Photo Courtesy: American Queen Voyage. TravelPulse.
Hornblower Group, the company overseeing American Queen Voyages, which announced a halt to all cruises and operations on February 20, 2024, has been acquired by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (SVP).
Under the agreement, Crestview Partners will retain a minority stake in the group and assume full ownership of Journey Beyond in Australia. The deal also includes an injection of $121 million in new financing, reducing Hornblower’s total debt by approximately $720 million.
American Queen Voyages will either be sold or phased out if no buyer is found. Hornblower cited the lingering impact of the pandemic as the reason behind the American river cruise line's inability to recover. As part of its restructuring efforts, Hornblower has initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which it anticipates completing within four months.
All other services apart from the river cruise line will continue operating as usual. The extent to which the cruise line will operate in the future remains uncertain, but affected guests can seek refunds through a dedicated website.
Guests impacted by the suspension of American Queen Voyages cruises are encouraged to visit the line’s dedicated refund website to initiate the refund process by submitting a claim form. Alternatively, they can call toll-free at (888) 202-5784. For callers outside the U.S. or Canada, the number is (747) 288-6437.
Kevin Rabbitt, CEO of Hornblower Group, expressed confidence that the measures taken will enable the company to address challenges and enhance its financial stability while continuing to serve guests worldwide. Rabbitt also extended appreciation to the entire Hornblower team, as well as vendors and partners, for their ongoing support and dedication.
