A cruise line is poised for a comeback — in a surprising destination

Another cruise line is gearing up to relaunch after months of inactivity — in a location that usually sees few cruise ships.

Victory Cruise Lines, a small-ship operator that was recently part of American Queen Voyages, is set to resume operations in April with journeys on the Great Lakes.

John Waggoner, a prominent figure in the maritime industry, is reviving the two-ship line. He acquired Victory's vessels in May through an auction following the bankruptcy of American Queen Voyages.

Waggoner has previous ties to these ships, having led American Queen Voyages when they were initially purchased in 2018. He founded American Queen Voyages but was no longer an owner when it was bankrupted earlier this year by its new owners.

Waggoner's newly established company announced on Tuesday that Victory will resume operations on April 16 with a special 10-night cruise from Portland, Maine, to Toronto aboard the 190-passenger Victory I.

Titled the New England and Canada 2025 Reunion Cruise, this journey will be hosted by Waggoner and his wife, Claudette, featuring a route through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes.

The ship is set to be rechristened in Toronto on April 27.

The line's second vessel, the 190-passenger Victory II, will begin operations soon after, with its rechristening scheduled for May 12 in Chicago.

The inaugural season for both ships will offer itineraries that cover all five Great Lakes.

"As devoted fans of maritime journeys, my wife Claudette and I are excited to see the team open bookings for the inaugural season as we get ready to explore these stunning waters," Waggoner expressed in a statement related to the announcement. "Our cruise experience will include many unique touches, such as being the sole cruise line allowed to dock at Chicago's Navy Pier, making our ships a true home away from home as we navigate all five Great Lakes."

Both Victory vessels were specially designed to fit the locks of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, which are narrower than many locks worldwide. Their compact size — approximately 5,000 gross tons — enables them to access smaller harbors and dock at downtown marinas that larger ships cannot reach.

On Tuesday, the relaunching line announced its entire schedule of planned sailings for 2025, which includes a total of 36 voyages.

Among these, there will be 33 trips that visit each of the five Great Lakes — the highest number offered by any cruise operator.

The cruise line announced that all voyages will include a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay at a luxury property along with ground transfers, a service unmatched by any other line for every sailing.

The inaugural sailing season will consist of:

• Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes cruises from Chicago to Toronto, navigating through all five Great Lakes. There will be 25 departures from April to September 2025, with stops at Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) in Ontario.
• Nine-night Ultimate Great Lakes cruises that follow a similar route but start in Milwaukee after an overnight hotel stay in Chicago. Six of these will operate from May to August 2025.
• Eleven-night Ultimate Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway cruises from Chicago to Montreal, traversing the St. Lawrence Seaway. Three of these sailings are scheduled for September and October 2025, with stops at Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and Detroit in Michigan; Cleveland; and Niagara Falls (Port Colborne) and Toronto in Ontario.
• Fourteen-night round-trip Great Lakes and Thunder Bay cruises from Chicago, with two sailings planned for May and June. Stops will include an overnight at Mackinac Island, as well as Marquette, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie, and Muskegon in Michigan; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; and Green Bay, Wisconsin (for an overnight).

In recent years, the Great Lakes have seen a rise in popularity as a cruise destination, partly due to the introduction of a new line in the area, Viking, which launched its first Great Lakes cruises in 2023.

The Great Lakes also feature small-ship specialist Pearl Seas Cruises.

Constructed in the early 2000s, the two Victory ships are compact coastal vessels offering 95 cabins across four passenger decks. Each ship includes a primary dining venue known as the Coastal Dining Room for formal meals, along with a more relaxed buffet option called The Grill.

These ships boast a central lounge called the Compass Lounge, where guests can enjoy sing-along piano music, as well as an English-style tavern.

Atop each vessel, there are sun decks furnished with cushioned sofas for relaxation.

Each ship is accompanied by Great Lakes experts, referred to as "Lakelorians," who provide lectures on the region's history, ecology, and culture.

Itineraries for the ships became available for booking on Tuesday, with prices starting at $5,799 per passenger. This fare includes unlimited beverages such as wine, spirits, local craft beers, and specialty coffees, along with unlimited Wi-Fi and a shore excursion at every port.

The fare also includes a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, as well as ground transfers between the hotel and the ship.

Victory is resuming operations alongside luxury operator Crystal, which had paused services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal restarted its sailings under new ownership in July 2023.

For more details about the new Victory sailings, visit the Victory Cruise Lines website.