VICTORY I PROVES A WONDERFUL WAY TO SEE THE GREAT LAKES AND DESTINATIONS ALONG THE WAY
FOR CRUISE AFICIONADOS, NOTHING IS MORE EXCITING THAN A CRUISE SHIP CHRISTENING
On a glorious sunlit day, with the gleaming towers of Toronto as a backdrop, Victory Cruise Lines named the first of its two cruise ships, Victory I. The event was decidedly a family affair—and the family was that of John and Claudette Waggoner. At an age when many of us would be considering retirement, and with tears he ascribed to “pollen” on Lake Ontario, John Waggoner introduced the cruising public to his latest adventure.
EMILY ELIZABETH FOERSTER COLEMAN CONTINUED A FAMILY TRADITION.
Emily christened the 190-passenger Victory I. Eschewing champagne and in a salute to Victory I’s presence in Canada, Emily cracked a bottle of Crown Royal Canadian Whisky over the front of the ship. She was joined by all the members of the Waggoner family—three of whom had christened ships earlier in John’s career: his wife Claudette, and his daughters, Melissa Applegate and Angie Hack. Waiting in the wings is the next generation. The Waggoners’ eldest granddaughter, Molly Applegate, will serve as the godmother of sister ship Victory II, christened at Chicago’s Navy Pier on May 12, 2025.
JOHN WAGGONER IS A GODFATHER OF SMALL SHIP CRUISING IN NORTH AMERICA.
In 1994, John Waggoner founded Hornblower Marine Services in New Albany, Indiana, on the banks of the Ohio River. In 2011, his passion for river cruising led to his acquisition of the historic paddle wheeler American Queen. He then expanded to American Queen Voyages. Unfortunately, the pandemic spelled the end of that illustrious venture. What it didn’t end was John’s passengers’ affection for his brand of cruising. Countless passengers aboard Victory I’s first official voyage were past passengers on American Queen and Victory Cruise Lines’ earlier incarnation. An astonishing number of devotees flew all the way to Toronto from California to sail on Victory I.
VICTORY I AND VICTORY II HAVE A STORIED PAST THEMSELVES.
These 190-passenger beauties have had an astonishing number of incarnations. At 286 feet in length and five passenger decks in height, they were designed to resemble classic coastal steamers of the late 19th century. Launched as Cape May Light and Cape Cod Light, both were victims of the post-9/11 economic downturn and were laid up soon after they launched. They then sailed under numerous names. Their itineraries even included the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Their ultimate names, Victory I and Victory II, were given to them by Victory Cruise Lines—owned by none other than John Waggoner.
ENTER THE REINCARNATED VICTORY CRUISE LINES
Just last year, John Waggoner purchased both vessels at auction for under $2 million. He then spent $3 million to bring both ships up to the remarkable vessels they are today. Featuring two dining venues, two lounges, plenty of deck space, and 95 cabins for their 190 guests, both vessels are now plying the Great Lakes in style and comfort. In fact, this writer would compare sailing on Victory I to spending a glorious 10 to 12 days in someone’s wonderful lake house. That is, if that lake house had a staff waiting on you hand and foot and a kitchen with nonstop culinary excellence from morning till night. I cannot say enough good things about Victory I’s international crew. There is simply nothing they won’t do for their passengers.
HOW ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS?
While there are two suites, most of Victory I’s cabins are best described as “snug”—but in a good way. They have every convenience, including a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and beer, television sets, ample connections for the completely free and excellent Wi-Fi aboard, plush bath towels, and twice-daily service from stewards who attend to these cheerful quarters.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY FOOD?
The headline says it all. We had the great pleasure to sit down with Victory I’s Chef de Cuisine, the extraordinary Rosario (Ross) Soriano. A native of the Philippines, Ross has a 27-year culinary career aboard cruise ships. His love affair with the kitchen started when he taught himself to cook at age 13. He abandoned his training in engineering to pursue his passion on the waters of the world. The variety of his menus is simply astonishing. A devotee of sauces, he is an aficionado of Italian cooking. But his brigade of 18 in the kitchen represents a culinary crew with skills in Indian, Asian, and “international” cooking. There’s both a baker whose croissants rival any French bakery’s and a pastry chef who produces desserts that are delicious works of art. Breakfasts in The Grill on the 4th Deck are astonishing for their variety and the talents of Chef Mustafa, whose skill with eggs is unparalleled. At night, the Grill is transformed into the Tuscan Stone Grill. This reservations-only space has two seatings to accommodate connoisseurs of hot lava rock cooking of prime cuts of steak and shrimp for seafood lovers. At every meal in every venue, excellent wines are served by attentive wine stewards with a disdain for empty glasses. Meanwhile, in the Compass Lounge and The Tavern, cocktails are served with great aplomb from bartender I Puto, a Balinese native, while waitstaff Nancy, Joseph, and Sharma are there to bring guests any libation they desire—and, with few exceptions, all are included in your fare.
THERE’S NEVER A LACK OF THINGS TO DO ABOARD VICTORY I
Two full days on the lakes with nary a port to see provide plenty of opportunities for the Cruise Director—who doubles as the ship’s entertainer—to muster games in the Compass Lounge. It’s also the setting for the daily talk by Victory’s onboard enrichment program, the LakeLorian®. Will, our LakeLorian on Victory I, covered a range of subjects including Great Lakes history, ecology, and culture every afternoon. Nightly port talks by Wendy and April set us up for the next day’s ports of call.
