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8 New Culinary Sailings with American Queen Voyages!

Written by Kenna Reyner | January 29, 2022

This week American Queen Voyages announced the cruise line’s Culinary Ambassador, Chef Regina Charboneau, will host eight sailings during the 2022 season!

Join American Queen Voyages for a culinary expedition with Regina Charboneau. Featuring itineraries stretching across North America including Rivers, Lakes & Oceans, and Expedition experiences, Charboneau will put a spotlight on local cuisine. Through onboard cooking demonstrations, port explorations, and recipes along the way, guests will taste the delights of each sailing.

The “Regina Charboneau & Friends" 2022 sailings promise culinary adventures and discoveries beyond the Lower Mississippi River. Charboneau made her professional debut in Alaska and will make her return as she sails the Ocean Victory maiden voyage from Vancouver to Sitka. Additional sailings will include the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio River itineraries.

About Charboneau

Charboneau is best known as the “Biscuit Queen of Natchez” and for her San Francisco restaurants Regina’s at the Regis and Biscuits & Blues. The author of “Mississippi Currents: A Culinary Journey Down America’s Greatest River,” a meticulously researched collection of river recipes from St. Paul to New Orleans, will now bring her career full circle to The Last Frontier aboard the May 6 inaugural Ocean Victorysailing. She will also host sailings on all four American Queen paddle wheelers in 2022.

Portland to Spokane

March 13-21, 2022 on the American Empress

Charboneau will kick off the Pacific Northwest season, sailing the Columbia and Snake rivers while exploring the area’s rich history and diverse climate, teaching guests how they connect back to the region’s cuisine. She will showcase local salmon preparations paired with pinot noirs from the renowned Willamette Valley, demonstrate sweet berry delights, lead samplings of craft beers, and more. From Portland to Spokane, guests embark on a cruise to explore this rich region on the first 2022 American Empress sailing.

Vancouver, B.C. to Sitka

May 6-17, 2022 on the Ocean Victory

The inaugural sailing of American Queen Voyages’ expedition vessel Ocean Victory to The Last Frontier will feature Charboneau onboard, who made her professional culinary debut in Anchorage. She was the first female chef at the Petroleum Club at Anchorage, where she met her husband, and even prepared a signature salmon dish for the late media icon Walter Cronkite. Throughout this adventure, Charboneau will highlight regional Alaska dishes including crab and halibut, while telling tales of her early adventures that took her a long way from her home of Natchez, Mississippi.

Nashville to St. Louis

July 4-12, 2022 on the American Countess

St. Louis Toasted Ravioli and Nashville Hot Chicken are two dishes synonymous with their home river ports. Charboneau will showcase notorious dishes on this unique voyage. Sailing on three of the heartland’s mightiest rivers, the Mississippi, Cumberland, and Ohio, the American Countess will celebrate the Fourth of July in Nashville, Tn.

Memphis to St. Louis

July 17-24, 2022 on the American Queen

Charboneau’s rib and barbeque secrets will be revealed on board this American Queen sailing. The trip will highlight the culinary kaleidoscope of the mid-Mississippi River, visiting ports including UNESCO Creative City Paducah, Ky. and the quaint port Cape Girardeau, Mo.

St. Louis to Louisville

July 24-August 1, 2022 on the American Queen

Aboard the flagship American Queen, Charboneau connects St. Louis Toasted Ravioli to the Louisville Hot Brown with bourbon tastings and distillery visits along the way. This itinerary features the Mississippi River and Ohio River highlighting the breadbasket of Kentucky and dishes that have made it one-of-a-kind.

Louisville to St. Louis

Sept. 12-19 on the American Countess

On American Queen Voyages’ newest riverboat American Countess, Charboneau will share stories of Louisville's Mint Julep and the history behind the Hot Brown as the paddle wheeler makes its way towards St. Louis with stops at UNESCO Creative City Paducah, Ky. the quaint port Cape Girardeau, Mo and more.

Detroit to Montreal

Oct. 2-12, 2022 on the Ocean Navigator

From Detroit to Montreal, the diversity of the North American palette is on display as Charboneau hones her craft with a focus on the French-Canadian cuisine of Montreal and, of course, Detroit-style pizza. With an exclusive tour through the Thousand Islands, this route offers both metropolitan flair and natural wonder within one epic journey.

Louisville to Memphis

Nov. 5-13, 2022 on the American Duchess

Charboneau puts the spotlight on the Hot Brown while she reveals her secrets to cooking the best ribs onboard the American Duchess. This sailing highlights the diverse culinary flavors of the mid-Mississippi River while visiting ports such as UNESCO Creative City Paducah and the quaint Cape Girardeau.

Save Up To $5,400 off select voyages throughout 2022, 2023 or 2024!

The mighty rivers of the United States of America once served as the great highways of early exploration and inspired dreams of discovery. Today, American Queen Voyages™ re-creates the same sense of wonder, excitement and inspiration with all the convenience and comfort of modern luxury aboard the most elegant riverboats in the world, the American Queen®American Empress®American Duchess™, and American Countess™. Traveling in the wake of legends, guests are transported to an era of leisurely and romantic travel.

Book before February 28, 2022 & use the code WINTER to Save up to $5,400 on cruises with American Queen Voyages. Contact your travel advisor today to start planning!

All Fares Include:

  • 1-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel
  • Unlimited Included Guided Tours
  • Unlimited Beverages, Open Bars, & Lounges
  • Acclaimed Cuisine in Multiple Venues
  • All-Day In-Room Dining
  • Unlimited WiFi
  • Bicycles & Hiking Sticks
  • Live, Daily Onboard Entertainment & Enrichment

About American Queen Voyages

American Queen Voyages™ invites travelers to throw away the guidebook and go off the beaten path to discover the unscripted experiences of North America. Sailing on identical 202-passenger ships, Ocean Voyager™ and Ocean Navigator™ offer small-ship cruising with immersive shore excursions and onboard programming to Canada, the Great Lakes, New England, and the Eastern Seaboard, Mexico, and the Yucatán Peninsula. The brand new, expedition-style Ocean Victory™ will traverse 12 and 13-day journeys through the less-traveled regions of Alaska’s Inside Passage led by a seasoned expedition team.