NEW ALBANY — In anticipation of unprecedented travel demand, sister brands American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) and Victory Cruise Lines have released their 2023 seasons earlier than ever before.

Itineraries for the 2023 season include the debut of Victory’s second expedition vessel, Ocean Discoverer, plus a comprehensive selection of storied journeys on America’s rivers, Great Lakes and Alaska. Plus, to entice clients to book future travel now, the lines are offering savings of up to US$1,200 per stateroom on 2023 itineraries when booked by April 30, 2021.

“Cruisers yearn to travel again, as evidenced by 2021 and 2022 inquiries and our webinar popularity with guests and travel partners,” said Kari Tarnowski, Senior Vice President of Marketing for American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines. “Opening up 2023 to satisfy that wanderlust had to be done.”

AMERICAN QUEEN STEAMBOAT COMPANY

American Queen, the world’s largest steamboat, will sail the Lower Mississippi route with 28 departures between Memphis and New Orleans. It will also sail a Thanksgiving itinerary from Memphis to New Orleans and three New Orleans roundtrips over the December holiday season.

American Countess, the newest addition to AQSC’s fleet, will sail a fall Mighty Mississippi voyage from St. Paul to New Orleans in September, and will also sail down 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 its season on March 23 with nine-day, one-way voyages between Portland (Vancouver, WA) and Spokane (Clarkston) through Nov. 26, 2023.

VICTORY CRUISE LINES

The Ocean Discoverer will make its debut with a repositioning voyage from Puerto Caldera to San Diego departing May 12, 2023, followed by a season of 11- and 12-day voyages between Sitka and Vancouver, or Sitka and Seattle.

Sailing its 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.

Travelling the coastal waters of the U.S., Canada and the Great Lakes, Victory I and Victory II will offer 11- and 16-day voyages to locales like Chicago’s Navy Pier, downtown Toronto, Detroit and Montreal, as well as lakeside gems such as Marquette, Mackinaw Island and Soo Locks/Sault Ste. Marie. The identical 202-guest vessels will also visit iconic Southern ports including Savannah, Charleston and Fernandina Beach, with Victory II trekking as far south as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for roundtrip sailings from Cozumel.

All cruises include a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay and hop-on-hop-off excursions at top-rated ports, organized by Shore Excursions of America, which was recently acquired by Hornblower Group.

Both 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, as well as a morning smoothie and juice bar. Both lines have also enhanced their culinary programs to feature USDA Prime Meats and fresh lobster. Other new amenities include handwarmers and cool cloths on the ship deck and signature culinary treats in guest cabins.

To view 2023 itineraries, call 1-833-598-0119 or go to www.aqsc.com.