Victory Cruise Lines is certainly living up to its winning name. The Victory I and Victory II cruise ships are once again cruising the Great Lakes.

New life was given to the cruise ships courtesy of former owner John Waggoner who came out of retirement to buy the ships at an auction for $1.9 million in May 2024.

What might have happened to the ships is difficult to know but Waggoner stepped forward to save them. And happy passengers are so glad he did.

In a short amount of time, Waggoner and his wife Claudette prepared the Victory I built in 2001, and the Victory II, built in 2004, to sail anew on the Great Lakes and Canadian Coasts.

“As we celebrate the return of Victory Cruise Lines to the Great Lakes, I must reflect on the amazing feat by an incredible team that has brought this vision to life once again,” Waggoner said.

John Waggoner

He thanked those “that have believed in us and this dream to share our passion for cruising here on the Great Lakes.”

                                            Created to Cruise Great Lakes

Committed to all-inclusive, small-ship, coastal cruising on the Great Lakes and Canadian Coasts, Victory Cruise Lines offers the most cruises – 33 departures in 2025 – that visit all five Great Lakes in one voyage – Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Lake Superior.

Both 190-passenger sister ships will operate 10-to-15 night voyages from Chicago, Toronto, Milwaukee and Montreal now through October.

Victory I was christened in Toronto on April 27. Victory II was christened in Chicago on May 12.

                                                  All-Inclusive Small Ships

Since I attended the rebirth of Victory II, that is the cruise story I will share. Our 10-day cruise started in Chicago with an inclusive pre-cruise night at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

As the only ships to dock at Chicago’s Navy Pier, the two ships were built for navigating canals, locks and ports where larger ships cannot go. Our itinerary included stops in Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste Marie and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland in Ohio; and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada.

Since the ships are all-inclusive, that means they also provide ship Wi-Fi, shore excursions in every port, no extra-priced restaurants aboard the ships and complimentary ground transfers from the pre-cruise hotel to the ship and from the ship to the final destination airport.

Another big plus is inclusive beer, wine, cocktails, specialty coffees and soft drinks. No worrying about what a final bar bill might be or having to pay $5 for a can of Coke as I have done on some big ships.

Spruced up, the five-deck Victory II boasts stained glass accents, lovely polished woodwork, tin ceiling and glistening chandeliers. The result is an old-world feel like the classic coastal steamers of the late 19^th century.

For such a small ship, Victory II has large places to congregate and small getaways for privacy. Main sites include the Coastal Dining Room, Tavern, Compass Lounge, Grill, Tuscan Stone Grill, Purser’s Office, Gym, Salon and Spa.

The top deck has canopies for shade along with chairs to watch the passing scenery. A large elevator is available but it is quite easy to walk from place to place on Victory II. Unlike massive cruise ships, there are no long lines or hassle in getting on, off or around the ship.

Compass Lounge

                                              Victory Stateroom 418

On Deck 4, my Stateroom 418 was compact at 161 square feet but neatly organized and very comfortable. Accessed directly from the promenade deck, my room didn’t have a balcony but did have two large windows, plus two chairs and a table outside my door to relax on the promenade.

My stateroom

Two twin beds had a nightstand between with a clock which was appreciated and a bit unusual for a cruise ship. The beds had big fluffy mattresses and pillows. A large vanity opposite the beds had a chair, a mirror on top of the vanity and a flat screen TV over top the mirror. A mini-fridge at the end of the vanity had complimentary beer and soft drinks and was refilled each day.

For storage, my stateroom had two closets and more than a half-dozen drawers. A desk and chair were against the far wall.

My stateroom

The bathroom featured a long sink with Aveda Rosemary Mint toiletries. The shower was small with a half-circular plastic curtain but had strong water pressure and water as hot as I wanted it.

 

Seating area outside my stateroom

                                         All-inclusive Dining Options

No extra charge to dine in any of the Victory II restaurants which offered enough delicious cuisine choices to make anyone happy.

The Coastal Dining Room was the main place to dine with wonderful floor-to ceiling windows. For dinner, when we entered the room in the hallway would be creative displays of the evening’s menu items.

Coastal Dining Room

Very helpful because I was debating choosing the New York sirloin steak one night until I saw the spaghetti on display. Spaghetti was a great choice that I’m sure I would have passed up if I hadn’t seen the display.

Display of menu items in Coastal Dining Room entryway

The Grill was a casual dining spot for breakfast and lunch with a self-service soft-serve ice cream machine available all day. Located on the ship’s stern, the Grill offered great visibility for wherever our cruise was going.

In the evening, the Grill became the Tuscan Stone Grill where diners cooked their entrees on sizzling hot stones placed on their tabletops. Entrée choices to cook included sirloin steak, beef tenderloin, lamb chops, Atlantic salmon and ahi tuna.

