This article originally appeared in the August issue of AGENTatHOME magazine.?Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
The reborn Victory Cruise Lines is now operating its inaugural season on the Great Lakes, attracting a multigenerational clientele that wants in-depth exploration of regions in the U.S. and Canada.
Victory¡¯s founder, John Waggoner, acquired the two Victory ships from the now defunct American Queen Voyages after it went under in early 2024. In a little over a year, he renovated the vessels, planned itineraries and oversaw the launch of Victory Cruise Lines this spring. (Waggoner was bought out and left dayto- day operations at American Queen in 2021, well before the company went under.)
The ships, which first entered service in 2001 as Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light, passed through various owners before joining American Queen in 2019 under their current names.
Waggoner, a 30-year-plus maritime entrepreneur, was well-acquainted with the ships and the Great Lakes from his tenure at American Queen, so he snapped them up at auction for a ¡°steal,¡± as he described the acquisition.
The twin 190-passenger ships ¨C Victory I and Victory II ¨C are virtually identical, and purpose-built for sailing the Great Lakes and coastal waters. Victory I departed on its first voyage on April 27 from Toronto, followed by Victory II on May 12 from Chicago.
The pub-style Tavern (Photo Credit: Victory Cruise Lines)
My cruise onboard Victory II sailed from Chicago¡¯s Navy Pier and called at Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Niagara Falls from the Canadian side at Port Colborne, Ontario, before concluding in Toronto.
A Friendly Onboard Ambience
The Victory vessels harken back to the glory days of passenger shipping on the Great Lakes. According to Waggoner, the onboard atmosphere is family-like, with congenial passengers and crew who easily bond.
¡°We like to say, ¡®Welcome to John and Claudette¡¯s beach house on the Great Lakes,¡¯¡± Waggoner joked, referring to his wife, who regularly travels with him. ¡°The atmosphere we strive for is, No. 1, the crew knows everybody¡¯s name by the end of the first day, and they know what you drink.¡±
And indeed they did, as I quickly found out.
¡°I had a couple come to me and say, ¡®Mr. Waggoner, we¡¯ve been on 60 cruises all over world, and this is the friendliest crew we¡¯ve ever seen; they gave outstanding service and made everyone feel like family,¡¯¡± he said.
Target Clientele
Who exactly is sailing on Victory¡¯s Great Lakes itineraries? They¡¯re well-traveled, well-educated, repeat cruisers. The majority are from the U.S. and Canada, and many are multigenerational families, including a few groups of parents in their 90s, their 70-year-old kids and the 50-something grandkids.
A Category AA bedroom (Photo Credit: Victory Cruise Lines)
One note of caution: The ship¡¯s doorways have raised thresholds ¨C common on older ships ¨C which can create challenges for those in wheelchairs or using walkers. There is an elevator that runs from Deck 1 to Deck 4.
Public Areas and Accommodations
Victory I and II both have five decks. The top deck, accessed by stairs, is equipped with sun loungers. Deck 4 is the Club Level, where cabins come with extra amenities, including invitations to special events, laundry service, and a minifridge stocked with beer and sodas.
Staterooms are on the small side ¨C 146 to 185 square feet ¨C with wooden furniture, comfy beds, and bathrooms with tight round showers and vanities with plenty of shelf space for toiletries and cosmetics.
The onboard cuisine is diverse, with many locally sourced options. At Tuscan Stone Grill, guests can cook their own protein on a hot lava rock to their desired doneness.
After dinner, the entertainment is lively, with a three-piece band and an amazing singer who often drew enthusiastic applause on my sailing.
Passengers can use the Victory mobile app to check the daily schedule, mealtimes, menus and more.
Working With Travel Advisors
Victory is eager to work with travel advisors. An agent portal on its website contains everything from marketing assistance, brochures and fam trip information to commission policies, including payment on pre-booked shore excursions and insurance.
The line provides one free shore excursion in every port, including the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation outside Detroit, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, a boat ride in Niagara Falls and a horse-drawn carriage ride around carless Mackinac Island.
Optional excursions, which are available at a cost, include more in-depth explorations or samplings of food and wine.
Each trip also includes a precruise hotel night with breakfast. In Chicago, my overnight stay was at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. Motorcoach transfers are provided from the hotel to the ship and, at the conclusion of the cruise, from the ship to the airport.
Itineraries and Rates
Victory Cruise Lines¡¯ two ships, Victory I and Victory II, will operate from around April through early November. In 2026, the line will introduce some longer cruises, including 14-day itineraries from Portland, Maine, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, or down to Jacksonville, Florida, where the ships will undergo any repairs or improvements needed when they¡¯re out of service.
Fares start at $4,999 per person for double occupancy on the ninenight Montreal-to-Portland, itinerary onboard Victory I. The 10-night Great Lakes sailings between Chicago and Toronto begin at $6,299 per person for double occupancy in 2025, and $5,799 in 2026.
Fares include all meals and drinks ¨C along with afternoon tea during days with no stops ¨C dining in the specialty Tuscan Stone Grill, daily housekeeping service, a journal, afternoon snacks and local turndown treats, such as Garrett popcorn from Chicago, chocolate covered cherries from Northern Michigan and Mackinac Island fudge.
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