The line, which operated a fleet of traditional US paddlewheel steamboats, paid tribute to its team, crew and partners in a statement.

It comes after the line, which specialised in cruises on the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers, cancelled a number of sailings scheduled for the remainder of the month.

Staff were informed via an internal memo on Tuesday (20 February) according to reports in the US cruise trade media. “American Queen Voyages has made the difficult decision to shut down,” read the line’s statement.

UPDATE: AQV’s UK rep moves to reassure agents

“Despite great efforts by our team, crew and partners, American Queen Voyages (AQV) unfortunately has been unable to rebound from the effects of the pandemic.

“The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by changes in travel preferences and, as a result, AQV has become financially unsustainable. We are therefore shutting down the business, and all future AQV cruises have been cancelled.”

AQV’s UK representative, Light Blue Travel, confirmed to TTG agents with clients holding bookings with the line would be contacted shortly, adding clients would be offered the option of an alternative voyage or a full refund.

Two websites have been set up to assist customers and agents affected by the failure – aqvinfo.com and aqvrefunds.com – detailing the process, which states customers “should expect to be fully refunded for your cruise deposits”.

AQV’s UK and Europe representative is AQGSA, administered by general sales agent Light Blue Travel, which last month released a new trade preview brochure featuring the line’s 2025 voyages.

The line’s statement continued: “We are deeply proud of our crew and the outstanding travel experiences and service we have provided to our guests.

“As we reflect on the journey we have shared over the years, we are filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving our guests, partners and agents and for being part of our incredible local communities.

“It has been an honour to bring joy to so many lives, and we are deeply touched by the relationships we have formed and the memorable experiences we have created.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this decision causes. Our goal is to ensure a smooth process for all AQV stakeholders.”