With its acquisition of Victory Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company is becoming a truly continentwide riverboat company.

There are no plans to rebrand Victory I and Victory II, because they are well known in the market and are different from ships in the American Queen fleet, which are U.S.-flagged paddlewheel vessels, said John Waggoner, the company’s chairman and CEO. He added that the 202-passenger Victory vessels will be upgraded to meet the standards of its sisters.

Cruising the Great Lakes

The Victory ships sail on the Great Lakes with frequent excursions between Toronto and Chicago; and between Detroit and Montreal. Plans are underway to schedule East Coast sailings to Florida and the Yucatan. Options being considered include Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Campeche.

This year, the vessels will sail on all five Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes. Departures for 10-day cruises on Victory I will begin in May, operating between Toronto and Chicago with calls at Niagara Falls, Cleveland, Detroit and Michigan’s Mackinac Island. The ship also features one sailing in the spring and another in the fall between Portland, Maine, and Toronto.

Excursions for Victory II’s itineraries between Montreal and Detroit showcase the French-Canadian countryside as well as the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The vessel cruises the Thousand Islands corridor, and calls at Quebec City; Kingston, Ontario; Toronto; Cleveland; and Detroit.

Immersive Shore Excursions

The Victory ships are purpose-designed for coastal cruising and explore North America’s maritime history throughout the Great Lakes and southern Canadian coast. “Our goal with Victory Cruise Lines is to deliver a small-ship experience with the same authenticity and passion for service that exists with our luxurious riverboat fleet,” Waggoner said.

The Victory ships have a 19th-century feel comparable to that on the American Queen vessels, Waggoner said. They will also feature a similar “edutainment” concept.

The company has no plans to reach out to a younger demographic, because its target – singles and couples 55 and over who are river cruisers already—is so large, he said. However, more “adventure” options like cycling and fishing are being added to Pacific Northwest sailings, he noted.

American Queen Enhancements

Annual improvements are being completed to the three American Queen vessels. American Queen, which sails on the Mississippi, is having three cabins on Deck Three converted to window suites, adding 50 square feet per room and a large picture window overlooking the paddlewheel.

American Duchess, which sails in the Pacific Northwest, is undergoing a facelift to its Owners Suites to include luxury wall coverings, additional art and modified dining spaces; and American Empress, which sails on the Mississippi River, will receive new wet bars and closets to its Owners Suites.

Hydration stations are being installed throughout the vessels, eliminating all single-use plastic aboard. Guests will receive stainless water bottles for their use throughout the cruise.