NEW ALBANY — American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines are reporting a 35% uptick in January and February bookings over November and December 2020.
The news comes one week after both cruise lines, part of the Hornblower Family Companies umbrella, opened reservations for the 2023 season, the furthest in advance the lines have ever released a season. February 2021 is projected to be the strongest booking month for the company in the past year.
“Opening the 2023 season for American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines, we received strong group inquiries from international and domestic markets,” said Bob Salmon, Senior Vice President of Sales. “There is an unwavering desire for discovery among travellers from markets near and far, eager to plan multiple holidays years in advance.”
Some of the most popular itineraries booked early for 2023 include the Mighty Mississippi sailing from St. Paul to New Orleans on the American Queen in September, as well as the always-in-demand Memphis to New Orleans sailings, which also sparked interest for available dates in 2021 and 2022. Off-the-beaten-track UNESCO-designated destinations like Paducah, declared a Creative City in 2013, continue to attract cruisers, while iconic cities along the Ohio River including Louisville, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh partnered interest from repeat guests looking to explore America’s inland ports.
Additional bookings of note, Victory I and Victory II received interest for Great Lakes sailings from travellers who had not yet sailed with American Queen Steamboat Company.
In 2023, Victory Cruise Lines will also see two expedition vessels – Ocean Victory and Ocean Discoverer – both sail Alaska for the first time together.
Both cruise lines recently announced a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all guests that will go into effect for all sailings beginning July 1, 2021. The vaccination requirement will also apply to shipboard crew members and non-shipboard employees across all seven vessels. American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines are the first U.S.-based cruise lines to mandate guest vaccination and the only cruise lines globally to mandate vaccination for crew members.
To view 2023 itineraries and sailing dates call (833) 598-0119 or go to www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com.
