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This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the impact the Great Lakes has had on US history and commerce. The staff is always happy to accommodate, and I strongly recommend the Chicago/Milwaukee to Toronto ten-day excursion. Laid back, generally relaxing days, the food was A+ and the service impeccable. I am a foodie, and the variety of food was impressive, although a few in our group complained about the soup... which was ridiculous, because the cioppino rivaled the best from the San Fran Bay area. The tours were pretty cool, if a couple a little pedestrian. Favorite tour was at the Sault St Marie Views & History... our curator, Paul, had encyclopedic knowledge and had real skin in the game, having lived with indigenous people for years. The Yander Camp boat tour was truly a highlight. We stayed in the AA cabins, though only 158 square feet, we had outside access, and our "valet" Fathur was fast and happy with all requests, large and small. EVERY employee on this boat was happy to be there, friendly and professional. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was a highlight, too, and Mackinac island was a special treat. We loved this trip, and are exploring other opportunities with Victory itineraries probably next year! Bar service by Putu and Jerrick was exceptional (great memories on these guys) and the restaurant service of Kingsly, Renz, and Marlow was terrific and fast. We had a red wine spill and these guys attacked it like a NASCAR pit crew. Wendy was the shor excursion manager and nothing got her rattled (sometimes customers are grouchy). Managers Tyron, Preston, Andrew were great and accessible socially, and Captain Kerr was always about... Slainte wa. Music by guitarist Logan Reeves carried the house band. Yes, first class and highly recommended!
We traveled in July 2025 having a wonderful cruise on the 5 Great Lakes! Cabins were pleasant, well kept with everything we needed. All Service and Food was excellent. For me, this is a Foodie cruise! Lake Lorian and retired Captain Lance talks were informative & enjoyable. Excursions were fun, interesting and well run! The house musicians, Logan & Jay are Fantastic with an extra plus of Kelly Rae, cruise director on drums. To top it off there was a guest singer Michaelyn Oby that was phenomenal. A wonderful cruise I highly recommend. Oh, the pre-night hotel was superb as well. A great trip!
Victory Cruise Line surpassed any expectations on Victory II’s inaugural cruise (Chicago to Toronto) sailing to the Great Lakes.It was our first experience with the company (now the passionate project of cruise visionary John Waggoner) but many of our fellow passengers had cruised with them when they were part of American Queen Steamboat Company. Their remarks were consistent with their praise, “If John Waggoner is at the helm, it will be a first-class product.”Our vessel was in glorious display in her prime dock position at Navy Pier.When we entered the ships lobby, and were offered a glass of champagne, and instinct told us there would be a lot to celebrate for the length of the cruise!The crew, staff and management were exceptional! They could compete with any luxury line for their attention to details and the extra gestures that made the guests feel like VIP’s.The hotel Manager, Louisa, has made her career in the cruising industry and it shows with her constant visibility, empathy and interest in the guests. It would not be unusual to see her check the coffee machine and if it was running low, to change it herself. ALL HANDS-ON DECK was the rule when it comes to service on the Victory II!You have to affix a smile on your face to walk in the corridor because every team member would greet you as you pass with an enthusiastic “Good morning!”How could you not be thrilled to start your day aboard this vessel?!The food was not only delicious - but it was also a work of art! There were locally sourced ingredients and offerings that spoke of a corporation that added options for a global traveler’s palate. Desserts were too good to resist (there is a gym that I consciously ignored) and selections like the “opera cake” were presented with a chocolate Treble Clef “painted” on the plate. So much planning must have been done to have this voyage sail so smoothly!The two sea days were filled with options during the day: Trivia challenges, Arts and Crafts classes, new release movie viewings in the Compass Lounge, brunch, afternoon tea, martini demonstrations, informative lectures…or you can curate your own cruise option by an afternoon siesta.A pleasant surprise was, though this is an intimately sized ship, they even have their own spa. Guests could book a menu of massage and facial options as well as schedule manicures, pedicures and haircuts.The talent of the “house band” was exposed from the first few notes of the guitar player, lead singer and “Lakelorian”, Ian Ross. With the trio of Ian, Zach on the drums and James on keyboard, there isn’t a genre of music that they couldn’t execute. They had a different play list of music for each evening, and, with the enthusiastic prodding of the audience, they played way past their standard hour.Good music can make or break a voyage when you generally are a captive audience after the early evening departure. They kept it fresh and lively, and it was rare to see anyone retire during their performance. The crowd showed their appreciation by dancing to The Beatles, Jazz and American Rock and Roll.A special shout out to our fabulous and pleasant cabin steward, Eka, who worked around OUR schedule and never missed cleaning our room twice a day. More importantly, he gained our trust the first day when he discovered my wallet had fallen out of my pants (draped on the chair) into the waste basket. He left a personal note explaining his discovery. Second, only to that were the sweet treats that were a part of every evening’s turn-down service.It appears I have gotten a little winded with my memories of such a wonderful cruise fresh in my mind on our return home, but I wanted to take a moment and recognize their excellence. Last but not least, the excursions and the destinations were wonderful and is why travelers choose the Great Lakes. Where else can you experience the majesty of Niagara Falls (and be soaked by its mist), the feeling of time travel on Mackinac Island or endless options that only cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and Toronto can offer?Victory Cruise Lines – we will CHOOSE you, anytime!
