U.S river cruise operator American Queen Voyages (AQV) has ceased trading and suspended all operations effective immediately.
In a statement, AQV described the overnight cruise industry as “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 American Queen Voyages has become financially unsustainable,” it continued.
“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.”
Effective immediately, all future AQV cruises have been cancelled. The line said guests should expect to have their cruise deposits refunded in full.
Travel Industry Council of Ontario Logo (Photo Credit: Travel Industry Council of Ontario / TICO)
Ontario regulator TICO offers the following advice for advisors with clients booked with AQV:
“American Queen Voyages has outlined a three-step process for consumers to follow to receive refunds from Argo Surety. You can find more information about this refund process at https://www.aqvinfo.com or https://aqvrefunds.com
As it is not known how long the Argo Surety consumer claims process will take or what the level of reimbursement may be, we advise consumers to file a claim with the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund at the same time to avoid missing the claim filing deadline of August 21, 2024.”
Here are the details on potential eligibility how to file a claim against the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund:
Consumers who purchased American Queen Voyages travel services from a TICO registered travel agency or website and did not receive their travel services due to the closure of the cruise line, may file a claim with the Compensation Fund for reimbursement.
Consumers may request a claim form on TICO’s website or by contacting TICO at 1-888-451-8426 or [email protected]. For more information about the Compensation Fund, click here.
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