The Tavern and Compass Lounge offered cocktails, snacks and late-night bites. A coffee and tea machine was in the Compass Lounge as well as fresh-baked cookies, veggies and other goodies.

White bean appetizer

My delicious spaghetti

Lobster dinner

Lobster soup

                                  Musical and Historical Entertainment

Three musicians composed the Victory II House Band. James played keyboard, Zack on drums and Ian Ross as lead singer and guitar player. Ross also plays sax, harmonica, pedal steel guitar and probably a couple more instruments. Talented guest vocalist Michaelyn Oby joined for a couple of evening shows in the Compass Lounge.

Bandleader Ross also is the Victory II LakeLorian. Ross grew up near Cleveland, received a master’s degree in American history from the University of Cincinnati and has been a lifelong resident of the Great Lakes region.

In partnership with the National Museum of The Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio, Ross hosts lectures and discussions and answers questions throughout our journey.

 “Our guests are looking to not just visit ports in the region but learn as much as they can about the Great Lakes,” John Waggoner said in announcing Victory Cruise Lines’ LakeLorians.

LakeLorian Ian Ross gives a presentation

                                             Victory II Cruise App

To save paper and have important information quickly available in our hands, the Victory II cellphone app was a very useful tool. The app also was free as was ship Wi-Fi to use it.

The app showed today’s schedule, tomorrow’s schedule, safety info, my shipboard account and much more. Daily paper schedules also could be picked up in the purser’s office where help was always available to install the app and to use it. Great idea.

                                               Shore Excursions

Each shore excursion on our cruise could be a story in itself on our five Great Lakes cruise. Instead, I’ve just picked four of my favorites to share.

Mackinac Island in Michigan where we took a horse-drawn carriage ride around the island. After all, motorized vehicles aren’t permitted on the island so transportation is either walking, riding a horse, riding a bike or getting around in a horse-drawn carriage.

Legend says that the first “horseless carriage” arrived from the mainland in 1898. The contraption so traumatized the local horses that island officials banned the newfangled machines. And they’re still banned. Except for a few emergency vehicles, the Michigan island is car-free.

1904 fieldstone church on Mackinac Island

Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, was designed by I.M. Pei and opened to the public on Sept. 2, 1995. Located on the shores of Lake Erie, the glass-paneled pyramid and tower-type structure contains a wealth of rock & roll memorabilia honoring musicians of all genres.

 

Front of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio

Back of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, was created by the founder of Ford Motor Company. As one of the world’s first billionaires, Ford had the money to collect whatever struck his fancy. Instead of expensive works of art or precious gems, however, Ford liked to save pieces of life from the past to protect and share with others.

Ford also saved his simple boyhood home from destruction during a 1919 street widening project. That home became the start of Ford’s Greenfield Village museum that today contains about 100 structures.

Ironically, Ford’s home was about to be destroyed when city officials decided to widen a number of Dearborn streets due to the rush of traffic that Ford helped create with his renowned Ford automobile business.

A costumed guide at the Henry Ford Home at Greenfield Village in Michigan

Visitors can take a chauffeured ride in a Ford vehicle at Greenfield Village in Michigan

Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, is where I learned that a cat was the first critter to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive. The cat didn’t volunteer to go but was taken along by Annie Edson Taylor, the first human being to intentionally, successfully take that barrel ride.

That was back on Oct. 24, 1901. A teacher celebrating her 63rd birthday, Annie hoped the fame and fortune from her exploit would help her live a comfortable retired life.

Alas, Annie’s manager-agent absconded with the money and the barrel. Although she tried to track down the thief, Annie was unsuccessful and was said to have died on April 29, 1921, at age 82, virtually penniless. Her funeral was paid by donations.

 

People standing at railing atop Niagara Falls give an indication of its massive size

                                              Top-Notch Crew

No matter how great a ship is, if the crew is surly or lazy, a cruise can be a big disappointment. I’ve had it happen on other ships. But not on the Victory II.

From ship Captain Vlad Ene down to every international crew member I met, they were professional, friendly and impeccably dressed. They greeted me with my name and often asked if I needed anything.

My room attendant Mas kept everything spiffy. Mas made sure we had a filled ice bucket and large bottle of water. He would clean the room every morning, plus do turndown before bedtime with a tasty snack left on our pillows.

A nice touch was that some of the pillow top snacks were specific to where we were docked. A box of JoAnn’s Mackinac Island Fudge, bag of chocolate-covered Michigan cherries and special caramel cluster were a few of the treats ready for us each night.

 

Victory II ship captain Vlad Ene

Welcome back, Victory II. What a wonderful way to cruise the Great Lakes and learn more about the great destinations in the United States and Canada.

LakeLorian Ian Ross

Thank you, John Waggoner, for seeing what could be done and doing it. Long life to Victory Cruise Lines.

Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch

 

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