VICTORY CRUISE LINE'S ship, Victory II, has procured a passionate and competent staff that had clearly done their homework! Their inaugural cruise of the Great Lakes (Chicago to Toronto) was perfectly executed with fabulous meals, highly professional musicians and fantastic destinations!
Knowing what we know now, yes we would still book this cruise. That said, there were glitches. This was the first cruise of the season; some initial food inconsistencies got fixed quickly. The contracted pier locations at the beginning and end of the cruise were pretty bad, especially the one in Chicago (pick-up cabs had difficulty accessing the facility). We did not expect an "entertainment" cruise -- it shouldn't be. The focus should be on seeing and learning. Unfortunately the outsource for the local tours was quite spotty and it seemed like some of the bus drivers hadn't been instructed on routes. There were only two local experts giving talks on the ship; we expected more. The locations themselves were very interesting and worth it all.The ship was pleasant, cabins comfortable and adequate. Food was very good and quite varied, breakfast had a buffet as well as a cooked to order option. However, the option outside of the main dining room (the Grill on topside) was mostly a repeat of main. The Grill should offer sandwich fixings and more salad (lighter stuff) at lunch rather than the same menu as below. The bar was well provisioned.We appreciated the espresso machine with cookies in the lounge (minor complaint: coffee in the restaurant was pretty wimpy). The crew was excellent and service was stellar!We stayed extra days on either end of the trip (Toronto and Chicago), and this should be offered as an option.If the glitches get worked out, this will be a 4-5 star cruise.
This was a great trip for sites and history of this region and i thoroughly enjoyed the every bit of it. It was a great experience.The crew was very nice and made every effort to make you comfortable.There appeared to be some new crew members that were not as good as others but did try hard and by the end of the trip were getting their stride.The food was average but gave a good variety and was always fresh. The rooms were not fancy, but clean and the crew did of great job of daily cleaning and bed change.The excursions were included which was great and the tour guides in each stop were well educated and informative on the history of their tour. Slower pace and relaxing. i would recommend this trip for those 50+ since not a party boat but designed for site seeing and exploration.
Daily info on the navigation route....what is being passed,interesting history, special navigation required etc. at sea day would be a great time for a talk on the river.more info on the ports and hints on “to do” options. Interesting things to see/do beyond the scheduled tours. Hop on, hop off options so those that want to spend more time at the art gallery can do so...those that want to do walking tours can do so etc. maps showing options and pick up locationsAdd buffet to lunch in dining room or replace lunch with a buffet. This may be a nice option for breakfast too. FOOD WAS GREAT! Have urns of coffee or brewed pots available in the lounge by 6a with to go cups for those that want to take a cup back to the roomA great trip...we have recommended to others.
We were on the inaugural cruise for Victory II from Montreal to Detroit. It was a special price and was worth every penny! there were some issues due to the newness of the ship, but the crew and staff worked overtime to correct them. The food was good and the company even better. They will be adding more local info lectures in the future and local entertainment as they took down all our suggestions. I had to go to the doctor and she was helpful and I used the spa for a massage that helped immensely. The tours were great and included in the price. Hope to take advantage of future specials.
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The indisputable joy of sailing is brought to life on the M/V Victory I and II, agile intimate ships that easily navigate canals and locks, tranquil bays, and hidden ports where larger ships dare not go. Our unique destinations include the Great Lakes, Cuba, St. Lawrence Seaway, Canadian Maritimes and New England.
Onboard, fresh, modern design tips its hat to our maritime past as spacious, open-air lounges, inviting dining venues, and generous windows ensure you never miss a chance to savor the spectacular view.See more
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