American Queen Voyages has announced its 2024 itineraries, with river, lakes and ocean, and expedition cruises unveiled for its eight-vessel fleet.
The river cruise line will begin the 2024 season with a Lower Mississippi route between New Orleans and Memphis aboard the paddlewheelers the American Duchess, American Countess and the American Queen, which will guide guests through the cities and port towns of the American South. The ships will also traverse through the Ohio and Cumberland rivers with cultural experiences and excursions for guests. In addition, the cruise line said its "Mighty Mississippi" itineraries would return for 2024.
For its Lakes and Ocean offerings, American Queen Voyages will sail "encounter-driven itineraries" along the coast of the U.S., Canada and the Great Lakes, beginning with itineraries to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula to visit Chichén Itzá's ruins and El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulkan with shore excursions led by bilingual guides explaining Mexico’s history.
The cruise line will also hold "urban explorations" between Niagara Falls and Chicago and provide a late spring/early summer voyage between Canada and New England with stops in the northeastern port cities such as Martha’s Vineyard, Bar Harbor and Newport.
In addition, the 2024 season will mark American Queen Voyages Expedition’s third season in the market. In 2024, the Expedition line will also have its second season with two vessels operating in Alaska: the Ocean Victory and Ocean Discoverer. The newly built 186-passenger vessels, created for "intimate access with an innovative X-Bow design," will sail through the "less-traveled" regions of Alaska’s Inside Passage with an expedition team onboard.
The unveiling of the 2024 itineraries follows American Queen Voyages’ achievement of “several milestones” in 2021, the cruise line said. These include the merging of American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines to rebrand as American Queen Voyages, the American Countess’ christening and inaugural season, the company’s 10th anniversary, and the opening of the new Fort Lauderdale office, among others.
“Following a momentous year for the company, we are eager to introduce a full season of itineraries under the new American Queen Voyages name, establishing our River, Lakes & Ocean and Expedition offerings to cruisers as they plan out their future travels,” said Shawn Bierdz, the chief operating officer for American Queen Voyages.
For more information, visit American Queen Voyages' web site.
