ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Cruise ships will once again dock in Escanaba next spring and summer.
In 2025, Victory I and Victory II will be visiting Escanaba a total of 34 times as part of Victory Cruise Line’s inaugural season on the Great Lakes. For local residents, the ships may look familiar.
The ships were previously known as the Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator, which visited Escanaba in the summer of 2023 under the ownership of American Queen Voyages. They were recently purchased by cruise industry visionary John W. Waggoner, and renamed under Victory Cruise Lines.
On July 23, Delta County Chamber of Commerce leaders and Downtown Escanaba officials met with Waggoner, Victory Cruise Lines Chief Executive Officer, and Vice President of Marine Operations Bill Annand. Together, they discussed plans for Victory Cruise Lines to include Escanaba as a stop on its Great Lakes voyages.
Escanaba is a stop on most of the Great Lakes cruise voyages, which include destinations such as Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Detroit, Niagara Falls, Sault Ste. Marie, and Mackinac Island.
“Our guests are looking for quaint, homey, and unique small-town experiences,” Waggoner told attendees, adding that Escanaba has a reputation for going above and beyond guests’ expectations.
In the meeting, Waggoner also addressed the fact that American Queen Voyages ceased operations, filing for bankruptcy in February 2024. He assured attendees that his decades of experience in the cruise industry have prepared him to successfully bring back the ships—with a sole focus on Great Lakes cruise itineraries—which are currently in high demand.
Delta County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vickie Micheau is looking forward to a busy and enjoyable summer of cruise ship visits.
“The hospitality of our community attracted Victory Cruise Lines to return to Escanaba,” she said. “We are looking forward to welcoming these cruise ships and their guests back to our Waterfront community. I just know that the wonderful business owners and residents here will be ready to welcome our cruise guests next spring and summer.”
Another meeting is being planned with the Victory Cruise Lines excursion team to discuss which venues their guests will be most interested in visiting.
In the past, American Queen Voyages cruise ship guests visited various locations, including the Webster Marble’s Inventing the Outdoors Museum and U.P. Military Museum—both housed at the Commerce Center building—the Bonifas Arts Center, Sand Point Lighthouse, Ludington Park, Sayklly’s Confectionery & Gifts, and the Potawatomi Heritage Center in Hannahville with a cultural experience provided by the Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company.
Some of the cruise ship’s visits in 2023 also included the following: log rolling demonstrations and a U.P. Timber Life presentation in the Steam and Gas Village at the U.P. State Fairgrounds; a tour of the MSU Upper Peninsula Forestry Innovation Center; and a craft beer and wine bus tour with stops at Leigh’s Garden Winery, Hereford & Hops Restaurant and Brewpub, Upper Hand Brewery, and Northern Sun Winery. These were offered based on interest from cruise ship passengers.
Victory Cruise Line officials will decide, based on their research and knowledge about their passengers’ desires, which excursions they will offer to their guests during their visits in the 2025 season.
Micheau reiterated her pride and thankfulness to the community for their continual support and dedication to the Delta County area by saying, “Our members are continually showing their ongoing commitment to our local area. Their support and dedication will undoubtedly make our waterfront community shine this summer when we welcome our cruise ship guests.”
For more information on Victory Cruise Lines, visit VictoryCruiseLines.com, call the Chamber of Commerce at (906) 786-2192, or the Escanaba DDA at (906) 789-8696.
