Victory Cruise Lines, operated by American Queen Steamboat Company, has announced the addition of its fourth vessel, Ocean Discoverer.
Ocean Discoverer will be delivered in September 2022 and will join Ocean Victory in Alaska in 2023. It will make its debut with the 'Discover Beyond Alaska Expedition Adventure Cruise' itineraries, which are currently available for booking onboard Ocean Victory.
Ocean Discoverer was designed for in-depth destination access and exploration while promoting responsible and sustainable travel. Guests will enjoy immersive shore excursions led by expert marine biologists, scientists and naturalists throughout 12- to 13-day expedition voyages.
The 200-passenger ship will be identical to Ocean Victory and feature 93 suites, of which 68 will have balconies, nine French balconies and 16 panoramic windows. The vessel will carry a crew of 100 and boasts a two-to-one guest to crew ratio.
The ship features two restaurants, an open-deck dining area, observation and lectures lounges, piano bar, library, gym, spa, swimming pool with a pool bar and jacuzzi.
Its signature elements include a patented X-bow design which creates a smoother, more comfortable ride to lower noise and vibration levels and consequently seabed disturbance; Rolls Royce Zero Speed Stabilizers to reduce rolling and therefore make cruising more comfortable for guests; and Dynamic Positioning (aka ?virtual anchoring?) - a computer-controlled system that automatically maintains the vessel?s position utilising its own propellers and thrusters. Its small size and low draw allows docking in many of Alaska?s smaller ports not accessible to larger cruise ships.
The Ocean Discoverer will also utilise Victory Cruise Lines? partnership with the Department of Marine Biology at California Polytechnic State University to feature marine biologists, scientists and naturalists in the ship?s expedition team.
John Waggoner, founder and CEO of American Queen Steamboat Company, said: "We are pleased to welcome our second Alaska-bound expedition ship and expand our Victory Cruise Line experiences. Following the success of our inaugural season on the Great Lakes, Canadian Maritimes and coastal New England, we are excited to continue that momentum with the new Ocean Discoverer.?
Bookings for Ocean Victory's Alaska itineraries are currently available and can be made by contacting a travel agent.
For more information on Victory Cruise Lines, go to www.victorycruiselines.com.
Light Blue Travel represents Victory Cruise Lines in the UK for trade. www.lightbluetravel.co.uk/page/victory-cruises/
