Terms and Conditions:
The transportation of guests and baggage on board the vessels of American Queen Steamboat Company® is governed by these Terms and Conditions and the Passenger Ticket Contract, which will be sent to you approximately four (4) weeks prior to your vacation. Your payment of deposit or full fare constitutes agreement to the terms and conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract, whose provisions shall prevail, which includes limitations and exonerations of the liabilities and obligations of Carrier. You should read and understand these terms and conditions carefully before making a deposit. The American Queen,® American Empress,® American Duchess™ and American Countess™ are operated by American Queen Steamboat Company, are regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard, are American- flagged and employ American officers, crew and staff.
DEFINITIONS
The terms “you” and “Guests” refer to any and all person(s) named on the front of the Confirmation, and include all children or others under the care or control of the named person(s). The term “Carrier” includes American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC, its parent and affiliated entities, the vessels, the owners, charterers, operators, agents and masters and crews thereof, any substituted or connecting ship, the owners, charterers and operators and all launches belonging to any such vessel or owned or operated by the owners, charterers or operators. The term “Fare” includes voyage fare as well as all hotel, land package(s) and shore excursions purchased from Carrier.
FARES ARE IN U.S. DOLLARS, ARE PER GUEST, ARE BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY AND DO NOT INCLUDE AIR OR LAND TRANSPORTATION. Fares for SI, SO and SD Categories are based on single occupancy. Port charges of $119 to $599 per guest are additional and not included in the fare. All fares, itineraries, themes, entertainment, shore excursions and other voyage attributes are subject to change without notice, and we reserve the right to not honor any published prices that we determine were erroneous due to printing, electronic or clerical error.
DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT
For confirmation of individual reservations, a deposit of $500 per person is due within three days of your initial reservation for non-promotional fares on voyages nine (9) days or fewer. A deposit of $1,000 per person is due within three days of your initial reservation for non-promotional fares on voyages greater than nine (9) days. The balance of the voyage fare is due one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to sail date, and all reservations not fully paid at such time will be canceled and subject to the cancellation provisions set forth in the cancellation policy below. Carrier accepts the following forms of payment: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diner’s Club, American Express and check. Reservations made one hundred twenty-one (121) days or fewer prior to the sail date will require payment in full at the time of booking.
CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICY
Guests who must cancel or change their voyage or any part of their vacation package for any reason, including medical or family reasons, are subject to the fees as outlined below. All fares are based on double occupancy; on reservations in which one guest cancels, the remaining guest is responsible for paying any and all single supplements. Please see the Travel Protection Information section for details on cancellation protection. Carrier reserves the right to cancel all reservations for which final payment is not received one hundred twenty-one (121) days prior to the sail date. All cancellations or changes are subject to a $250-per-person administrative fee per cruise and/or per segment if a multiple- cruise booking.
Days Prior to Departure Per Person Fees
121 days or more…………………..$250-per-person administrative
120-91 days…………………………. 25% of gross fare
90-61 days…………………………… 50% of gross fare
60-31 days…………………………… 75% of gross fare
30-0 days………………………….. 100% of gross fare
Travel Protection premiums are non-refundable after a 10-day review period provided you have not departed on your trip or filed a claim. Carrier is not obligated to refund any portion of the fare or other payments for guests who must leave the voyage prematurely for medical or other reasons.
INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE
NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR FARE
HOTEL STAYS AND CANCELLATIONS
One included pre-voyage hotel night is provided as part of the voyage fare on all American Queen, American Empress and American Duchess voyages. Additional pre-voyage hotel nights may be purchased for an additional charge. Post-voyage hotel nights are not included in the voyage fare and may be purchased for an additional charge. A maximum of three pre-voyage and three post-voyage hotel nights are allowed for any booking. In lieu of an included pre-voyage hotel night on any voyage, a $50-per-person onboard credit is available upon request and dependent upon voyage date. On a back-to-back voyage, one included hotel night plus a $50-per-person onboard credit will be granted in lieu of taking a second included hotel night. Additional room night availability is based on the Carrier standard annual rate and is not guaranteed. The Carrier pre-voyage hotel may offer a direct promotional rate throughout the year that is lower than the Carrier standard annual rate. Guests are required to present a credit card upon hotel check-in to cover their incidental charges. The American Countess does not include a pre-voyage hotel night, nor may pre- or post-voyage hotel nights be purchased through American Queen Steamboat Company. Guests who must cancel their purchased hotel nights and/or City Stay packages for any reason whatsoever are subject to the fees as outlined below.
Days Prior to Departure Fees
120-91 days…………………. ………………25% of gross hotel fare
90-61 days…………………………………….50% of gross hotel fare
60-31 days…………………………………….75% of gross hotel fare
30-0 days……………………………………..100% of gross hotel fare
ADVANCE TRAVEL INFORMATION
U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. traveling exclusively inside U.S. borders do not need a passport or visa for travel. Homeland Security laws require that all guests travel with government-issued photo identification (ID) (such as a driver’s license) at all times. ID must be presented at the time of vessel check in. Guests without proper ID will be denied boarding. Carrier is required to provide all guests’ ID information including ID number, expiration date and place of issue to the Coast Guard and/or other government entities prior to the vessel’s departure. Guests must provide this information to Carrier in advance. Travel documents will not be released until received. Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada entering the U.S. are required to bring their passport. For other nationalities, passports are required to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to check with your local U.S. embassy/consulate to confirm visa requirements and to obtain the proper visa.
DOCUMENTATION
Final travel documents, including itinerary and vouchers (if applicable) will be sent approximately four (4) weeks prior to departure. Reservation must be paid in full and a Guest Information Form must be received before documents will be sent.
HEALTH AND DISABILITY REQUIREMENTS
Guests must notify Carrier in writing at the time of booking of any physical or mental illness, disability or other conditions for which special accommodations or the use of a wheelchair is necessary or contemplated. Also, we must be notified of any medical treatment that may render the Guest unfit for travel or constitute a risk or danger to the Guest or anyone else on board. The vessels do not carry a medical doctor on board. Acute medical conditions will require you to disembark to be attended to by shoreside emergency and/or medical response, and you are advised that, due to the nature of travel by water, emergency medical evacuation may be delayed or impossible. Guests needing any form of assistance and those who are physically disabled must be accompanied by someone who will take full responsibility for any needed assistance during the cruise and in the event of an emergency. Carrier reserves the right to refuse passage to anyone who, in our sole opinion, may affect the health, safety or enjoyment of other guests. Guests requiring a wheelchair must provide their own collapsible wheelchair. Please be aware that some ports of call, shore excursions, docks, gangways and other requirements may preclude a wheelchair guest from leaving the vessel; this decision will be made by the master of the vessel, and is binding. Also, there may be certain physical conditions, including raised doorway thresholds from 2 to 16 inches, stairways and narrow passageways within the vessel that may limit or preclude the accessibility of wheelchair guests to some areas. Carrier recommends that Guest purchase travel protection, either the plan we offer or a plan from your travel agent. With travel protection, you can relax and enjoy your trip with some peace of mind.
ONBOARD CREDIT
Can be used toward onboard purchases not covered in the cruise fare. Onboard credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, has no cash value and may not be used to pay gratuities. Any unused portion of an onboard credit is forfeited at the end of the voyage.
GRATUITIES
Gratuities will be automatically charged to your onboard account at a rate of $19.50 per guest per cruise night (included in the cruise fare on all American Duchess voyages).
Terms and conditions are subject to change without notice, and we are not responsible for errors or omissions therein. ©2020 American Queen Steamboat Operating Company, LLC 020720