The identical 202-guest M/V Victory I and M/V Victory II will cruise on all five Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritimes.

At an intimate dinner held at Pellicano restaurant in London’s Chelsea, AGSC announced to press that its new elegant small ships, acquired at the beginning of this year, will set sail in May on its 2020 itinerary to the Great Lakes and Canadian Maritimes, following extensive updates and refurbishment in dry dock.

M/V Victory I will sail from Chicago to Toronto, with ports of call including Port Colborne, Niagra Falls, Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Manitoulin Island (Ontario, Canada), and Mackinaw Island. Almost all of the sailings are 11 days, but there will be an option to do a 9-day cruise for those who can only do a shorter length.

Meanwhile, M/V Victory II will mainly feature 9-day cruises sailing between Port Colborne (Niagara Falls) and Chicago, Illinois, calling at Muskegon, Green Bay, Mackinaw Island, Detroit and Cleveland along the way.

The small ships have been purposefully designed for coastal cruising, able to navigate inland lakes and hidden harbours, discovering more remote ports of call. The cruise itineraries will cast a spotlight on less visited cities in the US, such as Detroit and Cleveland, thereby highlighting the rich history and culture of the Great Lakes region.

Stopping overnight at Detroit, passengers can spend the day enjoying sites such as Hicksville, where Motown famously originated, and the Henry Ford Museum. Spanning 12 acres in size, the museum is not just cars and vehicles, but also trains and airplanes which Ford collected over the years. Here you will also find US presidents’ car on display, from JFK to Ronald Reagan.

In Cleveland, passengers will be taken on a tour of the city on board the famous ‘Lolly the Trolley’ sightseeing bus, visiting the arts and culture district where the Cleveland orchestra is based, the 107-year-old West Side Market (one of the oldest and largest year-round public markets in the States) and the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

As well as enjoying inclusive shore excursions in each port of call, guests will enjoy the relaxed and elegant atmosphere on board the vessels, with multi-course fine dining with specialty and casual options, as well as evening entertainment. WiFi is included in all public areas.

Along with the new Victory itineraries, next year marks a significant moment for AQSC as the company will be doubling its fleet, going from three to six vessels. The three existing AQSC riverboats, encompassing American Queen, American Empress and American Duchess, along with identical smaller ships Victory I and Victory II, will be joined by American Countess, which launches on the Mississippi in July 2020.

For more information visit americanqueensteamboatcompany.com.