The Great Lakes cruise industry is alive and well, though this year saw the absence of two prominent boats. The Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager, which were frequent guests of Mackinac Island and other Michigan ports in 2023, were sold off last year as American Queen Voyages filed for bankruptcy. Now, Victory Cruise Lines plans a return to the Great Lakes in 2025 with the two boats returning with their previous names of Victory I and Victory II. This has the potential to add 7,000 more passengers to the 2025 sailing season, adding to the estimated 20,000 passengers that will visit us this year. Today we will take a look at the boats and the Michigan ports they plan to call on in 2025.

The Victory I and Victory II were regular Great Lakes visitors at one point, then were sold to another company and renamed as Ocean Navigator and Ocean Explorer. John Waggoner, who was part of bringing these ships under the American Queen Voyages banner before retiring, has come out of retirement to get them moving again. According to SeaTrade Cruise News, Waggoner acquired the boats in 2018 for $55 million and was able to get them back after AQV declared bankruptcy for a cost of just $2 million. The Victory II needs some extensive work, while the Victory I needs mostly cosmetic upgrades, and those repairs will take place in Portland, Maine.

Now let’s look at what ports these ships will call on next year. The 15-day “Chicago Round Trip” cruise stops at Mackinac Island, Marquette, Houghton, the Soo Locks, and Muskegon as well as other ports in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ontario.

The 12-day “Chicago to Montreal” cruise stops in Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and Detroit as well as ports in Ohio, Ontario, and Quebec.

Looking for a shorter cruise? The 10-day “Chicago to Toronto” cruise departs Chicago then makes stops in Escanaba, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and Detroit as well as stops in Cleveland, Niagara Falls, and Toronto.

You can find all the cruise information on the Victory Cruise Lines website. Cruises kick off next May and rates start at $5,799 per person (Chicago to Toronto), $6,999 per person (Chicago to Montreal), and $8,699 per person (Chicago round trip). Travel to and from departure and arrival locations is not included. The Victory Cruise Lines ships will re-join a Great Lakes cruise fleet that includes vessels from Viking Expedition Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Pearl Seas Cruises. The 2024 estimate for economic impact from cruise ships on the Great Lakes is around $200 million.