Big-ship cruising is still grounded in the U.S., but the travel industry took a big step forward this month with the restart of river cruising for the first time since the pandemic began. American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company both launched ships on the Mississippi with – hopefully – more to come. 

The big news last week was the launch of American Queen’s paddlewheeler, the American Countess, a debut that was nearly 12 months overdue. But even the ship’s christening in New Orleans wasn’t without a hitch: The CDC nearly forced the line to call off the launch over a dispute over the ship’s operating certificate (even though American Queen had committed to reduced capacity, the ship can technically carry more people than the maximum currently required by the CDC to sail).

In this episode, senior editor Jeri Clausing and American Queen CEO John Waggoner dialed in from the new American Countess, which operated its inaugural cruise from New Orleans to Memphis last week. Waggoner spoke with Clausing and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the new ship; how safety protocols for guests work onboard and on land; controversy around vaccine requirements for river cruise guests; and the excitement of getting back on the waters again.

Related reading:

Dispatch, American Countess: Taking protocols in stride https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-cruise-ship-naming-in-2021-with-masks-and-distancing 

American Countess’ debut cruise is back on after CDC dispute is resolved https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-sailing-is-back-on-after-CDC-dispute-is-resolved 

Domestic river cruise lines get rolling again today https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Domestic-river-cruise-lines-get-rolling-again-today 

American Queen and Victory cruise lines will require vaccinations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Victory-require-vaccinations 

American Queen Steamboat Company https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/

Big-ship cruising is still grounded in the U.S., but the travel industry took a big step forward this month with the restart of river cruising for the first time since the pandemic began. American Cruise Lines and American Queen Steamboat Company both launched ships on the Mississippi with &ndash; hopefully &ndash; more to come. The big news last week was the launch of American Queen&rsquo;s paddlewheeler, the American Countess, a debut that was nearly 12 months overdue. But even the ship&rsquo;s christening in New Orleans wasn&rsquo;t without a hitch: The CDC nearly forced the line to call off the launch over a dispute over the ship&rsquo;s operating certificate (even though American Queen had committed to reduced capacity, the ship can technically carry more people than the maximum currently required by the CDC to sail).
In this episode, senior editor Jeri Clausing and American Queen CEO John Waggoner dialed in from the new American Countess, which operated its inaugural cruise from New Orleans to Memphis last week. Waggoner spoke with Clausing and Folo host Rebecca Tobin about the new ship; how safety protocols for guests work onboard and on land; controversy around vaccine requirements for river cruise guests; and the excitement of getting back on the waters again.
Related reading:
Dispatch, American Countess: Taking protocols in stride <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-cruise-ship-naming-in-2021-with-masks-and-distancing">https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-cruise-ship-naming-in-2021-with-masks-and-distancing </a>
American Countess&rsquo; debut cruise is back on after CDC dispute is resolved <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-sailing-is-back-on-after-CDC-dispute-is-resolved">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Countess-sailing-is-back-on-after-CDC-dispute-is-resolved </a>
Domestic river cruise lines get rolling again today <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Domestic-river-cruise-lines-get-rolling-again-today">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Domestic-river-cruise-lines-get-rolling-again-today </a>
American Queen and Victory cruise lines will require vaccinations <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Victory-require-vaccinations">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/American-Queen-Victory-require-vaccinations </a>
American Queen Steamboat Company https://www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com/

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.