By Ted Scull.
Established in 2016 with a single ship — 202-passenger VICTORY I — Victory Cruise Lines started out offering Cuba and Great Lakes cruises. Achieving a very high occupancy rate, according to the line, a second ship was sought to expand capacity and the range of itineraries, and so Victory Cruise Lines adds a sistership in May 2018.
Both ships were originally destined for Delta Queen Coastal Cruises, but only the first ship, CAPE MAY LIGHT, started operating in 2001. Soon the line went bankrupt and the second ship, to be named CAPE COD LIGHT, was never delivered. Now she will join the line in May 2018 as VICTORY II after a substantial refit to bring her in line with the first vessel.
Passengers will embark in Gloucester, an attractive seaside port not far from Boston, to call at several New England ports then onto Nova Scotia ending at Halifax where the ship will then sail back to Gloucester on a similar itinerary.
The Victory II. * Photo: Victory Cruise Lines
Following these inaugural cruises, VICTORY II will sail northeast to enter the St. Lawrence River, calling at French Canadian ports, navigate the St. Lawrence Seaway, pass through the Welland Canal and end at Detroit. Subsequent summer itineraries will sail the Georgian Bay, call at Mackinac Island, cruise into Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, and then based there, use the Soo Locks to enter Lake Superior and call at Duluth and Marquette and sail as far west as Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The VICTORY I will follow a different St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes program, hence offering more cruises in this region than any other line. In winter, this ship heads back to Cuba with overnight stays in all ports.
The line caters to a seasoned clientele. Single occupancy cabins are available at 160% of the double occupancy rate.
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2 Comments
Great to know that both of these former Delta Queen Coastal vessels have found a new home, albeit under a foreign flag. I consulted with Delta Queen and worked on some of their dock and port logistics in the Northeast for the short time that the Cape May Light was in operation. I was on the bridge when we sailed into Nantucket harbor for the 1st and only time. At that time, she was the largest vessel to have entered Nantucket harbor. I have a lot of photo’s of her on the Hudson River and other ports in New England.
George,
That is an interesting fact about cape may light being the nantucket’s largest visitor. Did you anchor or use the ssa or straight wharf?
I sailed in the ship from Buffalo to Montreal — very nice interiors but a night boat’s AMOUNT of deck space.