Victory Cruise Lines Return
By Peter Barnes
As an occasional Quirky Cruise contributor, I was invited to a memorable dinner held at the Chef’s Dinner Table in Lower Manhattan last week to celebrate the launch of Victory Cruise Lines.
John Waggoner, CEO of Victory and his wife Claudette, were our hosts for the evening.
John Waggoner, CEO of Victory and his wife Claudette. * Photo: Victory Cruise Liness
Victory Cruise Lines is dedicated to all-inclusive, small-ship coastal cruises on the Great Lakes both in Canada and the US.
Its offerings will debut in April 2025 with a cruise covering the five Great Lakes between Chicago and Toronto over 10 nights, plus a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay in Chicago.
The 10-night cruise that includes all five Great Lakes. * Image: Victory Cruise Lines
The cruise will not only include stops in Mackinac Island, Sault Ste-Marie and Niagara Falls but guests will learn about the region through a partnership established with the National Museum of Great Lakes in Toledo OH which will deliver exclusive programming.
Victory Cruise Lines is comprised of the Victory I and Victory II, both 190-guest ships purpose-built for the Great Lakes.
The 190-pax Victory I. * Photo: Victory Cruise Lines
The Back Story
The following is based on reporting by Anne Kalosh:
The coastal vessels Victory I and Victory II were built in Florida in the early 2000s for Delta Queen Coastal Voyages as Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light, respectively, to each carry about 200 passengers.
Only Cape May Light, completed in 2001, operated before the company’s post-9/11 collapse.
Cape May Light at Vineyard Haven, Martha’s Vineyard. * Photo: George Coughlin
The vessels were reflagged to the Bahamas and sailed under several names including, in Cape May Light’s case, as Saint Laurent for the short-lived Haimark Line before going to the also short-lived first Victory Cruise Lines prior to American Queen Voyages (AQV).
Other stints were as accommodations vessels. As Sea Voyager, for example, the former Cape May Light provided student housing for Maryland’s St. Mary’s College and kept United Nations relief workers in Haiti following the country’s 2010 earthquake.
The now defunct American Queen Voyages acquired the Victory I and Victory II in early 2019. Out of service during the pandemic, they were refurbished and renamed Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator as part of the company’s 2021 rebranding (from American Queen Steamboat Co. to American Queen Voyages) and resumed operations in 2022.
Then, in August 2024, Victory Cruise Lines’ former owner, John Waggoner, picked up Victory I and Victory II at the bankruptcy auction for American Queen Voyages, a company he founded and ran until a few years ago.
Waggoner then proceeded to resurrect the Victory Cruise Lines brand a few months ago and focus on the Great Lakes, starting in 2025.
RELATED: Peter Knego reviews Victory I on the Great Lakes (back in 2019).
RELATED: Ted Scull shares lots of details about the ports and scenery of the Great Lakes.
RELATED: Ted Scull tells us about canal transits in North America, including in the Great Lakes region.
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Victory Cruise Lines Itineraries
In addition to the 10-night cruise between Chicago and Toronto that visits all five Great Lakes, Victory will offer three other itineraries:
- 10-night cruise starting in Milwaukee covering much of the same ports
- 12-night offering between Chicago and Montreal
- 14-night cruise over two great lakes with greater emphasis on Lakes Michigan and Superior leaving from and returning to Chicago
One of two vessels is being refurbished in Portland Maine and will travel next spring to Chicago on time for its inaugural voyage on April 16, 2025.
If the quality of food and wine on board Victory vessels is close to our meal at the Chef’s Dinner Table, guests are in for a treat. All four courses were delicious and the wine pairings perfectly on target. I particularly enjoyed the Pan-Roasted chicken with corn, fava and tomato succotash with a red Rully 2021 from Domaine Paul and Marie Jacqueson. The atmosphere was lively and cordial leading me to learn more about Victory’s routes and future plans.
Author Peter Barnes at the Victory Cruise Lines dinner in NYC to celebrate the launch of Victory Cruise Lines. * Photo: Victory Cruise Lines
I had the opportunity to chat with John Waggoner and several members of his teams representing operations, sales and marketing functions, all seasoned industry professionals.
Based on the insights collected, the target market of Victory are retiree couples mainly from North America and double occupancy fares will start at around $6,000 per guest.
One can be confident of the success of this venture given the background of the Victory team and the uniqueness of the destinations and ports to be visited.
John Waggoner and his team chatting with media in NYC. * Photo: Victory Cruise Lines
As a New Yorker originally from Canada, I am thrilled that so many of these will be north of the border. What a great opportunity to visit all five Great Lakes in one of two luxurious ships promising to deliver beautiful accommodations, great food and fascinating programs.
Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. * Photo: Seldon Ink
Stay tuned for more details about Victory Cruise Lines return.
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HEIDI SARNA
