Pick something other than Victory Cruise Lines. The Great Lakes were a great place to cruise; just pick another cruise line. Or set your expectations low and deal with it. We did Detroit to Halifax. For example, if you don't mind waiting 45 minutes for the crew to figure out how to put the gangway down to get off the ship at your ports of call... then deal with the limited excursion time. If you don't mind that your port of call for a whale watching excursion is canceled and you simply drive by the area... then deal with it. The ports of call on the Great Lakes are not what you find on cruises anywhere else in the world. If you don't mind that you dock with the cargo vessels in many ports... deal with it. Like I said, the Great Lakes are worth doing a cruise on; even if the ports are quite up to what you find to welcome you elsewhere. But, what you do NOT want to do if find yourself on a Victory Cruise ship with any "sea days". These ships are small and without adequate facilities. Other reviews have already noted the tight quarters, terrible plumbing (flushes all night long and water totally stopping mid-shower), and as one fellow put in a lounge that reminded him of the visitor area of his mother's nursing home. On the positive side, Food was good. Coffee and cookies in the lounge as a snack option was good for those on a diet. Excursion's were good other than often cut short in duration. Service was marginal but with potential. We were booted from an earlier Victory II cruise because the ship didn't get out of dry dock in time. No compensation for then accepting a cabin downgrade to take a later date was only part of the issue here. The big issue was that the staff on the ship were simply NOT ready for prime time. A handful of staff were great and likely had prior experience. Much of the staff were very weak, inattentive, and more focused on serving the captain and senior crew than the guests. Would we do a Great Lakes cruise again. Yes! But we will be looking for another cruise line. Read Less

Delightful - best cruise we’ve had out of 11 cruises! Chose it for the destinations and the excursions. Wanted to go through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal, as well as the cities involved. Ship was nice small size (200 passengers), crew was superb, food was great, and everybody was friendly. We enjoyed cruising without the hustle and bustle of large ships. We particularly enjoyed the personal attention of the crew, that they got to know you by name, and that there was no waiting in line for anything. The excursions were superb and included in the cruise price, as was the wine and beer. We enjoyed that there was no smoke-filled casino on board (and no smoking at all) and we were not bombarded by the many big ship announcements touting and hustling the many things and shops on board. It was just simple cruising in the most pleasant of circumstances. Read Less

Had the opportunity to experience the Victory II inaugural voyage. It was a great experience filled with amazing food, exceptional service and new friends. This ship is small, with great character, the best environment to receive a personal service. The staff knew my name and my diet coke for breakfast request by the third day. The all-inclusive excursions were very nice. I felt immersed in the culture of the place. The karaoke nights at the tavern were amazing and we all got together and sang like family. No one does the destinations like Victory Cruise Lines. We had dinner at a vineyard, entertainment every night, local foods were cooked on board, the best desserts and more. Lavender Creme Brulee is the single best dessert I have ever had!!! Lourdes is the best server. I highly recommend Victory Cruise Lines because they make sure you create friends and memories you will never forget. Read Less

I was lucky enough to be part of the Victory II inaugural voyage from Montreal to Detroit and I loved the experience. I love food and I couldn't be happier with the delicious cuisine and service. Their two restaurants, the Victory Dining Room and the Lighthouse Grille are beautiful and they offer options to please everybody. The staff is amazing and I’m already missing them (Amelita and Lourdes)! I had the chance to discover Montreal, Quebec City, Niagara Falls, Toronto, the warm hospitality in Kingston and be surprised by Cleveland and Detroit. I loved the Cleveland Museum of Art, it was a great find during my stop in the city. The views were breathtaking and the atmosphere is relaxing. Nothing like sitting with your drink or coffee while admiring the world. Every sunset and sunrise was unforgettable. It was a lovely time and I’ll be back for sure! Thanks !! Read Less