The American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines has announced the launch of their 2023 itineraries, featuring the debut of Victory Cruise Lines? second expedition vessel, Ocean Discoverer, and a comprehensive schedule of cruises on the Mississippi and Colombia Rivers and the Great Lakes.
In the 2023 programme, the American Queen will sail the iconic Lower Mississippi route with 28 departures between Memphis and New Orleans, and three New Orleans roundtrips over the December holiday season.
American Countess, the newest edition to the American Queen Steamboat Company fleet, will sail an Autumn epic Mighty Mississippi voyage from St. Paul to New Orleans, in addition to cruises up and down Mississippi tributaries, the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, throughout the 2023 season.
The boutique paddlewheeler, American Duchess, will showcase the Ohio River with six sailings between Louisville and the line?s eastern most point of Pittsburgh. In the Pacific Northwest, American Empress will begin her season on March 23 and sail nine-day, one-way voyages between Portland (Vancouver, WA) and Spokane (Clarkston) through to November 26, 2023.
Victory Cruise Lines will debut the Ocean Discoverer with a repositioning voyage, from Puerto Caldera to San Diego, departing May 12, 2023, followed by a season of 11-day and 12-day adventures between Sitka and Vancouver, or Sitka and Seattle.
Sailing her third season in the fleet, Ocean Victory will operate between Vancouver and Sitka throughout the summer with repositioning sailings to bookend the season between Puerto Caldera and San Diego.
Victory I and Victory II will chart a course with 11-16 day voyages, embarking in iconic locales like Chicago?s Navy Pier, downtown Toronto, Detroit and Montreal; and discovering lakeside gems, including Marquette, Mackinaw Island and Soo Locks/Sault Ste. Marie. The identical 202-guest small ships will also visit iconic Southern ports including Savannah, Charleston and Fernandina Beach, and Victory II will trek as far south as Mexico?s Yucatan Peninsula for roundtrip sailings from Cozumel.
American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines have upgraded their onboard offerings and accommodations for the 2021 season. Guests can now enjoy complimentary beer, wine, spirits and specialty coffees from open bars and lounges throughout the ship at all times, as well as a smoothie and juice bar.
Both the cruiselines have also enhanced their onboard cuisine to feature USDA Prime Meats and fresh lobster, as well as a host of new amenities, such as handwarmers and cool cloths on the ship deck and signature culinary treats in guest cabins. The cruises include a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay and immersive, hop-on-hop-off excursions at top-rated ports.
