I Took a Victory Cruise Lines Cruise to All 5 Great Lakes

We had beautiful weather most every day during our 10-day voyage to see all five Great Lakes with Victory Cruise Line. Mackinac Island was a highlight, of course. (Photo by Colleen McDaniel)

I was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., which is located in Upstate New York, a lovely four-seasons region known for the Finger Lakes and wine production.

Quite often during my childhood, and as a young adult, I would get out onto Lake Ontario during the summertime or go for a visit to Niagara Falls, which was just more than an hour down the highway from my home.

I even took a few trips up to Toronto for long weekends to watch the Blue Jays play at the SkyDome or just to spend time in the bustling cosmopolitan city.

In the many years since that time, it's been fascinating to see how the Great Lakes have emerged as a favored destination for cruisers in recent years, with several companies offering small-ship voyages on the five fascinating waterways that make up the Great Lakes chain.

I have been all over the world on cruises, but it was about time to take a trip that brought me back to Lake Ontario (and put me onto the other four lakes, too!). 

Colleen and I finally got the chance to experience a Great Lakes cruise, sailing with Victory Cruise Lines on its 10-day “All 5 Great Lakes” itinerary that took us from Toronto to Milwaukee on the 202-passenger ship Victory I.

The voyage rekindled plenty of old memories and created a bunch of new ones as we had a full trip sprinkled with a variety of nice experiences — both onboard and ashore.

The weather was wonderful throughout, and the cruise proved to be a delightfully relaxing mid-summer getaway.

We traveled with more than 160 others, and most of those we talked to also enjoyed the voyage in similar ways — mixing their days with educational shore excursions, conversations with new friends over meals, afternoon naps and nights on the dance floor swaying to the sounds created by the ship’s talented musicians. 

A Great Lakes cruise gives travelers the sense that they’re on a journey through North America’s heartland. You have the chance to experience plenty of scenic wonders alongside cultural heritage.

Here’s what you should know about a Great Lakes cruise with Victory.

Our Itinerary

Our cruise brought us to eight port cities during 11 days. (Photo by John Roberts)

Day 1

We embarked in Toronto, and Victory Cruise Lines includes a one-night stay at the Westin Harbour Castle, which has a convenient location right on the waterfront. The hotel is filled with great amenities, too, like a gym, spa, pool, tennis and basketball. Plus, it’s located near plenty of restaurants. 

Day 2

A premium tour (for a fee) is offered (the half-day Towers & Design of Toronto), or you can spend several hours independently experiencing the city before meeting back at the hotel lobby for a shuttle bus transfer to the ship.

Victory I set sail around 6 p.m. on our trip.

Day 3

Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada

This small port town is where your ship docks for the day to allow for excursions to Niagara Falls (about an hour bus ride). Victory offers five excursions, and the included tour is the popular boat ride in the Niagara River gorge to see Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls up close.

Day 4

Cleveland

There’s plenty to do in this city, and the included excursion is a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Day 5

Toledo (for Detroit)

We docked in Toledo, where cruisers could enjoy an included tour to the National Museum of the Great Lakes (offered both a.m. and p.m.) and also take the ride to Detroit for an included tour of The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (also a.m. or p.m.). 

The schedule allows for both. The premium excursion, which many people picked, is the “Ford’s Innovation & Ingenuity” full-day tour of the Rouge River Complex, Dearborn Truck Plant, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Day 6

Scenic sailing on Lake Huron

Day 7

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the Soo Locks

We reached the end of Lake Huron and transited through the Soo Locks to dip into Lake Superior for a few moments before transiting the locks back again to tie up in Sault Ste. Marie for the day’s excursions.

Day 8

Mackinac Island, Michigan

A picture postcard of summer bliss, Mackinac Island is the prettiest port on the itinerary. 

Active travelers can pick a biking experience (premium excursion) to see the island. Our group of cruisers loved the included horse-drawn carriage ride to tour the island, which has no cars or other motorized vehicles. Horse carriages and bikes are the primary modes of transportation.

