I ticked more than one destination off my travel bucket list in a single cruise through the Great Lakes.
On the fourth day of my sailing with Victory Cruise Lines, I made it to Mackinac Island, which I had wanted to visit for years.
I arrived on the ferry from St. Ignace, Michigan, where my ship had docked, around 9 a.m., and took a short walk to Watercolor Cafe, where a sun-filled dining area offered prime waterfront views.
There, I got a cherry Poppie – their take on a Pop-Tart – and fueled up before hiking through Mackinac Island State Park to Arch Rock, perusing shops on Main Street, and stopping by the 1880s Grand Hotel. That was just the beginning: By the end of the nine-night voyage, I took a boat tour of Niagara Falls, explored Cleveland’s
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, strolled through downtown Detroit and more.
The voyage offered a convenient, low-stress way to visit destinations and attractions I’d long hoped to see. The region is seeing high demand, too, with more than 25,000 passengers expected to sail there this year, according to Cruise the Great Lakes, up 5% from 2025.
Here’s what else stood out to me during my early May voyage from Chicago to Toronto.
1. The trip felt like a mix of ocean and river cruising
Victory, which relaunched with two ships in 2025, kicked off its second season in April. My cruise aboard the 190-guest Victory I felt like a mix of ocean and river cruising.
One night, after leaving Milwaukee, I opened my cabin door – which was located on a promenade that doubled as a balcony – to what looked like pitch-black water as far as I could see. The rush and enormity of Lake Michigan on a windy, 45-degree night more closely resembled the sea than I expected.
However, when we docked, I could have been convinced I was on an intimate river vessel.
Getting on and off the ship took seconds most days. Not only were there fewer and smaller crowds than travelers would typically find on an oceangoing ship, but the vessel docked close to the city center in the majority of ports, meaning we could easily come and go as we pleased.
In Cleveland, Detroit and Canada's Port Colborne, I took shore excursions offered by the cruise line in the morning, boarding motor coaches parked steps away from the ship. Then I came back to the vessel to grab my backpack and water bottle, and took off exploring on foot for the afternoon.
2. It's made for maritime history lovers
The itinerary and onboard programming centered largely on maritime history and infrastructure.
Halfway through the cruise, we visited Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and transited through the Soo Locks, which raise or lower vessels to allow them to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The captain made an announcement as we approached the locks, and a crowd gathered at the front of the ship to watch the process.
That afternoon, I took an excursion to the Museum Ship Valley Camp, where visitors can explore exhibits inside the freighter’s cargo hold. Just down the street, the Soo Locks Visitor Center offered an alternate vantage point to see the locks and learn about the site’s history.
A LakeLorian – onboard guides trained as part of Victory’s partnership with the National Museum of the Great Lakes – also offered lectures throughout the voyage on the types of ships in the region, what it’s like to spend winter on an ore boat and more. Some examples of the vessels described passed by during our trip – a more immersive learning experience than reading about them back home.
3. It had a personal feel
American Queen Voyages’ founder, John Waggoner, revived Victory. The fleet’s two ships – which were purpose-built to sail the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and French-Canadian Maritimes – were owned by American Queen Voyages before it shut down in 2024.
Waggoner was no longer involved with the company at the time. American Queen Steamboat Company acquired Victory Cruise Lines in 2019 and later merged the two into American Queen Voyages.
The vessels were built in 2001, but they were refurbished prior to their relaunch and underwent another round of upgrades this year. Victory I showed some age, but felt comfortable with many modern amenities, from complimentary espresso machines to reading lights by the bed.
Most strikingly, the vessel had a more personal feel than ships from larger cruise companies.
The shore excursions manager gave nightly previews of each destination, held office hours to answer questions and offer assistance with bookings, checked us into motor coaches and sent us off over the intercom. The cruise director also doubled as an onboard singer (I particularly enjoyed a Carole King tribute set).
There was a small onboard spa, and the spa manager – who offered massages, facials and other treatments – remembered my name after meeting her just once the first night of the cruise. Whether at one of the two restaurants onboard, in the Compass Lounge or at the small but well-appointed gym, I saw the same faces again and again in a way that felt unique even among other ships I’ve sailed on.
How much do cruises with Victory cost?
Prices vary by sailing date, cabin category and other factors, but a 10-night trip – including a pre-cruise hotel stay – from Chicago to Toronto beginning on Sept. 5 currently starts at $6,899 per guest, according to Victory’s website.
Fares also include food and drinks on board, excursions in each port (with additional options for added fees), Wi-Fi and more.
This story was originally published on May 25, 2026. The reporter on this story received access to this cruise from Victory Cruise Lines. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This Great Lakes cruise checked off multiple bucket-list stops
