Cruise ships Victory I and Victory II will return to the Great lakes next year
John Waggoner is reviving Victory Cruise Lines, which he once ran as part of American Queen Voyages. He plans to relaunch Victory I and Victory II in spring 2025 on the Great Lakes with a veteran team of executives. The 190-passenger vessels will cruise the five lakes with sailings between Chicago and Toronto or Montréal, or roundtrip Chicago.
“I cannot believe all the people who’ve come out to say I will help you and do whatever you need, and for free or next to nothing, just to help you get up and going,’ Waggoner said. ‘It’s been heartwarming.’
Waggoner’s made a career of buying undervalued assets at a discounted price, using his knowledge to restore the vessels and putting them in underutilized markets to make profitable businesses. ‘My history speaks for itself,’ he said. ‘I’m glad to be back.’
As earlier reported, Waggoner snapped up the pair of coastals, most recently called Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator, as part of AQV’s bankruptcy auction. In 2011, he had founded what ultimately became American Queen Voyages by acquiring the paddlewheel steamboat American Queen from the U.S. Maritime Administration, grew the company over a decade to field seven vessels and was bought out by Crestview Partners a few years ago.
Waggoner told Seatrade Cruise News he got back in the game because he was too young to retire and missed the business, he wanted to leave a better legacy and to ‘put the band back together.’ Also, he got an ‘unbelievable deal’ on the vessels, and he loves Great Lakes cruising.
He’d forged a company that started as Hornblower Marine Services in 1994 and became HMS Global Maritime, adding Seaward Services, HMS Ferries then American Queen Steamboat Co. and Victory Cruise Lines (the last two combined as American Queen Voyages). After selling the business to retire, he was saddened it ‘evaporated in a quick period.’
He’s using the Victory name as there was no reputational brand damage and ‘it’s a great platform’ should he wish to expand. Waggoner champions the Great Lakes, where there’s little cruise competition and ‘so much to offer,’ he said.
Victory’s core 12-day itinerary, between Chicago and Toronto, is expected to feature a coveted berth at Chicago’s Navy Pier, cruising to historic Mackinac Island, a transit of the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie into Lake Superior, Detroit and Cleveland calls, the Thousand Islands of Lake Ontario, Niagara Falls and winding up at Toronto — touching all five Great Lakes.
Waggoner paid $55m for Victory I and II in 2018 but now was able to acquire both at bankruptcy auction for less than $2m. The deal closed May 9. Originally he’d bid on one coastal and the riverboat American Countess but he couldn’t best American Cruise Lines’ $6m for the four riverboats.
Waggoner and wife Claudette paid cash, and now he’s in the process of raising $10m from banks to cover vessel renovations and start-up costs. He expects to nail the financing in the next 60 days.
Ocean Navigator (Victory II), which suffered a generator fire last year, will be getting a new engine and control system and fresh carpet and wallpaper, all to the tune of $3m, while Ocean Voyager (Victory I) needs only half a million dollars of cosmetic refurbishments, according to Waggoner. The vessels are in Portland, Maine, where the work will be done.
Victory Cruise Lines targets a July 1 marketing launch with an outreach to past customers and an invitation from John and Claudette Waggoner to the inaugural ‘family reunion cruise,’ Victory I’s repositioning from Portland to Toronto.
Waggoner said it makes sense to come out marketing to loyalists, including many who are members of AQV’s Steamboat Society of America and have kept in touch.
The company plans 31 10-day cruises between Chicago and Toronto — always Victory’s most popular prior route, with an average $600 per diem. Plus, there will be three 12-day Chicago-Montréal cruises and two 12-day Chicago roundtrips that explore Lake Michigan and go far into Lake Superior.
During 2025, Victory I will operate a 197-day season and Victory II will be in service 153 days.
“We only need 7,000 customers to fill for the year. That’s about one week on Oasis of the Seas,’ Waggoner said. But this will significantly boost the 20,000 cruisers expected on the Great Lakes in the 2024 season.
Pricing will be inclusive with a pre-cruise hotel night, hop-on, hop-off excursions and Wi-Fi in the fare. The same menus, wine list and onboard style/programming are planned, including a Lakelorian.
‘I want people to feel like they’re coming home,’ Waggoner said.