Day 9

Escanaba, Michigan

This town on Lake Michigan is the final stop before setting off for Milwaukee and the end of the journey.

An included tour gives cruisers an insight into the town’s history, discussing indigenous people and industrial innovations. A handful of travelers picked the premium fishing experience.

Day 10

Scenic sailing on Lake Michigan

Day 11

Milwaukee for disembarkation at the end of the voyage.

The Ship (Victory I)

Victory I was built specifically for Great Lakes cruising. The ship features five passenger decks and carries up to 202 people. (Photo by John Roberts)

Victory I offers a classic coastal steamer design with five passenger decks and a modest number of amenities. It launched in 2001 as the ship Cape May Light and also has been known as Sea Voyager, Ocean Voyager and St. Laurent under different ownership. 

Victory I most recently was part of the American Queen Voyages fleet under the ownership of Hornblower Group. When Hornblower filed for bankruptcy, it ceased operating American Queen and that company’s vessels and sold them off in early 2024.

American Queen’s former CEO John Waggoner purchased Victory I, as well as sister ship Victory II (formerly Ocean Navigator), and relaunched Victory Cruise Lines.

These two ships were built specifically for Great Lakes cruising, and travelers should be grateful that Waggoner has rescued them and resuscitated the line for these highly pleasurable voyages.

That’s a bit of background; now, let’s look at what the ship offers.

We stayed in Cabin 418, a Club Level Deluxe Outside Stateroom with access to the veranda. (Photo by John Roberts)

The cabins offer standard amenities. We stayed in No. 418, and all the staterooms on this deck open to the promenade, creating a balcony feel with two chairs and a table set outside the rooms. The cabin measures about 161 square feet. 

The bathrooms and showers are small, and Victory provides high-quality toiletry products from Aveda (lotion, body wash, shampoo, conditioner). Our room had a nice desk, a mini-fridge, TV and two wardrobes. It was a comfy home where we could organize everything nicely during our voyage.

This is the small bathroom in our stateroom. (Photo by John Roberts)

One note of warning: There are too many in-cabin announcements throughout the day. These might come in at inconvenient times, such as afternoon right after lunch time, when cruisers like to take naps.

The Coastal Dining Room is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with table service and a menu that features new items daily alongside some always-available classics like, steak, salmon and chicken breast. 

The Coastal Dining Room is the ship’s main restaurant. (Photo by John Roberts)

The Grill is a casual restaurant with a buffet-style breakfast and lunch, and it becomes Tuscan Grill during the evening with a hot-stone cook-at-your-table experience. 

You can sizzle up your own steaks (sirloin, filet mignon, ribeye), jumbo shrimp, tuna or a mixed grill with all the sides and sauces. 

Throughout the day, cruisers pop in here to grab a cup of coffee or a soft-serve cone from the ice cream machine (plenty of toppings available).

The Compass Lounge is the primary social space on Victory I. (Photo by John Roberts)

The Compass Lounge is the primary social spot. This is where you can read a book, find coffee, tea, sandwiches and cookies, listen to enrichment talks from the ship’s Lakelorian and enjoy an afternoon movie on the pull-down screen (complete with fresh bags of popcorn!) or an evening of live music and dancing.

Beyond the Compass Lounge toward the front of the ship is The Tavern, a bar and lounge space that is a good spot to hang out with a little more privacy to play games, put together a puzzle or chat with friends.

The Tavern is the stylish bar on Victory I and a wonderful place to play games or read a book. (Photo by John Roberts)

The ship has a nice little supply of books, board games and cards.

A small fitness center features a yoga mat, two exercise bikes, an elliptical machine and some weights. There are no bikes carried by the ship, but we did a lot of walking in port, as well as a few runs and also got in a daily workout in the gym.

The fitness center is well equipped and was lightly used during our trip so we could always pop in for a workout and have the space mostly to ourselves. (Photo by John Roberts)

A spa therapist offers a variety of massage treatments onboard.

