Bankruptcy sinks cruise line stops in TD; locals intend to patch hole in tourism
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., February 27, 2024 – The Dalles City Manager Matthew Klebes told City Council on Monday, Feb. 26, that American Queen Voyages, operators of the 233 passenger American Queen tour boat that docks in The Dalles, has gone bankrupt and cancelled its 20 plus stops in the city this season.
That’s a hit for museums and shops in The Dalles who rely, in part, on tourism to add to their bottom line. In 2022, it was estimated that some 23,000 boat passengers came ashore and spent $700,000 in the local area.
The loss of the American Queen could dent that figure by as much as 13 percent or $110,000, based on an estimate from CCCNews staff.
Klebes pointed out that American Cruise Lines - a different Company than American Queen Voyages (ACV) docks the lion’s share of tour boats in The Dalles. And it will continue to operate this season.
It could even pick up passengers stranded by the bankrupt company. American Cruise Lines leases the Union Street dock in The Dalles for $65,000 annually and pays city water utilities.
The Dalles saw some 120 dockings last year, Klebes pointed out, which brings tourism dollars to the downtown and local points of interest including the Discovery Center, The National Neon Sign Museum and Fort Dalles Museum.
So what is the impact on tourism?
One can only estimate the loss as hard figures have never been gathered.
So here’s the story problem: The American Queen, if running at 80 percent of its 233 passenger capacity and stopped in The Dalles 20 times over a season, that would put some 3,728 people on local streets. If each spent $30, that amounts to $110,840. That’s the approximate amount that could be lost this season.
However, Klebes pointed out that other tour boats may increase their dockings countering part of the tourism loss. In addition, The Dalles Mainstreet and The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce are working to increase tour bus operations with American Cruise Lines, which would increase tourism traffic from existing dockings.
On an upnote, Klebes said American Cruise Lines intends to build and add five more cruise ships to its line. The ships will be used on both the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers as demand for river tours is increasing.
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