About Us

“Let us cast off the bowlines and sail together into a deeper, more powerful and personal experience of the North American continent, history, and people. Are you ready?”
— John Waggoner
CEO and Founder
Over the course of the last ten years, American Queen Voyages™ has built quite the fleet up from a single riverboat on the Mississippi. Today we’ve opened up all North America to deeper discovery — including voyages throughout Canada, New England, and the Southeast and beyond — to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and Expedition voyages to Alaska’s Inside Passage.
At American Queen Voyages™ we are proud and honored to share our dream of cruising the mighty rivers, lakes, and oceans of North America with timeless luxury and standards far beyond any expectation.
Aboard our welcoming vessels you’ll discover a culture of gracious service, elegant decor, fascinating lectures and diversions, regionally inspired cuisine and a commitment to R&R done right. Offshore you’ll love the pre-cruise deluxe hotel stays and the excursions and experiences led by destination experts in every port of call.

We’re bound for the North America you can’t get to on the highway — places where tradition comes alive — and Discovery runs deep™

To the winding Mississippi of Mark Twain tall tales and derby day juleps. To the Sea Islands where the tales are told in geechee. To Tlingit villages and Mayan ruins where vaqueras dance the jarana by the light of the moon.
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recent
growth

2014

Spring of 2014 marked the expansion of our elegant and intimate style of travel to the Columbia and Snake in the Pacific Northwest. The soaring mountains, dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and frontier spirit of the fascinating West are the perfect complements to the cultural history, quiet towns and genteel character of our voyages on America’s heartland Rivers. Just as the American Queen embodies the heartland and legacy of Mark Twain, the American Empress was exclusively designed to celebrate the rich tradition of exploration in the West. rivers.

recent
growth

2017

Our continued success led to further expansion and we were overjoyed to announce a new lady of the river, the American Duchess. This exciting new addition to our vessel fleet began cruising the Mississippi River in June of 2017. She was the first, U.S. all-suite paddlewheel vessel with the largest accommodations in every cabin category level on the river. The innovative, 166-guest American Duchess followed in the pedigree of our line’s namesake, the American Queen, with itineraries on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Did we mention that she features luxurious, two-story Loft Suites? Another first on America’s rivers!

recent
growth

2018

American Queen Steamboat Company has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Victory I and Victory II cruise ships from Sunstone Ships, Inc., as well as the Victory Cruise Lines brand. These vessels are currently being marketed by Victory Cruise Lines as overnight cruise ships. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, and the deal is expected to close in early January 2019.

recent
growth

2020

Welcome aboard the newest paddlewheeler in our fleet, the American Countess, a graceful salute to gracious living and leisurely travel. You can join the American Countess during her premiere season to discover a completely modern approach to life on America’s legendary rivers. The newest gem in our riverboat fleet, American Countess welcomes 245 guests along the Tennessee, Ohio, Cumberland, and Mississippi rivers. Her sleek, contemporary design offers plenty of open space for gathering and sharing the fun, and you’ll love the great forward-facing windows and the portside bar with an 80-foot view.

recent
growth

2021

American Queen Steamboat Company® is now American Queen Voyages™, the new overarching brand merging American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines®. Offering a varied and comprehensive portfolio of North American itineraries, American Queen Voyages is comprised of American Queen Voyages River, American Queen Voyages Lakes & Ocean (welcoming the Victory Cruise Lines fleet) and American Queen Voyages Expedition, which includes new Alaska and Central America expedition experiences!

recent
growth

2022

Ocean Voyager embarks inaugural Mexico & Yucatán season followed by the first season sailing the Southeast U.S.A. Ocean Navigator departs Savannah April 2022, making her way to the Great Lakes. Ocean Victory will set sail for the Expedition season

What’s next

It’s been a wonderful ten years — but we are just getting started. We cannot wait to see what the next decade brings as American Queen Voyages™ continues to push boundaries past mainstream expectation and bring our guests ever more thrilling experiences of the entire North American continent — and the people who call these storied water towns home.

THE HORNBLOWER GROUP: BUSINESS UNITS

We are Hornblower Group, the global leader in world-class experiences and transportation. There are three divisions that make up Hornblower Group – American Queen Voyages ™, City Experiences ™, and Journey Beyond.

Hornblower Group’s heritage dates back nearly 100 years, with the establishment of Boston Harbor Cruises in 1926 in Massachusetts, United States. Hornblower Group subsequently began in 1980. Across its growing portfolio, the organization has a long-standing history of expertise and innovation, with a footprint that today spans 111 countries and territories, with iconic offerings including a range of water-based experiences, land-based experiences, overnight cruises, extended rail journeys, and ferry and transportation services.

 

American Queen Voyages™, operates the overnight  cruise division of Hornblower Group. Brands within this division include:

  • American Queen Voyages – River:  all-inclusive luxury cruising along the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Cumberland & Tennessee Rivers and Columbia & Snake Rivers
  • American Queen Voyages – Lakes & Oceans:  all-inclusive luxury cruising along the Great Lakes, Canada and New England, Southeast U.S., Alaska, and Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula
  • American Queen Voyages – Expedition:  all-inclusive luxury expedition experience in Alaska and Central America

 

City Experiences represents our portfolio of water and land-based experiences and includes sub-brands City Cruises and City Ferry.

City Experiences offers a range of experiences including Venture Ashore shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, multi-port packages, Walks sightseeing tours, and Devour Tours food tours.

 

Journey Beyond is Australia’s leading experiential travel group with 13 Australian brands, operating in 60 destinations Australia wide, connecting guests to the land, and to each other. Headquartered in Adelaide, Journey Beyond offers its guests with one-of-a-kind experience from its portfolio of offerings including trains, like the popular Ghan, planes, lodges in the Outback, Great Barrier Reef underwater accommodations, Melbourne Skydeck experience, and more. Journey Beyond provides unparalleled access to remote locations, helping achieve their mission of creating amazing experiences.

Learn More About Hornblower Group