FORT LAUDERDALE — American Queen Voyages is looking back on its 10-year history with a new video narrated by its founder and Chairman, John Waggoner.

The video showcases the company’s early beginnings as a one-vessel cruise line with the acquisition of the American Queen – the largest steamboat ever built – to the seven-vessel fleet setting sail this spring including the new expedition ship Ocean Victory, heading to Alaska.

Waggoner shares personal antidotes and memories in the video, including riverboat christenings, the addition of Victory Cruise Lines and the rebrand to American Queen Voyages.

“It is amazing to look back at how far American Queen Voyages has come in such a short amount of time, today employing hundreds and introducing thousands of guests to communities up and down the rivers and even expanding to the Great Lakes, Mexico and Alaska,” says Waggoner. “I enjoy telling our story to guests and crew whenever I am on the boats and am pleased to share this short video to everyone as we celebrate our 10th anniversary season.”

To celebrate, AQV’s 10th Anniversary Savings Offer gives guests an additional 10% off the already reduced Spring Savings Event pricing for select sailings booked by April 30, 2022. Sailing dates in 2022 eligible include Memphis to New Orleans on the American Queen, Memphis to St. Louis on the American Duchess, Chicago to Montréal on Ocean Navigator  and Vancouver to Sitka on Ocean Victory . The full list of eligible sailings is available here.

Here’s a look at notable highlights over AQV’s 10 year (and counting) history …

2011: American Queen Voyages, which rebranded from American Queen Steamboat Company last year, got its start as the owner and operator of the U.S.-flagged, American Queen, the largest riverboat in the world. Longer than a football field, towering six decks in height and laced with fanciful gingerbread trim, she is a marvel of modern engineering.

2014: American Queen Voyages began serving the Pacific Northwest with the American Empress

2017: Added the American Duchess to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers

2018: Acquires Victory Cruise Lines, and later rebrands its two coastal boutique sister vessels to Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator operating in the Great Lakes, Southeast U.S., Mexico and more

2021: American Countess joins the paddlewheel fleet. The ship sails the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers.

2022: This coming May, AQV will begin offering expedition experiences in Alaska with Ocean Victory (and Ocean Discoverer in 2023)