Light Blue Travel, UK & Europe representative for American Queen Voyages, has published a 2025 trade friendly preview brochure, featuring all-inclusive river cruises of 7 to 16 days aboard the company’s iconic paddlewheel steamboats; American Queen and American Countess cruising the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers in the Deep South and through America’s Heartland; and the American Empress cruising the Snake and Columbia rivers in the Pacific Northwest.

The trade friendly, digital brochure excludes pricing and CTA to enable trade partners to send direct to clients with tailormade quotes and their own contact details.

2025 will see an emphasis on themed ‘Experiential’ cruises and special events. The themed cruises are: –

‘Culinary Experiences’ with American Queen Ambassador, chef Regina Charboneau, with renowned chefs and food experts joining guests to showcase their culinary prowess through interactive cooking demos, tastings, and wine pairing dining experiences.

‘Mark Twain Experiences’ with expert impersonators and historians onboard to regal guests with Twain’s humour and share insight into ‘the Father of American literature’s’ legacy.

‘Wine Experiences’ along the Columbia River, aboard the American Empress, giving guests the chance to visit renowned vineyards to savour the fine wines of the region.  Whilst onboard, wine tastings, sommeliers and local wine makers will guide guests through a curated selection of vintages.

In addition, special events scheduled for 2025 include ‘Jazz Themed Experiences’ to celebrate the New Orleans jazz heritage; ‘Mardi Gras Themed Experiences’ with the New Orleans annual festival celebrated in a special Mardi Gras themed cruise, giving the chance to experience all the revelry, colourful parades, dazzling costumes and traditional delicacies; and from Thanksgiving until the end of 2025, Christmas Markets, Christmas and New Year’s Eve Celebration Experiences will ensure guests are fully in the festive mood with ‘Holidays on the River Experiences’.

All new bookings made from 28 December 2023 – 29 February 2024 will receive an early booking discount saving up to $3500 per stateroom, and guests will receive a $100pp shore excursion credit, and $100pp on board credit.

Light Blue Travel’s commercial director (UK & Europe) Michelle Daniels said: “We launched our first dedicated trade brochure last year, alongside video-based e-learning online training courses and incentives, and these initiatives resulted in an upturn in trade engagement and an increase in trade sales – we hope the 2025 brochure will build on that success! We plan to further strengthen our trade support by adding more modules to the training programme and producing new digital marketing assets, including video shorts for our popular itineraries that our partners can then use as part of their own marketing mix.”

The all-inclusive cruises* are mostly seven nights with an added pre-cruise hotel, totalling nine days. 2025 NET Prices start from $2,454pp.

* What’s included on AQV river cruises

• 1-2night pre cruise hotel stay including breakfast (subject to itinerary)
• Premium City Highlights Tour
• Transfers between hotel and vessel
• Full board cruise
• Acclaimed cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner served in multiple venues
• In-Room dining available
• Unlimited guided tours aboard private, deluxe motorcoaches
• Unlimited beverages including an extensive wine list, choice spirits, local craft beers and speciality coffees
• Open bars & lounges throughout the vessel including smoothie and juice bar every morning
• Onboard Gratuities
• Unlimited Wi-Fi
• Live onboard entertainment & enrichment programmes
• Port Fees

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This Specials closes at midnight on 29/02/2024.

Learn more about American Queen Voyages