In July of 2016, a new cruise line was launched, called Victory Cruise Lines, with itineraries to the Great Lakes in the summer and to Cuba in the winter. The flagship is the VICTORY I, a 210 passenger vessel that leans towards a luxury, upscale all-inclusive experience. Only a handful of small cruise ships have tackled the unique Great Lakes itineraries, which include numerous passages through locks. Cruises within the Great Lakes is still a relatively new seasonal market, and now with the Victory I, there’s a fresh new option for exploring the rich history of the Great Lakes.
The Ship
The Victory I was originally built in Jacksonville, Florida in 1999 as the Cape May Light, designed specifically for coastal cruising. Eighty-one crew members serve up to 210 passengers in a simple, comfortable onboard environment. There are two lounges on Deck Two, a dining room on Deck One, and an open-air bar / restaurant on Deck Four, with an observation deck area to relax in a deck chair on Deck Five. Victory I is a simple ship with touches of luxury throughout. There are wonderful brass handrails on the stairwell, a victorian decor in the Compass Lounge, and a cozy Seascape Tavern with big leather chairs to sink into while sipping your favorite drink.
The Itinerary
Victory Cruise Lines has developed some fascinate itineraries on the Great Lakes, and with the all-inclusive element to the cruise, the shore excursions are included. This review is about the Victory I cruising from Montreal, Canada through the Saint Lawrence River, Lake Huron, Mackinac Island, Lake Michigan and ending in Chicago. The ten-day itinerary allows two days at sea, and fascinating excursions to Niagara Falls, the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, a visit with the Ojibwe people in the quaint village of Little Current, and a historic journey through time at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
The following video was filmed aboard the Victory I in September of 2016:
Click the image to watch the video
Don’t contact just any travel agency to book a Victory Cruise Lines adventure…contact the Victory Cruise Line experts at Vantage Travel using the following link: Vantage Adventures
A great-level of experience is behind the development of the new Victory Cruise Lines, with veteran cruise industry executive, Bruce Nierenberg at the helm. The unique vision for Victory Cruise Lines is to have the vessel spend summers on the Great Lakes and spend winters cruising from Miami to Cuba. The “golden itinerary” of Cuba is making headlines as cruise lines are taking advantage of the recent loosening of restrictions to Americans visiting the island.
Click-on this image to visit our complete photo album of a Great Lakes cruise aboard the Victory I. Immerse yourself in researching Victory Cruise Lines and the Victory I on this website through our video above and our photo album accessible by clicking on the image to the left. Also, for anyone considering a Great Lakes cruise aboard the Victory I, the first link you should visit is the following link to VANTAGE ADVENTURES. Discover the pricing and many itinerary options available through the experts at Vantage Travel. Coming soon is also a podcast featuring more in-depth interviews with the Captain, the Cruise Director and other key people with Victory Cruise Lines.
How luxurious is the Victory I?
Victory Cruise Lines has some great qualities in a first-class, all-inclusive cruise experience. First, the world-class shore excursions are included in the cruise fare. No worries trying to plan or choose the right shore excursions, because the experts at Victory Cruise Lines have done their research and developed excellent guided excursions. Second, drinks are included in the cruise fare. Unless your palate requires more expensive tastes, house wines, beer and soft drinks are included in the cruise fare. If there is a unique dietary request, do not hesitate to send your request to Victory Cruise Lines, or through your Vantage Travel coordinator. Victory Cruise Lines makes the extra effort to accommodate and consider the special needs of all their passengers. Thirdly, the dining onboard the Victory I is exceptional. The Shearwater Dining Room is a welcoming, classy room with a consistently excellent menu, created by an Executive Chef that could be employed in the most upscale restaurants world-wide.
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