'Unsung Heroes Contest' Launched

(PRESS RELEASE)_NEW ALBANY, Ind., July 30, 2020 – American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC), a Hornblower® Family Company, is excited to announce the American Countess Unsung Heroes Contest to recognize the individuals who are going above and beyond to support their communities in response to COVID-19. In anticipation of the American Countess inaugural sailing on August 23, 2020, the Unsung Heroes Contest will award five individuals with a complimentary cruise of their choice aboard any American Countess sailing on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers this September – December 2020.​. The contest follows the recent announcement of AQSC’s partnership with Ochsner Health and the cruise line’s enhanced Safety and Health Protocols, which are ready to be implemented when AQSC resumes operations this summer.
 
“At American Queen Steamboat Company, we live by the motto Storied Rivers. Deeply Moving™, and today, we are deeply moved by the stories of the unsung heroes who are tirelessly working to support and protect their communities in the face of COVID-19,” shares John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company. “With our new health and safety measures in place, we look forward to welcoming these local heroes on board as we set sail once again.”
 
Nominations can be submitted through the contest’s dedicated landing page. Submissions are encouraged to include individuals from a range of backgrounds, from nurses, teachers, first responders and neighbors to travel agents bringing positivity to their communities. Nominations are open now through August 24, 2020, with the winners selected by an internal team comprised of AQSC leadership, including John Waggoner. The five winners will be announced on August 31, 2020, in which they will receive a complimentary cruise for themselves and one guest on board a September-December 2020 American Countess sailing. Note, eligible cruise itineraries are subject to blackout dates due to availability.
 
To ensure the safety and comfort of both guests and crew, AQSC is staying current with guidance, mandates and public health advancements communicated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), United State Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), United State Coast Guard (USGC), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the municipalities each vessel visits. New steps being implemented across the entire AQSC fleet include pre-cruise screening, crew screening, updated boarding processes, reduced passenger capacities, increased sanitation measures and enhanced technologies to ensure the safety of all on board. Technology highlights include Ochsner Health’s Virtual Employer Clinic, which allows team members and guests, if necessary, to virtually talk to an Ochsner healthcare professional without ever disembarking, as well as MXP Protect, which enables AQSC to implement controlled processes across critical areas of operation with thermal scanning.
 
For additional information and reservations, please contact American Queen Steamboat Company at 888-749-5289, visit www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com or call a professional travel agent.
 
For more information on the new Safety and Health protocols, please visit: https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/health-and-safety-protocols/.

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