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Victory Cruise Lines will send new expedition ship to Alaska

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The 200-passenger Ocean Victory will first operate on charter to Victory Cruise Lines in (northern) summer 2021 RENDERING: SunStone Ships
Another expedition ship is on the horizon for Alaska as the new owner of Victory Cruise Lines plans to deploy its chartered newbuild Ocean Victory there.

Chairman and CEO John Waggoner on Thursday said Ocean Victory is bound for Alaska, however the company is not ready to share details yet.

Follows Great Lakes expansion

This follows Victory's recent acquisition by Waggoner's American Queen Steamboat Co., which is expanding into the Great Lakes this spring with Victory I and Victory II.

As earlier reported, Ocean Victory—the third Infinity-class expedition ship being built in China for Miami-based SunStone Ships—will sail for Victory in the (northern) summers and Albatros Expeditions in winters (austral summers).

Ship debuts in late 2020

The 200-passenger Ocean Victory is scheduled to begin service to Antarctica for Albatros from Ushuaia on Dec. 22, 2020.

That means 2021 would be the first possible Alaska season under the Victory banner.

Ocean Victory will have Ulstein's patented X-BOW design, zero-speed stabilizers and dynamic positioning, and will be built to Polar Code 6 (Ice Class 1A).

Meanwhile, the coastal vessels Victory I and Victory II are currently undergoing a $3m refurbishment at Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, prior to Great Lakes service.