TORONTO — Victory Cruise Lines christened Victory I in Toronto over the weekend.
It was a proud return for the cruise line, led by founder and CEO John Waggoner, who closed on the purchase of the 190-guest Victory I and sister-ship Victory II last year.
As reported in July 2024, Waggoner, who founded American Queen Voyages (AQV), bought Victory I and Victory II from auction in early 2024 after the ships were put up for sale in the wake of AQV’s bankruptcy proceedings. AQV had acquired Victory Cruise Lines in 2019. AQV meanwhile was acquired by Hornblower Group. In February 2024 Hornblower announced AQV’s bankruptcy and its own acquisition.
“THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVED IN US”
Both ships were purpose-built for the Great Lakes. Victory’s mandate is all-inclusive, small ship, coastal cruising on The Great Lakes and Canadian coasts.
Victory Cruise Lines has 33 departures in 2025 that hit all five Great Lakes in one voyage. The cruise line is also the only company to dock at Chicago’s downtown Navy Pier, where Victory II will be christened May 12, 2025.
Both ships will operate 10-15 night voyages from Chicago, Toronto, Milwaukee and Montreal now through October.
“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,” said Waggoner. “Thank you to everyone here, as well as those not in the room today, that have believed in us and this dream to share our passion for cruising here on the Great Lakes.”
The christening ceremony took place onboard in the Compass Lounge, first honouring the U.S. and Canada with the singing of the national anthems, as both share the Great Lakes.
Remarks were made by Destination Toronto VP Destination Development Kelly Jackson, National Museum of the Great Lakes Executive Director Kate Fineske, Victory Cruise Lines Chief Operating Officer David William Kelly, and Waggoner.
Victory Cruise Lines CEO John Waggoner with wife Claudette and daugher Emily Coleman, godmother of Victory I
Instead of champagne, the ship’s godmother Emily Coleman, daughter of John and Claudette Waggoner, broke a bottle of Crown Royal Canadian Whisky on the ship’s bow, officially christening the vessel with the skyline of Toronto in the background.
Victory I’s inaugural sailing is the cruise line’s most popular itinerary, 10-nights between Toronto and Chicago including a pre-cruise hotel with ports of call including Port Colborne (Niagara Falls), Cleveland, Detroit, Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island and Escanaba, Michigan.
Each Victory Cruise Lines voyage includes …
- One-night pre-cruise hotel stay with complimentary ground transfers between the hotel and ship and from the ship to the airport
- All water view accommodations, some with veranda
- An included shore excursion in every port, from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Detroit
- Acclaimed cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner served in multiple venues plus culinary events throughout each cruise
- Gourmet selections including freshly prepared lobster and regionally-inspired dishes
- Unlimited beverages including an extensive wine list, choice spirits, local craft beers and specialty coffees
- Open bars and lounges throughout the vessel
- Unlimited WiFi
- Live, daily onboard entertainment and enrichment with the ‘LakeLorians’
- Hiking sticks
All-inclusive, double occupancy Victory Cruise Lines fares start at $4,999 per person.