INCLUDED: A FIRST-RATE TOUR AT EVERY PORT
TORONTO: What you’ll see on your Victory I cruise is every bit as exciting as the ship itself. After an included overnight stay in Canada’s largest city, courtesy of Victory Cruise Lines, and an included city tour, we were off across Lake Ontario. By night, we entered the Welland Canal. In a series of eight locks, Victory I was raised 342 feet and docked in Port Colborne, Ontario, gateway to…
NIAGARA FALLS: The consensus is that Canada has a lock on the best of Niagara Falls. Since this writer was a first-time visitor to this truly extraordinary natural wonder, I would have to concur. Victory 1’s included tour of the hydroelectric plant—whose design is credited to none other than Nikola Tesla—took us by tunnel to within virtually feet of the falls. Simply astonishing! Overnight we sailed to…
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Not too long ago, Cleveland was cruelly referred to as “The Mistake on the Lake.” The moniker came when the Cuyahoga River, so polluted it had burst into flames on several occasions, made headlines. Now the city is the pride of Ohio, and nowhere does that show more than right where Victory I docks. There’s the Cleveland Browns stadium and, right next door, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Everyone from Chuck Berry to Cher is honored at this shrine to American music—with a liberal helping of British bands and hitmakers. Next up…
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
What a surprise Detroit is! That is, if you haven’t ever been there and seen just one thing: the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Started by the great man himself, it’s a virtual Smithsonian for gearheads, history buffs, and anyone who has ever wondered how we got from horse-drawn carriages to space shuttles. It’s got everything from the actual bus Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on, to the theater seat where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, to Bucky Fuller’s Dymaxion House that looks like something out of The Jetsons—and cars, cars, cars. Not included in Victory I’s tour but highly recommended is a quick cab ride to the Motown Museum and the original Hitsville USA. Off we sail for…
A DAY ON LAKE HURON
A perfect chance to enjoy Victory I on one of the five “inland seas” that make up the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by surface area, holding about 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. They’re shared by Canada and the United States. And for those of you who were wondering, the people of these provinces and states continue to live as good neighbors and friends no matter what has recently come out of Washington. Nowhere is that more apparent than at our next port of call…
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN
Often affectionately called “The Soo,” it’s a unique pair of cities straddling the U.S.–Canada border, each with its own identity yet deeply intertwined by geography, history, and culture. Both cities are situated along the St. Marys River, the waterway that connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron. Victory 1 docks on the American side of the river, and the included tour takes in the Soo Locks—an essential part of the Great Lakes shipping system. With luck, and if the locks aren’t occupied by enormous tankers, Victory 1 lives up to its theme of “All 5 Great Lakes” by cruising into Lake Superior and back again.
MACKINAC ISLAND COULD BE VICTORY I’S MOST PICTURESQUE PORT
Cars are banned, so horse-drawn carriages rule the roads. Victory I’s tour gives every passenger a seat in those carriages through the woods to Fort Mackinac, which overlooks the sweet town itself—known for its legendary fudge. Hard to miss and not to be missed is Grand Hotel, a genteel escape with “the world’s longest porch.” Mackinac is a pretty, pretty place with flower-filled gardens and views straight out of a postcard. And on we sail, right under the Mackinac Bridge, which links the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the rest of the state.
ESCANABA: A PROUD PLACE TO VISIT
Hugging the shores of Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc, our guides seemed almost surprised to see us. Once a bustling lumber and shipping hub, it’s now known for world-class walleye fishing and charming waterfront parks. It was here we learned about “Yoopers,” which is Upper Peninsula pride. For the foodies among us, we stopped for pasties—the UP’s signature handheld pie. We visited their museum—a delightful monument to local pride. Then we head for our last day on the lakes…
LAKE MICHIGAN AND ON TO CHICAGO
We were blessed with a beautiful sail down Lake Michigan. The waters were smooth as glass, the sun shone, and on the side of the lake the towers of Milwaukee appeared in the distance. The day on the lake is a fitting ending to a truly eye-opening experience aboard a truly worthy way to see the heart of North America.
YOU CAN STAY ON IN CHICAGO ON YOUR OWN DIME OR BE WHISKED TO O’HARE OR MIDWAY AIRPORTS FOR YOUR FLIGHTS HOME
Credit Cover Photo of Victory I and Chicago Photo to Victory Cruise Lines
All other photos credit Monte Mathews
~A world of discovery and wonder: Victory Cruise Lines® invites you to experience the unparalleled intimacy of small-ship cruising along North America’s most captivating waterways. Meticulously crafted itineraries traverse the grandeur of the Great Lakes and the enchanting allure of the Canadian Maritimes. Aboard elegantly appointed Victory I® and Victory II®, you’ll discover a world of secluded harbors, pristine coastlines, and serene seaways—destinations often inaccessible to larger vessels. Prepare to embark on a journey that redefines comfort and exploration. John Waggoner, a maritime veteran with 30+ years of experience, leads Victory Cruise Lines as CEO and lead visionary.
Contact a Cruises-N-More cruise specialist at 800-733-2048 (toll-free USA/Canada), +1-407-771-4454, 0-808-189-1292 (toll-free U.K.), or 800-076-002 (toll-free Australia).
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