Cruisers head to the bow area and promenade on Deck 4 to check out any scenery or to watch the process for going through the locks. There also is a sun deck at the back on Deck 5 that offers lounge chairs, tables and a seating area under a canopy. This is also the spot on the ship with a little smoking area.

There is a lot of ship noise from the engines that you will hear in the main dining room and from other equipment that runs constantly next to the aft sun deck area, so be prepared for thar.

The Food, Service and Entertainment

Preston, Sharma and Putu are just a few of the friendly crew who work hard to ensure their guests have a memorable experience. (Photo by John Roberts)

The cruisers on our trip were all from the U.S., coming from a variety of places, such as Wisconsin, Florida, New Mexico, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota. 

We came from our home in Colorado. 

The average age was about 75, and they said they wanted something closer to home that didn’t require a long flight overseas. 

The thing that stands out for me is how much everyone raved about the food onboard Victory I. Meals and at least one daily shore excursion are included in your fare, as are all drinks (except certain premium liquors).

Breakfasts are largely the same every day, with omelets and eggs made to order, pancakes or french toast, potatoes, bacon and sausage links.

The buffet also features meats, cheeses, muesli, yogurts, oatmeal and a selection of berries and other fresh fruits.

The menus for lunch and dinner always offer at least one seafood and vegetarian option. We were spoiled for choices with items like appetizers of Louisiana redfish croquette, roasted bone marrow, chicken and roasted corn chowder, seafood cioppino, as well as main courses like herb-crusted black Angus tenderloin and garlic-seared Maine lobster.

The lunch menu also offers a nice Angus burger or vegetarian burger with fries. 

The buffet at The Grill provides quick and easy comfort food for lunch. During our cruise, you could always get three kinds of pasta, a variety of pizza, hot dogs and something like a quesadilla or panini. 

This is accompanied by a salad bar and a selection of desserts.

On days of scenic sailing, the program features a wonderful late-morning brunch spread. The menu offers quite the array of items, such as honey mustard glazed Virginia ham, roasted pork shoulder and grilled salmon, Lake Michigan whitefish and eggs, Ohio buckeye pancakes, Michigan apple and cinnamon bagel and fresh fruit crepes.

Tea time also is offered during the afternoons of days “at sea.” Cruisers flock to the Coastal Dining Room for beautifully curated towers of small bites — with both savory and sweet selections to enjoy with their teas.

The staff takes wonderful care of the cruisers. We noticed many times when a crew member would be on hand to assist less-mobile travelers who needed a little help up and down stairs or onto and off of the gangway in port.

Staff also built an excellent rapport with their guests as the trip went on, and you’ll see smiles, and hugs exchanged in the dining room each morning or lively banter taking place among the bartenders and their regulars in the Tavern.

We had phenomenal service from our cabin steward Fathur, who kept our room exceptionally tidy and always made sure we had plenty of our favorite cold drinks stocked up in our mini-fridge.

Onboard entertainment comes in several forms on this type of cruise. You can enjoy leisure time with friends playing games or doing puzzles on your own, or reading a book, as we saw several people do on the trip. 

The program also offers movies on the screen in the lounge most days — complete with fresh popcorn.

There was a corn hole tournament, towel animal demonstration, appreciation for military veterans, chair yoga and enrichment chats about the lakes with our lakelorian Will Van Dorp. People really enjoyed gathering outside to see the process of going through the locks, too.

The nights featured wonderful themed music sets from the house band. With shows dedicated to Carole King, 70s rock and roll, country, Billy Joel vs. Elton John and Broadway. 

Cruisers danced into the late night after dinner at these shows in the Compass Lounge.

About Our Voyage

Cruisers gather to enjoy the skyline scenes during our morning sailing into Cleveland. (Photo by John Roberts)

The Great Lakes are known as North America’s inland seas, and for me, this trip offered a blend of natural splendor, cultural richness and historical charm. 