Among Waggoner’s cheerleaders is Stephen Burnett, executive director, The Great Lakes Cruise Association, who called him ‘an inspiration,’ admiring his ‘ability to operate efficiently and to bring a superb product to market. Having Victory Cruise Lines back in the Great Lakes is a heartwarming notion and we are thrilled that John will be at the helm, bringing his extraordinary expertise to this new enterprise.’
Seatrade Cruise News
Officials on hand for unveiling of new Eisenhower Lock Visitor Center in Massena
MASSENA, NY – After two years of construction, the new Eisenhower Visitor Center at the Eisenhower Lock is ready to open to the public. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday, May 13 with many federal, state, county and municipal officials in attendance.
Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), along with Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) both addressed the attendees, which likely numbered over 200.
In his address, Tindall-Schlicht praised the efforts of the many parties involved in bringing the vision of a new visitor center to life, from the federal officials that assisted, to the contractors who completed the work, to the staff who will operate the center and lead tours.
“The creation of this visitor center is a testament to the strong bipartisan support it has received since inception,” he said.
In particular, Tindall-Schlicht praised U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for their bipartisan efforts to fast track the project. First proposed in 2018 by Sen. Schumer, the visitor center saw officials on site in 2022 to break ground. Just two years, the public will be able to witness what it has to offer.
“The vision and the care and the investments made by the Biden-Harris administration are truly historic. The new visitor center at Eisenhower Locke and the future of shipping on the Great Lakes Seaway is secure because of once in a generation leadership that is exemplified by you, ma’am,” Tindall-Schlicht said in reference to Trottenberg.
Tindall-Schlicht touched on the momentous occasion, saying it marked a great day for the seaway on what was also the 70th anniversary of the Wiley Dondero Act, legislation that was signed into law by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower, paving the way for the creation of the seaway. Exhibits will honor both former Senator Alexander Wiley and former Congressman George Dondero for their efforts to bring the seaway to life.
“After much planning and much expectation, we are immensely proud to offer you all of our visitors this spectacular new experience, which will feature more than 38 interactive exhibits that rival the best maritime museums in the country,” Tindall-Schlicht said.
Visitors will also be able to view ships traversing the locks from two viewing decks, with indoor and outdoor opportunities when weather does not cooperate.
According to Tindall-Schlicht, the facility will stand as a “testament to the enduring impact that the Seaway has had on the Great Lakes maritime economy supporting complex courts in the United States and Canada.”
Tindall-Schlicht said it was his hope, and that of GLS, that the new visitor center would “remain an important and welcoming space in which all voices and perspectives are heard and celebrated.”
While the Baie St. Paul sat in the locks on the momentous day, Deputy Secretary Trottenberg called the event and the center a “home run.” He praised the many parties involved while acknowledging the sacrifices made to not only create the seaway as we know it today but to also praise those whose efforts include revitalizing the visitor center.
Trottenberg, who was in attendance two years ago for the groundbreaking ceremony, said the facility was completed in “record time” and was a testament to what teamwork can achieve.
“I couldn’t be more impressed. The visitor center is world class and you should be very proud. The many exhibits are very educational, but actually are also a lot of fun, with interactive exhibits for all ages,” she said.
Trottenberg said the seaway plays a vital role not just in the shipping of goods, but also in promoting tourism along the Great Lakes and seaway system.
According to Trottenberg, the seaway supports over 350,000 jobs on both the American and Canadian side of the system, generating over $50 billion in economic activity between both nations.
“The Visitor Center celebrates that strong bi-national operating partnership with Canada and has lots of wonderful history, including pictures and letters from Queen Elizabeth during the Second Inaugural visit. It provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the wonderful history of friendship and partnership between Canada and the U.S.,” she said.
Trottenberg said the visitor center, which will benefit the entire region, will help bring more jobs and add to the “beautiful, unique destination” that is the north country. “This is a beautiful facility that will benefit this region for generations to come,” she concluded.
The visitor center will officially open to the public on May 14 at 9 a.m. Regular hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
North Country Now
An Erie tall ship is getting ready to set sail once again.
After major work this weekend, one of Erie’s tall ships is close to being ready to setting sail.
The Lettie has a new mast. It took the Flagship Niagara League (FNL) a lot to get it here but once she’s back on the water and sailing, the work will have paid off.
A 65-foot ship mast made a journey from Boothbay, MN to Erie’s bayfront this weekend, as those working on the Lettie G. Howard finally had one of the last pieces of the puzzle in place before it sails once more.
