in St. Paul, ends operations

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.· Pioneer Press/TNS
Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press
Updated 2 min read
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The American Queen Voyages cruise company, which traveled the rivers, lakes and oceans of North America from Canada to Mexico — including stops in St. Paul — has ceased operation and canceled all scheduled cruises as its parent company, the Hornblower Group, files for bankruptcy.

Unless a buyer sets her back in sail, the company’s departure from the industry ends the decades-long run of the six-deck American Queen, believed to be the largest steam paddle-wheeler ever built on the Mississippi River.

“Despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, American Queen Voyages (AQV) unfortunately has been unable to rebound from the effects of the pandemic,” reads a notice on the company’s website. “The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by changes in travel preferences and, as a result, AQV has become financially unsustainable.”

The cruise company had an on-again, off-again romance with Minnesota’s capital city, disappearing for four years before resuming visits in 2012. The company last deboarded in St. Paul in 2019, according to St. Paul Parks and Recreation officials, though a longstanding employee said the final capital city voyage of the American Queen occurred on Oct. 4, 2015, according to his log.

After that, “they might have used a different boat,” said Mark Veum, a retired Roseville engineering officer who worked the American Queen’s engine room off and on from 2006 to 2022.

Even when the ship — christened in 1995 with capacity for 600 guests and crew — stopped in Red Wing instead of St. Paul, shuttle excursions brought passengers into the capital city. “There were tours all over the place,” Veum said.

Some cruise and travel industry publications called the company’s closure little surprise after years of reported turmoil, including service and payment issues.

The Signature Travel Network stopped selling tickets for the cruise line in March 2023, then resumed once commissions had been paid, according to Travel Weekly.

Other cruise companies have found Minnesota’s relatively chilly waters more inviting.

Viking River Cruises debuted Mississippi River trips from St. Paul to New Orleans in the fall of 2022, and multiple cruise companies service Lake Superior and the rest of the Great Lakes. American Cruise Lines also sails the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Red Wing or St. Paul.

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