IF WE CAN MAKE IT, YOU CAN MAKE IT…AND WE’LL TRAVEL THE WORLD TO BRING IT HOME TO YOU.
That was the original tagline for Chewing The Fat. We shortened it on the advice of those well-meaning web police who believe shorter is better. But as most readers know travel is a big part of my life and I write about it elsewhere. Today, I wanted to take you along on my latest adventure, a wonderful cruise with wonderful food. And you won’t have to cook a thing!
VICTORY CRUISE LINE: A REMARKABLE WAY TO EXPLORE THE GREAT LAKES AND THE
HEART OF AMERICA
For those seeking an immersive way to experience one of the world’s great natural wonders, Victory Cruise Lines offers a voyage like no other—a journey across the largest inland bodies of freshwater on the planet: the Great Lakes. Framed by charming American and Canadian cities, these waterways are steeped in history, culture, and breathtaking natural beauty. There’s no better way to discover them than aboard Victory Cruise Lines.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR SMALL SHIP CRUISING IN NORTH AMERICA
Under brilliant sunshine and the shimmering skyline of Toronto, Victory Cruise Lines celebrated a proud milestone: the christening of Victory 1. The event was a heartfelt family affair, led by cruise industry pioneer John Waggoner, whose passion for river and lake cruising has spanned decades. As he launched this new chapter, it was his daughter, Emily Elizabeth Foerster Coleman, who continued a family tradition as the 4th Godmother of a Waggoner ship. And she also broke one. She christened Victory I not with Champagne but with a bottle of Crown Royal Canadian Whisky—above the ship’s bow.
Victory I and her sister ship, Victory II aren’t mere ships—they are the rebirth of a beloved travel style. At just 190 passengers, these intimate vessels evokes the charm of 19th-century steamers while offering all the contemporary comforts. Think of it as a floating lake house with white glove service, where North American hospitality meets European elegance.
A SHIP WITH STORIES TO TELL
Victory 1 and her sister ship, Victory II, have lived many lives—from cruising the Yucatán to sailing the Atlantic coast. Today, under the renewed vision of John Waggoner, they’ve been transformed into two of the most stylish, well-appointed vessels to grace the Great Lakes. With expansive deck space, refined interiors, two lounges, and 95 thoughtfully designed cabins, they’re tailor-made for explorers who want to travel in comfort and culture.
CULINARY FUSION THAT TELLS A STORY
One of the great pleasures of this journey? The food. Victory 1 is a floating celebration of North America’s extraordinary culinary tapestry. Onboard, guests sample a delicious fusion of flavors that reflect the immigrant roots of modern American cuisine. From Italian-inspired sauces to Indian spices, Filipino traditions to French pâtisserie finesse, the ship’s cuisine is an edible map of the new world.
Chef Rosario “Ross” Soriano, a self-taught chef from the Philippines with a 27-year career on waters both fresh and 
salt, leads a dynamic team whose talents span continents. Whether it’s a perfectly poached egg in the morning, a handmade croissant that rivals Paris’s best, or sizzling steaks seared on hot lava rocks at the Tuscan Stone Grill by night, every meal is a journey. Even the wine stewards make sure your glass is full with premium wines that are included in your fare.
A LAKEHOUSE WITH A VIEW—AND A STORY TO TELL
Cabins aboard Victory 1 are cozy sanctuaries, equipped with modern amenities and serviced by an attentive international crew. There’s ample entertainment onboard, from evening lectures with the ship’s resident “Lake Lorian®” to games, live music, and craft cocktails in the ship’s sociable lounges.
THE GREAT LAKES: WHERE NATURE, HISTORY, AND CULTURE MEET
These inland seas are shared by Canada and the United States, a region where cooperation, heritage, and neighborly goodwill transcend borders. Cruising them offers not just views but insight—into the spirit of the continent and its layered histories.
UNFORGETTABLE PORTS OF CALL
Victory 1 is more than a cruise—it’s a guided cultural immersion. Every stop comes with a curated shore excursion, included in your fare.
A FIRST-CLASS JOURNEY THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES, PORT BY PORT.
TORONTO
Your adventure begins in Canada’s electric cultural capital, where an overnight stay and a city tour set the stage. Skyscrapers shimmer above world-class museums and vibrant neighborhoods. From here, Victory I sets sail across Lake Ontario, slipping into the Welland Canal by night. Eight locks and 342 vertical feet later, we arrive in Port Colborne, Ontario—gateway to a natural masterpiece.
NIAGARA FALLS
The Canadian side, they say, is the showstopper—and they’re right. Victory guests get exclusive access to the hydroelectric power plant dreamt up by Nikola Tesla himself. A private tunnel leads you thrillingly close to the roar of the falls. The mist, the thunder, the sheer drama of it all? Unforgettable.
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Once dubbed “The Mistake on the Lake,” Cleveland is now the comeback queen of the Midwest. Dock beside the Cleveland Browns’ Football stadium and stroll straight into rock ‘n’ roll heaven—the Hall of Fame is a love letter to the legends, from Elvis to Elton. The city’s industrial past makes a gritty contrast to its gleaming cultural renaissance.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Prepare to be surprised. The included tour to the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation is nothing short of time travel—see Rosa Parks’ bus, Abraham Lincoln’s theater seat, and yes, Oscar Meyer’s Weinermobile and cars, cars, cars. And if you’re the type who knows the lyrics to every Supremes hit, hail a cab to Hitsville U.S.A. for a side-trip to Motown’s holy ground.
A DAY ON LAKE HURON
Let the lake breeze work its magic. Lake Huron, part of Earth’s largest system of freshwater, is more than scenery—it’s serenity. Stretch out on deck, order a cocktail, and watch the modern world melt into the horizon.
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO, AND MICHIGAN
Welcome to “The Soo”—twin cities split by the St. Mary’s River but united by soul. Here, Victory I docks on the U.S. side and offers a front-row view of the Soo Locks, an engineering marvel that powers Great Lakes shipping. With any luck (and a cooperative schedule), the ship may cruise into Lake Superior—earning those “All 5 Great Lakes” bragging rights that give this sailing its name.
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN
No cars, no noise—just clip-clopping carriages, floral perfumes in the air, and a sense of stepping back in time. Victory I guests are whisked through dappled woods to Fort Mackinac before descending into town, where fudge shops beckon and the Grand Hotel looms like something out of a storybook, with a porch the size of a football field. It’s postcard-perfect.
ESCANABA, MICHIGAN
Tucked into Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc, Escanaba feels like a friendly secret. Expect stories of proud “Yoopers,” a museum that celebrates small-town life with big-hearted charm, and your first encounter with a piping hot pasty—the handheld meat pie that defines Upper Peninsula cuisine.
LAKE MICHIGAN AND CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
On the final day, the water lies smooth as silk, and the sky plays every shade of blue. Milwaukee appears on the shoreline like a mirage, but it’s Chicago that closes the curtain—either as a stylish coda to your cruise or the gateway to your flight home. Either way, you disembark full of stories, vistas, and perhaps a newfound reverence for the inland seas of America.
THE FINAL PORT: CHICAGO
As your journey ends in the Windy City, you can choose to explore on your own or take advantage of transfers to O’Hare or Midway. But one thing’s for sure: whether this is your first visit or your tenth, there is no more inspiring, enriching, or scenic way to experience the continent’s inland heart than aboard Victory Cruise Lines.
For more travel posts on Chewing the Fat…just go to…https://chewingthefat.us.com/?s=Travel
