By James Shillinglaw, Mar 29, 2022
American Queen Voyages just released a new video (see video above) providing a detailed narrative of the company’s 10-year history. Narrated by John Waggoner, American Queen Voyages’ founder and chairman, the video details the company’s early beginnings. And from Insider’s experience there is virtually no one who can better convey the excitement and enthusiasm for his cruise line than Waggoner.
American Queen Voyages began when the company began sailing the American Queen, the largest steamboat paddlewheeler ever built, and has grown into a seven-vessel fleet that will be sailing this spring, including the brand-new expedition ship Ocean Victory, which will explore Alaska. Along the way, Waggoner shares personal antidotes and memories, including riverboat christenings, the addition of Victory Cruise Lines and the rebranding 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.”
American Queen Voyages, formerly American Queen Steamboat Company, began as the owner and operator of the U.S.-flagged, American Queen, the largest riverboat in the world in 2011. Longer than a football field, six decks in height and laced with fanciful gingerbread trim, she is a marvel of modern engineering. In April 2014, American Queen Voyages began serving the Pacific Northwest with the American Empress and then added the American Duchess to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in August 2017.
In 2018, American Queen Voyages acquired Victory Cruise Lines, and later rebranded its two coastal boutique sister vessels to Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator operating in the Great Lakes, Southeast U.S.A. , Mexico and more. The newest and fourth boat to join the paddlewheel fleet was the American Countess, which made her debut in March 2021 and sails the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers. In May 2022, American Queen Voyages will begin offering expedition experiences in Alaska with Ocean Victory and Ocean Discoverer in 2023.
To celebrate the milestone, American Queen Voyages is continuing a 10th Anniversary savings offer, providing guests with an additional 10 percent 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 .
For more information on American Queen Voyages’ Anniversary Savings Offer and Spring Savings Event, sailing dates, and to book a reservation, call 833-598-0119 or visit www.AQVoyages.com.
