American Queen Voyages shuts down, cancels all cruises

A familiar summer sight in the Quad Cities won’t be traveling the Mississippi River this year.

The American Queen, the largest passenger steamboat in the world often seen squeezing through Locks and Dam 15 at the Government Bridge or under the Centennial Bridge in Rock Island, has been shut down — along with the rest of its parent company’s fleet.

“American Queen Voyages has made the difficult decision to shut down. Despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, American Queen Voyages unfortunately has been unable to rebound from the effects of the pandemic,” a statement on a website directing customers to refunds said. “The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by changes in travel preferences and, as a result, AQV has become financially unsustainable. We are therefore shutting down the business, and all future AQV cruises have been cancelled.”

“We are disappointed that American Queen Voyages (AQV) has ceased operations as of February 20, 2024,” Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, said by email Wednesday. “As a long-standing partner of Visit Quad Cities, AQV has played a significant role in bringing visitors to our region, with 2,165 visitors in 2023 alone.

“Their presence, alongside all our river cruise partners, contributes significantly to enriching our regional destination with vibrant tourism experiences and exploration of the Mississippi River,” he said. “Visit Quad Cities will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates to stakeholders who may be affected.”

The company operated four boats. The American Countess and American Duchess joined the American Queen on the Misssissippi River, while the American Empress traveled on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Click here for information about refunds.

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