Review: Ocean Victory in Alaska With American Queen Voyages

New boutique cruise lines come along every year or two. New visions for seeing a particular destination are a bit rarer. 

In 2022, Cruise Lines International Association projects as many as 1.5 million people will travel to Alaska on a cruise. But fewer than 2,600 of them will see Alaska’s Inside Passage the Ocean Victory way.

That’s because Ocean Victory, the latest ship from American Queen Voyages (AQV), carries just 186 guests. And, in a step up from the older, more basic expedition vessels that have plied these waters for years, Ocean Victory flaunts a decidedly modern face along with a roster of upscale amenities for guests seeking an intimate encounter with the 49th state.

Best known for its paddlewheel river steamers, AQV charters the newbuild Ocean Victory during the summer season, while Albatros Expeditions operates the ship in Antarctica during the North American winter. In style and substance, Ocean Victory marks a new direction for AQV.  

“I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska,” said John Waggoner, founder of AQV. “When the opportunity for Ocean Victory came about, I told them I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is.”

Waggoner, who has a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), was along for an inaugural preview sailing in May.

Several aspects of the AQV operation in Alaska are distinct, starting with the vessel itself, built by Miami-based SunStone Ships. Ocean Victory is the sixth in SunStone’s line of X-bow ships, which have an inverted bow profile that protrudes at the waterline. 

Inside Ocean Victory

Rolls-Royce Zero Speed Stabilizers reduce rolling to provide a quieter, smoother ride, and a dynamic positioning system allows Ocean Victory to remain stationary without using an anchor, minimizing impact to marine environments. The ship’s size, low draw and ice-class hull make smaller bays and remote inlets  — places not reached by traditional cruise ships in Alaska — accessible. 

RELATED: Cruise Review: Sailing Southeastern Alaska With UnCruise Adventures 

Ships operating expedition cruises in Alaska tend to be older, and physical spaces can be cramped. By contrast, the smallest cabins onboard Ocean Victory measure 157 to 170 square feet — comparable to a mainstream cruise ship cabin — and have a French veranda.

And more than half of the ship’s 93 cabins are classified as Deluxe Staterooms, each spanning more than 213 square feet and including a private veranda, also a rarity on older expedition ships. All feature a queen bed, a flat-screen television, a safe, binoculars, a bathrobe, a full bathroom with shower and heated floors and plentiful storage space. Some are connecting units, and there are five suites measuring more than 400 square feet.

In addition to a main dining room where gourmet meals are served, Ocean Victory has a piano bar, an observation lounge, a library, a heated outdoor infinity pool and two Jacuzzi tubs. On Deck 8, a second dining venue will be operated occasionally and also features a barbecue grill. There’s a small spa and a well-stocked gym — for a ship of this size — with Life Fitness cardio equipment. Above the bow on Deck 5, two fold-down viewing platforms extend over the water — a unique vantage point — while additional observation decks are found above.

Ocean Victory’s Itinerary and Off-Shore Highlights 

Another distinction for Ocean Victory is a crew of about 18 naturalists from Cal Poly, who lead AQV’s expeditions in sea kayaks and 18 Zodiacs. 

Onboard the 2022 cruises, Dr. Michelle Fournet, director of the Sound Science Research Collective, is using Ocean Victory as a base to study whale acoustics. Hydrophones will be dropped from Zodiacs, and passengers will be invited to assist in research to determine the effects of marine traffic on whale populations. 

Between excursions, a lecture lounge with large screens hosts focused presentations on topics ranging from geology to whale communications.  

Ocean Victory itineraries are one-way between Vancouver and Sitka, Alaska. Pricing includes a hotel overnight in Vancouver (for the 12-day northbound sailings) or Sitka (for the 13-day southbound). The itineraries feature a port call in Ketchikan along with visits to more offbeat landings such as Petersburg, Kake and Metlakatla, a 1,400-strong community of the Tsimshian people, where a welcome dance is performed.

In Wrangell, guests will have the opportunity to visit the Anan Wildlife Observatory, where a salmon run in July and August lures black and brown bears. Ocean Victory also lingers in Frederick Sound, where breaching whales are common, and humpbacks engage in bubble-net feeding. Most shore excursions are offered at an additional cost, but otherwise, Ocean Victory is a fully inclusive cruise experience.

“As a physical platform, Ocean Victory has all the latest amenities; it’s a really great piece of hardware,” Waggoner said. “And, we’re going places that nobody else does — that gives us an advantage.”

AQV’s traditional clientele tends to be older and most would probably be unlikely to jump into a bucking Zodiac. Although Ocean Victory layers on the creature comforts, it’s probably not a fit for more sedentary travelers seeking a scenic cruise — much less those desiring one with a casino or Broadway-style shows.

But Ocean Victory is a natural for guests with a hunger for citizen science, for destination-focused enrichment, and for learning about the Alaskan environment from a variety of angles, including while perched on the rim of a Zodiac.