AQSC Pacific Northwest restart June, American Queen Mississippi July

American Empress will carry only fully vaccinated passengers and crew — ahead of the company's vaccination mandate for departures from July 1 — in order to satisfy Washington state authorities.

American Queen restart in July

Additionally, AQSC President Shawn Bierdz told Seatrade Cruise News the grande dame American Queen is now expected to resume in July on the Mississippi, thanks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidance. This largest of the company's vessels, with capacity for 436 passengers, is the only one subject to the CDC's conditional sailing order, which applies to vessels carrying more than 250 people (passengers and crew).

Bierdz said there was uncertainty about American Queen until last week when the CDC issued its new guidance, which includes a pathway for vessels where 98% of crew and 95% of passengers are vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination rates

AQSC has found that 70% of its passengers booked on Mississippi sailings are already vaccinated, and 60% of crew have received their shots with the full contingent expected to be inoculated by the company's July 1 target. Bierdz said about five crew a day are getting shots in a slow ramp-up in case any experience symptoms and don't feel up to working. Most are going to walk-in vaccination sites.

According to Bierdz, there's widespread customer acceptance of the vaccination mandate with only a 'handful' of people who've contacted the company with conditions that preclude them from getting the shots. AQSC isn't making exceptions.

American Empress

The first American Empress cruise will embark at Clarkson (near Spokane), Washington, and sail to Vancouver, Washington, across the river from Portland, Oregon.

Initially, the vessel will be carrying no more than 166 passengers, 77% of its 215-passenger capacity.

'Following our successful March restart with the American Countess and American Duchess on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, the added capacity of the American Empress in the Pacific Northwest will help meet the unprecedented guest demand to travel again,' Bierdz said.

New bookings

The Pacific Northwest season is nearly sold out. One-third of the passengers there came from canceled sailings, while two-thirds are new bookings. 2022 is also selling well.

As earlier reported, AQSC's full 2021 inventory is almost filled, including the newly christened American Countess and boutique-style American Duchess.

PCR testing prior to embarkation, 'bubble' tours

Even with vaccinated passengers, the company is contnuing pre-embarkation COVID-19 PCR testing as part of its SafeCruise protocols developed with Vikand Solutions. Testing is conducted at the pre-cruise hotel and processed shoreside, with results received before boarding.

AQSC boats also have rapid PCR testing capability, with the swab done ashore, pre-boarding, and the processing on the boat. This can catch, for example, someone who arrives late due to a missed flight.

The company operates 'bubble' excursions, which Bierdz said have been well-received.

Safe sailing since March

Of the 14 cruises completed since March, there have been 'no issues,' according to Bierdz. A person here or there has been denied boarding due to a positive test result but there haven't been COVID cases on board.

600 American jobs

As it returns to service, AQSC, he added, is excited to be providing American jobs.

The company, which had to furlough all but 110 of its 600 crew during the pandemic, now has 450 crew back and is recruiting to bring that number up to 600 again.

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