CHOOSE YOUR OFFER, DISCOVER THE VALUE

[HostDave]

Unfortunately, we live in a world where the value of something we buy is not always reflected in the price. If we go to the grocery store, we expect double coupons and Buy One Get One Free offers. If we head to the car dealer, we know we don’t plan on paying the price on the window sticker and instead immediately begin negotiating for something lower, even if the manufacturer has a rebate program in place. If we select clothes off the rack, we know that somewhere in the store there is a clearance rack with the best deals, even if they’re on clothes that clearly didn’t sell for a reason. In a restaurant, we go at a time when we can get an early bird special or we bring along a coupon that promises a certain amount off our total bill or offers us another entrée “of equal or lesser value” either for free or half price. It seems that about the only places we don’t expect to receive some sort of discount is at the gas pump or the doctor’s office, probably the two places we most deserve a break on price and the two places that the value of what we receive is not always reflected in the inflated prices.

Even when it comes time to plan our vacations, we have come to expect that there will be special offers to be found. At the American Queen Steamboat Company, we regret to say that it can be hard at times to recognize the true value of a vacation with us when there is a sea of loud and bright offers in the travel industry. Hotels, airlines and most cruise lines have embraced special offers as a way to sell a vacation and the traveling public has come to expect these deals as part of their vacation shopping experience.

We have always emphasized the incredible value of a riverboat cruise with the American Queen Steamboat Company, a host of value-added amenities and perks that you certainly don’t find when you walk into a grocery store or a restaurant. Every voyage with us, whether on the grand American Queen or the elegant American Empress, includes a complimentary one-night pre-cruise deluxe hotel stay in your embarkation city, complimentary shore excursions in every port of call, complimentary wine and beer with dinner and complimentary cappuccino, espresso, bottled water and soft drinks throughout your voyage. You simply don’t find that on most cruise lines. You do on one of our river cruises, however.

But as wonderful an experience as a vacation driven by a big red paddlewheel can be, we understand that that the pricing environment today for all consumer goods has led to an expectation that there are special offers on river cruises as well. Just as we have gone that extra mile ashore with our own dedicated fleet of motor coaches and onboard with daily lectures by our onboard history and culture expert, the Riverlorian, as well as acclaimed entertainment and gracious service from a friendly all-American staff, we have done the same by crafting a number of special offers this year that will help you find the perfect cruise for you. Our offers are not what give our cruises value, they are part of a bigger picture that makes a voyage with the American Queen Steamboat Company the best travel value today.

This summer, we are offering the opportunity to save 50% on select July, August and September* cruises on the American Queen on the Mississippi River and Ohio River which include voyages with themes such as 4th of July Celebration, Baseball Legends, and Bourbon & Bluegrass.* On four special July and August cruises themed around the Good Old Summertime, the Music of the 50s or the Music of the 60s, we’re offering the chance to save $2,000 per stateroom.** Both of these offers expire July 31, 2014.

On our newest Pacific Northwest voyages on the recently-added American Empress, you can also save 50% on three August cruises on the Columbia River and Snake River between Vancouver, WA (across from Portland, OR) to Clarkston, WA.*** Much like our American Queen offers, we urge you to book early because people understand the tremendous value of an American Queen Steamboat Company cruise and coupled with these special offers, the voyages are filling quickly. This offer expires on July 31, 2014 and time is clearly running out.

With special offers such as these, there’s no guarantee that similar offers will be found for 2015 cruises. However, in celebration of the recent release of our new 2015 brochure (to view online or order your own copy, just click here), you can save $600 per stateroom on many our newest cruises of 7 day or longer if you book early and pay in full by September 19, 2014.**** 2015 cruises include the American Empress’ 9-day Pacific Northwest cruises as well as the American Queen’s adventures on the Lower Mississippi, Upper Mississippi and the Ohio and Tennessee rivers.

The holidays are one of people’s favorite times to travel and we’ve accommodated that demand with savings of up to 50%***** on some of the American Queen’s 2014 Thanksgiving Festival, Old-Fashioned Holidays and New Year’s Celebration cruises in November and December and on six stunning fall Pacific Northwest cruises of the American Empress in October. On seven other American Queen 2014 departures in October, November and December, you can save $800 per stateroom.******

* Offer valid on U.S. and Canada resident bookings only. Offer expires July 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Offer of 50% savings applies to regular cruise fare only and is only valid on these 2014 American Queen voyage dates: 7/03, 8/01, 8/22, 8/29 and 9/05. **Offer expires July 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Save $2,000 per stateroom ($1,000 pp) on these 2014 American Queen voyage dates: 7/08, 7/15, 8/08 and 8/15. This offer is not valid on American Queen cabin categories G, H and I. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem these offers-space cannot be held. Offers are based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Offers are not valid on group bookings or existing reservations and cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.

*** Offer valid on U.S. and Canada resident bookings only. Offer expires July 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Offer of 50% savings applies to regular cruise fare only, regardless of cabin category, and is only valid on these 2014 American Empress voyage dates: 8/16, 8/23 and 8/30. Space cannot be held – full payment is required at time of booking to redeem this offer. This offer is based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Offer is not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations and cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.

****Offer expires September 19, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations; cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Save $600 per stateroom ($300 pp) on any 2015 American Empress voyage. Save $600 per stateroom ($300 pp) on any 2015 American Queen 7-day or longer voyage during the following 2015 months: February, March, June, July, August, November and December. Promotional fares and amenities are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, land transportation or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.

***** Offer valid on U.S. and Canada resident bookings only. Offer of 50% savings applies to regular cruise fare only and is only valid on these 2014 American Queen voyage dates: 11/21, 11/28, 12/19, 12/26; and on these 2014 American Empress voyage dates: 10/04, 10/11, 10/18 and 10/25. ******Save $800 is per stateroom ($400 per person) on the following 2014 American Queen voyages: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/14, 12/05 and 12/12. Offers expire December 23, 2014 and are valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations; cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Offers are based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Promotional fares are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, land transportation or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.