American Queen Steamboat Company has acquired the Victory I and sister ship Victory II from Sunstone Ships and the Victory Cruise Lines brand.

Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, although the deal is expected to close in early January 2019.

American Queen Steamboat Company chairman and CEO John Waggoner said: “We are pleased to purchase the Victory I and Victory II, which will fuel the continued success and growth of American Queen Steamboat Company.

“We look forward to working closely with Victory’s new and existing travel partners. These vessels enable us to provide guests with more diverse cruising options particularly in the Great Lakes, a region that our customers have been requesting for years.”

The Victory I and Victory II will join the American Queen Steamboat Company fleet under the Victory Cruise name, alongside the flagship American Queen and 166-guest boutique paddlewheeler American Duchess sailing the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and American Empress.

The new American Countess, which is currently under construction in Louisiana, will debut in 2020.

Details of upcoming operations onVictory I and Victory II will be announced in the coming months.

Victory Cruise Lines president and CEO Hans Lagerweij added: “Victory Cruise Lines has established itself as the leading cruise line on the Great Lakes, and our bookings for 2019 are already 35 per cent ahead of our actuals of 2018.”