It was really cool to get a mix of both vibrant cities and quaint towns while sailing through some of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems. 

Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover or culture enthusiast, I think this trip is something that everyone should experience.

We started our journey with the overnight stay in Toronto and used our free time to have a dinner at Steam Whistle Brewery and then a beer at Amsterdam Brewhouse right in the bustling harborfront area.

Embarkation was in the afternoon the next day, so we toured the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a must for sports fans, and I loved seeing all the displays of jerseys and hockey masks to see just how the game has evolved over the decades.

What follows is a look at our port stops as we cruised all five Great Lakes from Toronto to Milwaukee.

Port Colborne, Ontario: The Gateway to Niagara Falls

Victory I in Port Colborne. (Photo by John Roberts)

Port Colborne, a small port city at the mouth of the Welland Canal, is a key stop for accessing Niagara Falls.

Welland Canal Lock 8, at 1,378 feet, this is one of the longest locks in the world. Watch ships navigate this engineering feat from an observation footbridge, a highlight of the canal’s role as a commerce route.

We went on a morning run along the canal and through the waterside park in town before hopping on a bus to head to Niagara Falls for a thrilling boat ride that got us up close to the power of the falls.

Be prepared to get wet. The boats are packed with tourists, and you can hear the power of the water while the mists spray all around. It’s really fun to see the American falls and Canada’s iconic Horseshoe Falls up close from this perspective on the Niagara River.

Cleveland: Home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Cruisers enjoy an included tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when Victory Cruise Lines visits Cleveland (Photo by John Roberts)

Cleveland has undergone a nice revival, making it a vibrant hub on Lake Erie. The city gives you dynamic blend of music, history and scenic views.

Victory I is docked right next to the Cleveland Browns’ football stadium, Huntington Bank Field.

Again, if you’re a sports fan, like me, it’s nice to have a stroll around the stadium to snap pics alongside sculptures of NFL legends Jim Brown and Otto Graham.

The highlight of this stop is the included tour to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A must-visit for music lovers, the I.M. Pei-designed museum is home to all the music legends and fascinating pieces of memorabilia — from Prince’s Blue Angel Guitar to Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” set. 

The hall of fame covers six floors, with each telling an interesting story about rock’s history. Colleen and I walked here from the ship after lunch (shuttles also are provided by Victory, of course) and spent a couple hours poring over all the great music and memories that are provided within the walls of the facility.

Toledo, Ohio: The Glass City

Toledo is known as “Glass City,” and you can visit the Glass City Center and the city’s museum of art to get an overview of the history of glassworks in the city. (Photo by John Roberts)

This city proved to be a little gem. Located on Lake Erie’s western shore, Toledo is known for its glass collection, and the Toledo Museum of Art offers world-class exhibits that show off all kinds of creations in the glass medium, from ancient times to contemporary art.

Victory Cruise Lines offers two key included tours during its stop in Toledo. Cruisers can do both — the National Museum of the Great Lakes and The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (in Detroit) — which each have a morning and afternoon option.

The people I chatted with loved the National Museum of the Great Lakes, where you can learn about the region’s maritime history with artifacts and interactive displays. The museum has a scenic location on the Maumee River.

I enjoyed my tour of the fascinating The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Detroit. (Photo by John Roberts)

I chose to do only the Henry Ford innovation museum in the afternoon after walking around Toledo for several miles on my own during the morning. The streets were quiet during the weekday morning, but I enjoyed getting over to see Hensville and the stadium of the Toledo Mud Hens International League baseball team, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers whose history dates to 1896.

The Henry Ford museum was also fantastic, with all kinds of cars on display, as well as dozens of innovations and processes from the fast-paced era of the industrial revolution.

A highlight here, though, is getting to step onto the Rosa Parks bus, which is owned and proudly displayed by the museum. You can even sit in Rosa Parks’ seat and chat with a dedicated docent onboard about this important moment for civil rights.

