Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 21, 2023 #1 Share Posted June 21, 2023 New article on Cruise Industry News: American Queen to Refocus, Selling Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager Among a series of deployment changes and updates set to start in early 2024 and extend into 2025 the company also confirmed it would sell the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager and will not return to the Great Lakes in 2024. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 21, 2023 #2 Share Posted June 21, 2023 54 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said: New article on Cruise Industry News: American Queen to Refocus, Selling Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager Among a series of deployment changes and updates set to start in early 2024 and extend into 2025 the company also confirmed it would sell the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager and will not return to the Great Lakes in 2024. Thanks for the “heads up”! I haven’t received any notice from AQV regarding my booked Ocean Voyager September 2024 Chicago to Montreal cruise. What a disappointment, if it’s canceled. The article doesn’t say if another company will operate them, or not…🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 21, 2023 #3 Share Posted June 21, 2023 I just called them, and they confirmed the news, and said they would send me a notice “soon”. The rep had no knowledge if the purchaser of the ships would operate the itineraries, or not. Only that I would receive a refund or future cruise credit “in her experience “…🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 21, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted June 21, 2023 20 minutes ago, bob brown said: What a disappointment, if it’s canceled. The article doesn’t say if another company will operate them, or not…🤔 Competition in the Great Lakes is heating up. Maybe Viking is eating their lunch? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 21, 2023 #5 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Viking doesn’t sail from Chicago, and is much costlier, but if AQV is defunct on the Lakes, and no one takes over their operation, I may have to bite the bullet and try them…🤷♂️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 21, 2023 #6 Share Posted June 21, 2023 40 minutes ago, bob brown said: I just called them, and they confirmed the news, and said they would send me a notice “soon”. The rep had no knowledge if the purchaser of the ships would operate the itineraries, or not. Only that I would receive a refund or future cruise credit “in her experience “…🙄 She just called me back and said my travel agent was sent the details, but that I could choose between a full refund or a 120% future cruise credit. I’ll contact my TA… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 21, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted June 21, 2023 12 minutes ago, bob brown said: She just called me back and said my travel agent was sent the details, but that I could choose between a full refund or a 120% future cruise credit. I’ll contact my TA… Based on my Covid cancellation experiences and the recent problems of several other cruise lines, I would take the money. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted June 22, 2023 #8 Share Posted June 22, 2023 Sorry to those who have been disappointed for 2024. We kind of got the sense this might be happening when onboard and there were elements where it was showing that there was no enthusiasm to "build the brand" in this area. It is a shame but I would say although Viking is more expensive, their boats and food offering are in a different league to AQSC. I suspect AQ knew this and realised they couldn't justify the investment to match Viking 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveinCharlotte Posted June 22, 2023 #9 Share Posted June 22, 2023 14 hours ago, bob brown said: Viking doesn’t sail from Chicago, and is much costlier, but if AQV is defunct on the Lakes, and no one takes over their operation, I may have to bite the bullet and try them… Another possibility to consider is Pearl Seas. https://www.pearlseascruises.com/ Their Great Lakes itineraries, ship, and costs seem to be very comparable to what AQV is abandoning. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 22, 2023 #10 Share Posted June 22, 2023 12 hours ago, uktog said: Sorry to those who have been disappointed for 2024. We kind of got the sense this might be happening when onboard and there were elements where it was showing that there was no enthusiasm to "build the brand" in this area. It is a shame but I would say although Viking is more expensive, their boats and food offering are in a different league to AQSC. I suspect AQ knew this and realised they couldn't justify the investment to match Viking I was going to ask…the news can’t be very good for crew morale. Hope they don’t sail with “one foot already off the ship” attitude….🙁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 22, 2023 #11 Share Posted June 22, 2023 I would have thought that AQV, being part of the larger Hornblower group, would have deep enough pockets to invest more in this market…🤷♂️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 23, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted June 23, 2023 3 hours ago, bob brown said: I was going to ask…the news can’t be very good for crew morale. Hope they don’t sail with “one foot already off the ship” attitude….🙁 Hopefully AQV is large enough to be able to absorb them. Or there will be jobs at other cruise lines, most of which are still staffing up post-Covid. But the ranks onboard may thin noticeably as D-Day approaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted June 23, 2023 #13 Share Posted June 23, 2023 6 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said: Hopefully AQV is large enough to be able to absorb them. Or there will be jobs at other cruise lines, most of which are still staffing up post-Covid. But the ranks onboard may thin noticeably as D-Day approaches. Because of the market operating rules the hotel staff on the Ocean vessels were predominantly from the Philippines, something tells me there are limitations on using them on all American vessels. Most were quite good, none we spoke to aspired to Ocean vessels most saw European rivers as their option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyDrew1953 Posted June 23, 2023 #14 Share Posted June 23, 2023 On 6/21/2023 at 11:54 PM, bob brown said: Viking doesn’t sail from Chicago, and is much costlier, but if AQV is defunct on the Lakes, and no one takes over their operation, I may have to bite the bullet and try them…🤷♂️ I have cruised on both Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator including a round trip on the Great Lakes starting and ending in Chicago. Although definitely not as luxurious as the Viking