DAVENPORT, Iowa — River cruise company American Queen Voyages is closing down its operations, according to a Facebook post made early Wednesday morning.
The Mississippi River cruises included stops in the Quad Cities, bringing many tourists to the area. The post reads:
"We are saddened to share that American Queen Voyages (AQV) has made the difficult decision to shut down. The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes in travel preferences. Despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, demand has not recovered, and AQV has become financially unsustainable.
We are deeply proud of our Crew and the outstanding travel experiences and service we have provided to our guests. As we reflect on our journey, we are filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving our guests, partners and agents and for being part of our incredible local communities. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives."
All future cruises have been canceled as a result of the company going out of business. The post says guests can expect refunds for their cruise deposits.
The company's Facebook post says you can find additional information on the closure at aqvinfo.com, and apply for a refund at aqvrefunds.com. However, as of 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, the refund site isn't working.
News 8 reached out to the company's insurer Argo Surety, which is handling the refunds, but they declined to comment.
Donna Young, co-owner and sculptor at local sculpture studio Isabel Bloom, said the cruise line brought tourists from around the country to visit the workshop.
"It was not just the dollars they would spend that day, but we would gain customers, we would add them to our system and put them on our email list," Young said. "We're disappointed that they're not going to be coming, but you know, it's just one of those things we have no control over."
News 8 reached out to local tourism organization, Visit Quad Cities, to learn what kind of impact this closure could have on tourism. Here is what President Dave Herrell said:
“We are disappointed that American Queen Voyages (AQV) has ceased operations as of February 20, 2024. 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. Visit Quad Cities will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates to stakeholders who may be affected.”
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