SHOPPING FACTS VS. REALITY

[HostDave]

How many of you are avid shoppers? If you are, you’re probably often found waiting in line on Black Friday for the doors to open on your favorite big box retailers. The day after Thanksgiving is famous (or notorious, depending on how you view such things) for drawing enormous crowds seeking big bargains to launch the busiest and most frenetic span of consumer spending of the year. Through printed ads and the Internet, do you research what upcoming bargains are going to be offered and then plan your strategy accordingly? These days, many stores are opening their doors on Thanksgiving evening so consumers can get a jump of the Black Friday crowds. Of course in so doing, they’ve created a new rush of crowds all on their own. In fact, post-Thanksgiving shopping has become a tradition in many households.

If you have your shopping plan in place long before the doors open, you might consider yourself a savvy shopper. But how savvy are you? It turns out that holiday shopping experts have a bit of additional advice that might turn your plan on its ear. Experts suggest that you think ahead. Much farther ahead. It turns out, the very best shopping deals are usually offered immediately after the holidays have ended and stores are looking to unload the merchandise they weren’t able to sell during the holidays. And they’re usually willing to do so at deep discounts.

However, not all things you can buy are created equal. If you don’t buy that video game for your children or grandchildren before the holidays, you can probably get it at a much lower price right after. While the store would like to sell all those video games before the holidays, it can still sell them after, although perhaps with a lower profit margin. The same strategy doesn’t apply when it comes to travel or river cruises.

A voyage on the grand American Queen is a perishable commodity; if you don’t reserve a stateroom on a holiday cruise, once the riverboat has sailed, the product is no longer available. More importantly, most shoppers make impulsive decisions to buy merchandise from a store without more than a few days of lead time. For example, have you planned out exactly what you are going to get all your friends and family members for the holidays? Probably not. But shoppers don’t make impulsive decisions about their vacations. Vacations take planning.

That’s why some of the very best offers on our 2013 holiday voyages are available right now. We can’t afford to wait until the last minute to offer you a great value on an American Queen cruise over Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s because most people can’t make plans to travel on such short notice. And we certainly can’t offer deals like those found on video games after the holidays because the cruises have already sailed.

Our very best offers are available right now. If you reserve the stateroom or suite of your choice by December 21, 2013 on one of the following cruises, you can save up to $1,850 per stateroom.*

Since the holidays are a time when friends and family gather, we’re making it easier than ever to spend this special time of year with the American Queen Steamboat Company by giving you the chance to book two staterooms and receive a third for free if you make your reservations before December 21, 2013 on all cruises shown below except the November 29, 2013 voyage.**

We encourage you to start a new tradition this year and sail aboard the American Queen for the holidays. She’s decked out in all her Victorian finery with trees, garlands, ornaments and lights around every turn. In the J.M. White Dining Room, Southern favorites ranging from perfectly-roasted turkey to Cajun stuffing await. Show the world you’re a savvy shopper and spend the holidays with us!

THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL

Roundtrip New Orleans
November 22-30, 2013 | 9 Days
New Orleans, LA * Oak Alley, LA * St. Francisville, LA * Natchez, MS
Vicksburg, MS * Baton Rouge, LA * Houmas House, LA
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom* or Book 2 staterooms and Get the 3rd FREE**

ELVIS HOLIDAY TRIBUTE

New Orleans to Memphis
November 29 - December 7, 2013 | 9 Days
New Orleans, LA * Oak Alley, LA * St. Francisville, LA * Natchez, MS
Vicksburg, MS * Memphis, TN
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom*

OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAYS

Memphis to New Orleans
December 6-14, 2013 | 9 Days
Memphis, TN * Helena, AR * Vicksburg, MS * Natchez, MS * St. Francisville, LA
Baton Rouge, LA * Houmas House, LA * New Orleans, LA
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom* or Book 2 staterooms and Get the 3rd FREE**

Roundtrip New Orleans
December 13-21, 2013 | 9 Days
New Orleans, LA*Oak Alley, LA * St. Francisville, LA * Natchez, MS * Vicksburg, MS
Baton Rouge, LA * Houmas House, LA
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom* or Book 2 staterooms and Get the 3rd FREE**

New Orleans to Memphis
December 20-28, 2013 | 9 Days
New Orleans, LA * Oak Alley, LA * St. Francisville, LA * Natchez, MS
Vicksburg, MS * Helena, AR * Memphis, TN
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom* or Book 2 staterooms and Get the 3rd FREE**

NEW YEARS EVE

Memphis to New Orleans
December 27, 2013 - January 4, 2014| 9 Days
Memphis, TN * Helena, AR * Vicksburg, MS * Natchez, MS * St. Francisville, LA
Baton Rouge, LA * Houmas House, LA * New Orleans
Save up to $1,850 per stateroom* or Book 2 staterooms and Get the 3rd FREE**

Don’t forget to visit the American Queen Steamboat Company Facebook Page for the latest news, photos and lively discussions about the American Queen, Mississippi River cruising and our ports of call. Check out our Twitter page, and follow @CruiseAQSC.

*Offer expires December 21, 2013 and is valid on new bookings only. Not valid on groups and may not be combined with other offers. Savings of 15% is valid on these 2013 voyage dates: 11/22, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27. Offer applies only to the price of the cruise; not valid on taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare.

**Offer expires December 21, 2013 and is valid on new bookings only. Not valid on groups and may not be combined with other offers. Complimentary stateroom category will be equal to the lowest stateroom category booked for each reservation and will be assigned upon final payment. Only cabin categories of B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I are available for this offer and only on these 2013 voyage dates: 11/22, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27. Offer does not apply to the 11/29 voyage. Offer applies only to the price of the cruise; not valid on taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare.

Port Charges of $109 per person are additional and not included in the fare. Promotional fares and amenities are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and category of accommodations and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include air or land transportation. Additional terms and conditions may apply. The American Queen is owned and operated by the American Queen Steamboat Company; is regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard; is U.S.-flagged; and employs American officers, crew and staff.