On April 27, Victory Cruise Lines celebrated a major milestone with the christening of Victory I in Toronto, marking the line’s triumphant return to the Great Lakes.
Victory Cruise Lines President John Waggoner and his wife Claudette stood proudly in Toronto as their daughter, Emily Coleman, christened the Victory I with a nostalgic bottle of Crown Royal Canadian whisky—a momentous occasion for the family.
Victory Cruise Lines celebrated its return to the Great Lakes under Founder and CEO John Waggoner, less than a year after acquiring Victory I and Victory II. Purpose-built for the region, both ships will sail 10- to 15-night itineraries between Chicago, Toronto, Milwaukee, and Montreal through October, with 33 departures planned for 2025—including routes that visit all five Great Lakes.
Victory II is set to be christened at Chicago’s Navy Pier on May 12, 2025.
“This return is a testament to the incredible team that brought this vision back to life,” said Waggoner. “Thank you to all who believed in our dream of sharing the Great Lakes through cruising.”
Victory I’s inaugural sailing is a 10-night cruise from Toronto to Chicago, featuring stops in Niagara Falls (Port Colborne), Cleveland, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island, and Escanaba. The itinerary includes a pre-cruise hotel stay and complimentary excursions, such as the Henry Ford Experience in Detroit, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the Soo Locks & Maritime Heritage Tour.
Onboard amenities include three dining venues, notably the new Tuscan Stone Grill—an interactive dinner concept where guests cook at their table using hot stones, set in a panoramic stern-facing space. The concept was developed by COO David William Kelly and Dietmar Wertanzl of Anglo-Eastern Leisure.
Educational programming, provided in partnership with the National Museum of the Great Lakes, includes lectures and Q&A sessions as part of the LakeLorian enrichment series.
