Another cruise line is about to make a comeback — in an unusual place
Another cruise line is about to relaunch after not operating for many months — in a place that typically doesn't get a lot of cruise ships.
Small-ship operator Victory Cruise Lines, which until recently was part of American Queen Voyages, will restart operations in April with sailings on the Great Lakes.
The two-ship line is being revived by John Waggoner, a well-known entrepreneur in the maritime world. Waggoner bought Victory's two vessels in May at an auction in the wake of the bankruptcy of American Queen Voyages.
Waggoner has a history with the vessels, as he ran American Queen Voyages when it originally bought them in 2018. Waggoner founded American Queen Voyages but no longer owned it when it was placed into bankruptcy earlier this year by subsequent owners.
Waggoner's new company on Tuesday announced that Victory would restart operations April 16 with a special 10-night cruise from Portland, Maine, to Toronto on one of the two vessels, 190-passenger Victory I.
Dubbed the New England and Canada 2025 Reunion Cruise, the sailing will be hosted by Waggoner and his wife, Claudette, and include a passage through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes.
Related: TPG's guide to Great Lakes cruising
The ship will then be rechristened in Toronto on April 27.
The line's second vessel, 190-passenger Victory II, will restart operations shortly thereafter. It'll be rechristened in Chicago on May 12.
The inaugural season of the two ships will bring itineraries that span all five Great Lakes.
"As long-time enthusiasts of maritime adventures, my wife Claudette and I are thrilled for the team to open reservations for the inaugural season as we prepare to sail these magnificent waters," Waggoner said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "Our cruise experience will offer many special touches, including being the only cruise line to dock at Chicago's Navy Pier, and most of all, our ships will be a home away from home exploring all five Great Lakes."
Both of the Victory vessels were originally purpose-built to fit into the locks of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, which are narrower than some other locks around the world. Their small size — roughly 5,000 gross tons — allows them to navigate small harbors and call at downtown marinas in the region that would be off-limits to bigger ships.
The relaunching line on Tuesday revealed all its planned sailings for 2025 — a total of 36.
They will include 33 voyages that feature visits to every one of the five Great Lakes — the most of any cruise operator.
The line also said it would include a one-night precruise hotel stay at a premium hotel property and ground transfers for all voyages, something no other line does with every sailing.
The initial year of sailings will include:
- Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes sailings from Chicago to Toronto that bring travel through all five Great Lakes. There will be 25 of these sailings from April through September 2025. Stops will include Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) in Ontario.
- Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes sailings that will be similar to the above with the exception that they will begin in Milwaukee after an overnight hotel stay in Chicago. There will be six of these sailings from May through August 2025.
- Eleven-night Ultimate Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway sailings from Chicago to Montreal that bring travel through the St. Lawrence Seaway. There will be three of these sailings in September and October 2025. Stops will include Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) and Toronto in Ontario.
- Fourteen-night Great Lakes and Thunder Bay sailings that are round-trip from Chicago. There will be two of these sailings in May and June. Stops will include Mackinac Island (for an overnight), Marquette, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie and Muskegon in Michigan; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; and Green Bay, Wisconsin (for an overnight).
The Great Lakes have been growing in popularity as a cruise destination in recent years, in part due to the arrival of a new line in the region, Viking. Viking added its first Great Lakes cruises in 2023.
Small-ship specialist Pearl Seas Cruises also has a presence in the Great Lakes.
Built in the early 2000s, the two Victory ships are small coastal vessels with 95 cabins spread over four passenger decks. Each of the ships has a main restaurant called the Coastal Dining Room for sit-down meals, as well as a more casual buffet eatery called The Grill.
They're also home to a main lounge called the Compass Lounge, which features singalong piano music, and an English-style tavern.
There are sun decks with cushioned sofas at the top of each vessel.
Each of the ships sails with Great Lakes experts that the line calls "Lakelorians." They lecture on local history, ecology and culture.
Itineraries for the ships opened for booking on Tuesday, with fares starting at $5,799 per passenger. Fares come with unlimited beverages, including wine, spirits, local craft beers and specialty coffees; unlimited Wi-Fi; and a shore excursion in every port.
A one-night precruise hotel stay is also included in fares, along with ground transfers between the hotel and vessel.
Victory is joining luxury operator Crystal in restarting operations after shutting down in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal restarted sailings under new owners in July 2023.
More information about the new Victory sailings is available at the Victory Cruise Lines website.
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