American Queen Voyages (AQV), part of the Hornblower Group, announced that Chef Regina Charboneau, the line's culinary ambassador, will host eight sailings during the 2022 season. She'll sail aboard itineraries that stretch across North American river, lake, ocean and expedition experiences.
Via "Regina Charboneau & Friends" cruises in 2022, she'll showcase local cuisine through onboard cooking demonstrations and discussions. She'll also explore ports with guests and interact with her regional chef friends. Guests can expect Charboneau to share her stories and recipes, too.
Hosted 2022 Sailings
The “Regina Charboneau & Friends" 2022 sailings promise culinary adventures and discoveries beyond the Lower Mississippi River. Charboneau, who made her professional culinary debut in Alaska, will return to the "Last Frontier" as she sails the Ocean Victory's maiden voyage from Vancouver, B.C. to Sitka, AK, on May 6, 2022.
Additional Charboneau-hosted sailings will include the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes and Ohio River itineraries. She'll be aboard all four AQV paddlewheelers in 2022.
“Exploring North America through its bountiful cuisine is an enjoyable pastime of mine, and I always love sharing my culinary adventures and discoveries with guests, many of whom become friends,” said Charboneau in a press statement. “Every city and port has its own iconic dish and I look forward to telling the story of that dish, how it has impacted the community and so much more."
She added that "whether we’re dining on local salmon in Alaska or Nashville hot chicken along the Cumberland River, guests can expect to leave with new culinary knowledge, full bellies and a smile on their faces.”
The Biscuit Queen
A resident of Natchez, MS,Charboneau is affectionately known as the “Biscuit Queen of Natchez." She's also known for her San Francisco restaurants, Regina’s at the Regis and Biscuits & Blues; the latter also has an outpost in her Mississippi hometown.
She's also the author of “Mississippi Currents: A Culinary Journey Down America’s Greatest River,” a collection of river recipes from St. Paul to New Orleans.
“As American Queen Voyages embarks on our 10th anniversary, we are excited to celebrate with eight special sailings hosted by Culinary Ambassador Regina Charboneau,” said Kari Tarnowski, senior vice president of marketing and sales, AQV. “These sailings reflect the diversity of encounter travel experiences we offer across North America and I am confident they will instantly become among our most popular.”
Hosted Sailings
Here's the line-up of Charboneau-hosted sailings:
Portland (Vancouver, WA) to Spokane (Clarkston): During this March 13-21, 2022 sailing on American Empress, Charboneau will kick off the Pacific Northwest season. While sailing the Columbia and Snake Rivers, Charboneau will teach guests about the regional cuisine. She'll showcase local salmon preparations paired with pinot noirs from the region's Willamette Valley, demonstrate sweet berry delights and lead samplings of craft beers.
Vancouver, BC, to Sitka, AK: During the inaugural sailing of AQV's Ocean Victory on May 6-17, 2022, Charboneau—who made her professional culinary debut in Anchorage—will highlight regional Alaska dishes including crab and halibut, while telling tales of her life's early Alaska adventures. She was the first female chef at the Petroleum Club of Anchorage, where she met her husband, and even prepared a signature salmon dish for the late media icon Walter Cronkite.
Nashville (Clarksville, TN) to St. Louis (Alton, IL): Charboneau will also host the July 4-12, 2022 sailing of American Countess. Guests can expect to learn about St. Louis toasted ravioli and Nashville hot chicken. This voyage sails the Mississippi, Cumberland and Ohio rivers, and guests sailing on American Countess will celebrate the Fourth of July in Nashville, TN.
Memphis to St. Louis (Alton): During this July 17-24, 2022 sailing on American Queen, Charboneau will reveal her rib and barbecue secrets. The cruise will highlight the culinary kaleidoscope of the mid-Mississippi River, as the ship visits such ports as the UNESCO Creative City of Paducah, KY, and Cape Girardeau, MO.
St. Louis (Alton) to Louisville, KY: On the July 24-August 1, 2022 sailing of American Queen, Charboneau will provide input on St. Louis' famed toasted ravioli and the iconic Louisville hot brown. Guests will have bourbon tastings and distillery visits as the ship sails the Mississippi River and Ohio River.
Louisville, KY, to St. Louis (Alton): From September 12-19, American Countess will make its way toward St. Louis with stops at Paducah and Cape Girardeau. Along the way, Charboneau will share stories of Louisville's mint julep and the history behind the "Hot Brown."
Detroit, MI, to Montreal, Quebec, Canada: From October 2-12, 2022, Ocean Navigator will welcome Charboneau aboard as she spotlights the French-Canadian cuisine of Montreal and Detroit-style pizza. With an exclusive tour through the Thousand Islands, this route couples metropolitan experiences with gorgeous natural scenery.
Louisville to Memphis, TN: From November 5-13, 2022, American Duchess sails through America's heartland, as Charboneau again puts the spotlight on the hot brown and reveals her rib cooking secrets. This sailing highlights the diverse culinary flavors of the mid-Mississippi River region.
For more information, visit www.aqvoyages.com.
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