American Queen Steamboat Co. (AQSC) plans to introduce its new
ship, the American Countess, on the Mississippi on Aug. 23.
To celebrate the debut of the paddlewheeler, the fourth in
the company’s river fleet, AQSC started the American Countess Unsung Heroes
Contest that will award five free cruises to
individuals who have gone above and beyond to support their
communities during the pandemic. AQSC had originally planned to introduce the Countess in April, but Covid-19 has pushed back its debut.
Nominations are open through Aug. 24. Winners, to be selected by an internal
team including founder and CEO John Waggoner, will be announced Aug. 31.
“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,” Waggoner said. “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.”