John Waggoner, founder of Victory Cruise Lines, talks a lot about “getting the band back together.” He means it. A little over a year after the collapse of American Queen Voyages dragged Victory Cruise Lines and its two vessels under, Waggoner has reassembled the team and relaunched the Victory brand — pulling out all the stops in the process.
When I boarded Victory II at its Navy Pier berth in Chicago (Victory is the only line to claim such prestigious docking rights), I was greeted by fresh decor, carpeting and soft furnishings, as well as new tableware and plenty of other little niceties that made the 190-passenger ship sparkle.
Underneath the gently rumbling decks, substantial technical enhancements have been made to ensure Victory II and its identical sister ship, Victory I, don’t reveal a trace of their 24 years in operation. And in its operations on the Great Lakes, Victory shines.
The ship has been refreshed for its relaunch.
Credit: 2025 Victory Cruise Lines
Lines have been dabbling in the region for decades, dating back to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ venture onboard the then-Columbus in the late 1990s. And even as other lines move in (such as Viking, which has deployed the 378-passenger Viking Polaris on similar itineraries), all it takes is one visit to Michigan’s Mackinac Island to set Victory apart: Victory II’s smaller size let us dock in the heart of town, while other passengers had to tender ashore in the fog and high wind.
Standout Features of Victory II
On my voyage to Toronto, Canada, the ship surprised me in a variety of pleasant ways. Entertainment — a weak link on most small ships — delighted with a trio of musicians paired with an amazing vocalist who played each evening to a packed house.
Arts-and-crafts lessons were offered on sailing days and between excursions, and a mid-afternoon matinee was shown in the main lounge most days. Free-flowing beverages kept cruisers in The Tavern day and night, and — thanks to a partnership with the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio — several historical artifacts were on display.
The Tavern is a popular gathering spot.
Credit: 2025 Victory Cruise LinesVictory II’s multi-national crew was another treat, composed of experienced and knowledgeable sailors (such as the ship’s hotel director, who has worked for P&O Cruises Australia and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection). These industry vets are paired with young, eager-to-learn teammates who are all too happy to be there.
The ship also offers two dining options: The Grill and The Coastal Dining Room. Both serve breakfast and lunch, while The Grill becomes a casual “hot rocks” venue at night, where meat and seafood are cooked atop a slab of black volcanic rock. The Coastal Dining Room offered some of the best onboard meals I’ve had in a long time. From locally inspired specialties to past passenger favorites, the cuisine was uniformly excellent, paired with a global selection of complimentary wines.
Onshore, Victory offers an included tour in each port of call, along with tours to more far-flung locales for an additional fee. Complimentary offerings include visiting the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation near Detroit and boating to Niagara Falls from Port Colborne, Canada. Additional-cost tours are priced around $109 per person, an absolute steal considering the quality of these adventures.
Besides the inclusions, the crew and the cuisine, the relaunch of Victory Cruise Lines has managed to achieve something far more special and intangible: the resurrection of a beloved brand whose casual luxury can be enjoyed for generations to come. And, only a short time after its return, the line is already firing on all cylinders.