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan: Transiting the Soo Locks

This was my favorite excursion. A group of us went kayaking in Lake Huron and Lake Superiors to go through the old lock system. (Photo by John Roberts)

We arrived at this city at the mouth of the St. Mary’s River to transit the Soo Locks and get into Lake Superior. 

It was just for a few moments before we turned back around and went through the locks again before tying up for the day back in the Lake Huron side of the locks. So, we technically cruised to all five Great Lakes, although not much time is spent on Superior on this itinerary.

The Soo Locks are a marvel of engineering, and tours are offered to the Soo Locks Observation Deck, where you can watch massive freighters navigate the locks.

They handle 10,000 ships each year and are called the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes.” 

I was able to go through the locks a third time (the old locks) and get back onto the Lake Superior side because I picked a kayaking tour for my afternoon shore excursion. 

This is a premium excursion offered by Victory and a great pick for people who like a little active adventure. 

There were five of us who joined our two guides to paddle five miles across the shipping channels and through the old lock system before coming back to Victory I. 

We had fantastic weather conditions, and it was great way to spend a sunny summer afternoon. 

Colleen and I then walked into town to get a well-earned cold craft beer at Bird’s Eye Outfitters. 

Mackinac Island, Michigan: A Step Back in Time

There are no cars on Mackinac Island, so horse carriages are a primary mode of transportation. (Photo by John Roberts)

This town is situated on an island in the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Mackinac Island owns a distinct identity as a car-free haven steeped in Victorian charm. This port is a staple on nearly every Great Lakes cruise because it’s registered as a National Historic Landmark, which captivates visitors with a special ambiance and idyllic scenery and pace.

With motor vehicles banned since 1898, horse-drawn carriages are the primary mode of getting around. Cruisers from Victory I piled into the carriages that were pulled alongside the port area awaiting us on the main street in town.

Off we went for a wonderful tour, pulled by a pair of strong draft horses. Tours take you past Victorian mansions, the famed Grand Hotel, Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac, offering a nostalgic journey through the island’s history.

You also can rent a bike and easily pedal around the island during your visit. Don’t forget to pick up some fudge at one of the islands many shops selling the sweet treat for which the island as in well known.

Escanaba, Michigan: A Charming Waterfront Town

Our last port stop before disembarking in Milwaukee was the pretty town of Escanaba, Michigan. (Photo by John Roberts)

Nestled on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along Little Bay de Noc, Escanaba is a serene port town that blends maritime history with natural beauty.

We went on a premium tour to a farm connected to Michigan State University to learn about forestry conservation efforts and the region’s maple-processing industry.

During the afternoon, we walked to nearby Ludington Park and the picturesque waterfront that features pretty marinas. 

The park’s waterfront is ideal for a leisurely walk to take in Lake Michigan’s beauty. We passed by the town’s signature Sand Point Lighthouse, which is a symbol of Escanaba’s maritime past. This beautifully restored lighthouse once guided ships through the coastal shoals.

The Bottom Line

Our final excursion was a visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. (Photo by John Roberts)

This delightful Great Lakes cruise allowed us to design our summer days just as we liked, with plenty of time to be active or just relax and play cards, all while visiting some cool new destinations that we never had considered before.

We chose to buy the excursion to the Harley-Davidson Museum that included a transfer to the airport on the day we disembarked in Milwaukee. This is a great way to spend the day if you have a flight a little later in the day and want to make sure that you get a little taste of Milwaukee added into your trip, too.

Overall, it’s the special touches that make a Victory Cruise special. Each night, we would find a new treat on our bed. 

These little highly curated surprises were tied in to our destination, and we were able to enjoy goodies like Joann’s Fudge from Mackinac Island; Garrett Mix from Chicago; Sanders sea salt caramel candies from Michigan and Seeroogy’s chocolate meltaways from Wisconsin. 

Happy travels, everyone.

More Moments from Our Great Lakes Cruise with Victory Cruise Lines