The FNL acquired a mast which was initially built for another ship, but never installed so after 11 years of sitting, it made it’s way to Erie to be placed on the Lettie.
The FNL’s executive director says it was an intricate process and adds it’s one of the more impressive jobs the league and their shipwright have done.
“It’s one of the things that we’ve always been able to do is all of our work in-house. We have the expertise on staff to do these incredibly difficult and incredibly skill-oriented tasks. We’re really happy to do that, and we’re doing it right here at the Bayfront Maritime Center so people can come in and see the process the entire time while we’re doing it,” said William Sabatini, executive director, FNL.
The 65-foot mast was brought out of the building, down the sidewalk, and finally lifted by a crane before being tied and rigged up by volunteers and crew. Finally, her sails will be put on, and she’ll be ready.
“Tomorrow we’re hoping by the end of the day it’ll be our shake-down sail to see how it all works and it’ll be the first time in almost two years that the Lettie’s foresail will be set,” said Sabatini.
The Lettie was able to be sailed with one mast, but Sabatini said she’s able to do much more with two, such as comfortably setting sail once more in the open waters of Lake Erie.
Sabatini said he’s grateful for everyone involved for helping to get this far and they’re looking forward to bringing some consistency to Erie’s bayfront.”
“We’re just excited to do what we do. The whole thing that we’ve been talking about these past few months or so is that we’re the same people you know doing the things you love. We’re out here providing opportunities for people to go sailing on a tall ship, and that’s what the Flagship Niagara League has been about for 40 years,” said Sabatini.
Sabatini said he’s looking forward to training programs, college history programs with Mercyhurst, and finally opening to public day sails soon after a brief trip to the shipyard.
[Nexstar Media]
Expert expecting another big cruise ship season this summer.
Expect to see a lot of cruise ships once again on the Great Lakes this summer.
The Viking Octantis on its maiden stop to the Georgian Bay community of Killarney in 2022. (File photo/Image courtesy of Drone Malone)
That’s according to Stephen Burnett, executive director of the Great Lakes Cruise Association,(opens in a new tab) who tells CTV News there should be some interesting traffic coming to ports around northeastern Ontario.
“The industry, as you know, is rather cyclical and we’ve lost three ships this year,” said Burnett.
“Certainly we’ll be seeing good cruise traffic through all three ports (Little Current, Killarney(opens in a new tab) and Sault Ste. Marie) and I think given the quality of the shore experience, which is what people come for, you’re going to have some very satisfied customers on your hands.”
It is shore experiences, like the ones created in Killarney(opens in a new tab) through the Killarney Mountain Lodge(opens in a new tab) and Conference Centre that have many in the industry chatting.
“What’s interesting about the Killarney experience is the cruise industry tends to be an industry that has sort of a spyglass on each other and the fact that the cruise industry went to Killarney, you’re going to see more cruise ships going into Killarney,” said Burnett.
“First of all, it’s a stunningly beautiful place. It’s a little bit unusual with that marvelous narrow channel and dropping an anchor, going into Killarney Mountain Lodge by tender, is really an unforgettable experience and I think you’re going to see more of that happen.”
It is a similar deal on Little Current, which has made quite a name for itself, marketing the community alongside its Indigenous neighbours on Manitoulin Island.(opens in a new tab)
“I think Little Current will see a little bit of a dip this year and that’s because two of the ships that we temporarily have lost,” said Burnett.
“But that will come screaming back pretty soon. One of the most significant positive things that we have is the quality of the shore experience. You know people go ashore to see what’s what and they want to see what the people look like, what they’re doing and how they’re living their lives and the quality of the shore experience in these three ports is really some of the finest that we have so that will all do well for the future.”
Burnett added the Great Lakes and northeastern Ontario, continue to be popular not only with American tourists, but the industry is seeing many from France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“In terms of the demographic, the clientele is a somewhat more mature clientele, they’ve travelled far and wide around the world and the Great Lakes have been there but they didn’t get around to cruising them so now they’re doing that,” he said.
“And we’re now starting to see a slightly younger clientele on the more expedition-focused ships so it’s broadening out and we’re very happy to see that.”
Make Your Plans Now for Soo
Boatnerd Picnic, Freighter-Chasing Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 27-38. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-27-28-2024/—