Great Lakes offering, the pricing was much more attractive. However, the reason I elected AQV and not Viking was the shore offerings. Viking’s offerings were much more geared to active offerings, e.g., hiking, kayaking, biking, etc., while AQV offered a greater range of activities such as a tour of an old copper mine, a museum, etc. I am at that stage of life that most (if not all) of the Viking choices are beyond my physical limitations or interests. Hopefully, some other line will continue to provide competition to Viking on the Great Lakes — maybe Am Cruise Lines. I believe that ACL already has some affiliation with Pearl, which operates one ship on the Great Lakes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted June 23, 2023 #15 Share Posted June 23, 2023 1 hour ago, NancyDrew1953 said: I have cruised on both Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator including a round trip on the Great Lakes starting and ending in Chicago. Although definitely not as luxurious as the Viking Great Lakes offering, the pricing was much more attractive. However, the reason I elected AQV and not Viking was the shore offerings. Viking’s offerings were much more geared to active offerings, e.g., hiking, kayaking, biking, etc., while AQV offered a greater range of activities such as a tour of an old copper mine, a museum, etc. I am at that stage of life that most (if not all) of the Viking choices are beyond my physical limitations or interests. Hopefully, some other line will continue to provide competition to Viking on the Great Lakes — maybe Am Cruise Lines. I believe that ACL already has some affiliation with Pearl, which operates one ship on the Great Lakes? The itinerary, including Chicago departure, is what drove my choice of AQV. And the tours offered. I agree about being past bicycles and strenuous hikes. I can walk all day in a city or museum, but I'm not looking to climb a mountain. And as a solo, price matters a lot to me, and Viking was more expensive. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Queen Voyages Posted June 23, 2023 #16 Share Posted June 23, 2023 On 6/21/2023 at 6:29 PM, bob brown said: Thanks for the “heads up”! I haven’t received any notice from AQV regarding my booked Ocean Voyager September 2024 Chicago to Montreal cruise. What a disappointment, if it’s canceled. The article doesn’t say if another company will operate them, or not…🤔 Hi there! What sailing in September 204 were you booked on? We are disappointed to hear that you were not made aware of the cancellation at an earlier date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted June 23, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted June 23, 2023 14 hours ago, uktog said: Because of the market operating rules the hotel staff on the Ocean vessels were predominantly from the Philippines, something tells me there are limitations on using them on all American vessels. Most were quite good, none we spoke to aspired to Ocean vessels most saw European rivers as their option You're right. I hadn't thought about the PVSA aspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 23, 2023 #18 Share Posted June 23, 2023 6 hours ago, American Queen Voyages said: Hi there! What sailing in September 204 were you booked on? We are disappointed to hear that you were not made aware of the cancellation at an earlier date. September 28 - October 10, Ocean Voyager, Chicago to Montreal… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 23, 2023 #19 Share Posted June 23, 2023 4 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said: You're right. I hadn't thought about the PVSA aspect. Unlike the river cruises, which are all US registered boats, the Great Lakes ships are foreign registered, and they comply with PVSA rules, starting voyages in either US or Canada, and ending in the other country. That’s why they can employ foreign crew. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 23, 2023 #20 Share Posted June 23, 2023 10 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said: The itinerary, including Chicago departure, is what drove my choice of AQV. And the tours offered. I agree about being past bicycles and strenuous hikes. I can walk all day in a city or museum, but I'm not looking to climb a mountain. And as a solo, price matters a lot to me, and Viking was more expensive. Agreed… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 23, 2023 #21 Share Posted June 23, 2023 12 hours ago, NancyDrew1953 said: I believe that ACL already has some affiliation with Pearl, which operates one ship on the Great Lakes? I looked at Pearl, but didn’t care for their itinerary…besides starting in Chicago, I really want to cruise the Seaway from Toronto to Montreal. I have already cruised the St. Lawrence from Montreal into the Atlantic… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericosmith Posted June 24, 2023 #22 Share Posted June 24, 2023 I read an interesting article (sorry don't remember where) that said that the reason they were selling the ships is that they can only sail the great lakes for part of the year. They weren't able to generate any revenue during the winter months. By the same token they wanted to focus on the rivers and on Alaska which is also just a part year destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted June 24, 2023 #23 Share Posted June 24, 2023 6 hours ago, ericosmith said: I read an interesting article (sorry don't remember where) that said that the reason they were selling the ships is that they can only sail the great lakes for part of the year. They weren't able to generate any revenue during the winter months. By the same token they wanted to focus on the rivers and on Alaska which is also just a part year destination. Don’t those ships reposition to do cruises along the southeast US coast each winter, or Bahamas/ Caribbean? The riverboats really don’t have much options…they don’t do the upper Mississippi or Ohio, only the lower Mississippi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare uktog Posted June 24, 2023 #24 Share Posted June 24, 2023 Last winter as I understand they were laid up for most of the time as the crewing precludes all America sailing. I suspect the cost to change crew model plus the fact the competition (albeit more expensive) are offering better boats meant these two vessels on that route didn’t stack up economically. It’s a shame but inevitable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericosmith Posted June 24, 2023 #25 Share Posted June 24, 2023 Here is the article I referred to: https://www.upmatters.com/news/michigan-news/american-queen-voyages-ending-great-lakes-cruises/ I think uktog hit the nail on the head. I'm not sure a southeast US cruise is even legal since the ships are flagged in the Bahamas and would need to include a foreign port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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