PROMOTION of US-based river cruise, small ship and expedition voyage operator American Queen Voyages is expected to ramp up in the local market as a result of its new representation by Journey Beyond (CW breaking news). Previously part of the Cruise Traveller portfolio, American Queen Voyages (AQV) is owned by...
PROMOTION of US-based river cruise, small ship and expedition voyage operator American Queen Voyages is expected to ramp up in the local market as a result of its new representation by Journey Beyond (CW breaking news).
Previously part of the Cruise Traveller portfolio, American Queen Voyages (AQV) is owned by Hornblower Group, the conglomerate which purchased Journey Beyond last year (CW 16 Nov 2022).
AQV becomes Journey Beyond’s 14th brand and the first to be based outside of Australia, complementing the rest of the portfolio which includes rail journeys like The Ghan and the Indian Pacific; aquatic operations Cruise Whitsundays, Rottnest Express, and Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney; small group outback operator Outback Spirit; Melbourne Skydeck, and more.
The move was announced yesterday in Sydney by Journey Beyond CEO Chris Tallent, who also now heads up Hornblower’s global Overnight Division.
AQV’s offering includes river cruises, with Tallent saying “the romance of rail and the renaissance of US river cruising go hand in hand…at the core of every Journey Beyond experience is a strong sense of place”.
“Our overnight rail and lodging brands hero the destinations in which they operate, and American Queen Voyages shares the same philosophy.”
As well as voyages on America’s Mississippi, Columbia, Snake, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, the AQV portfolio includes two boutique 202-passenger coastal vessels and the recently-launched Ocean Victory polar class expedition ship, which currently operates in Alaska.
Tallent noted that “the primary distribution strategy for American Queen Voyages within the Australian market will be Journey Beyond’s network of valued trade partners”.
A new brochure with pricing in Australian dollars (pictured) is now available, and there’s also a new local website which is live at www.aqvoyages.com.au.
