Savannah festivities mark return to service of American Queen's Ocean Navigator

The 202-passenger coastal ship (formerly Victory II), sister of Ocean Voyager, was greeted in downtown Savannah at River Street Market Landing by city leaders and dignitaries including Mayor Van R. Johnson, who toured the vessel, meeting crew and officers before afternoon embarkation started.

'The Great America-tion summer' 

'The Great America-tion summer is nearing, and travelers are ready to make up for lost time and deeply discover North America now,' said John Waggoner, founder and chairman, American Queen Voyages. 'The return of Ocean Navigator signals yet another opportunity to explore with us beyond the Mississippi River, without the uncertainty and the complexity of international travel.'

Heading north

Ocean Navigator's first cruise is a 17-day journey up the Eastern Seaboard, calling at ports including Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, Newport, Nantucket and others before disembarking at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Ocean Voyager will begin making its way north toward the Great Lakes after completing a final Southeast US cruise from Jacksonville on April 12.

Chicago's Navy Pier

The vessels arrive are to arrive in Toronto May 10 and 12 after exploring the Eastern Seaboard and St. Lawrence Seaway. The first arrival at Chicago’s Navy Pier will be Ocean Navigator on May 18.

Expedition ship debut nears

American Queen Voyages' first expedition ship, Ocean Victory, is set to debut May 6. It will sail in Alaska this summer on cruises between Vancouver, BC and Sitka.