By
Laura Hyde |
Victory Cruise Lines and Ponant have joined international cruise marketing organisation Cruise the Great Lakes.
Both Victory Cruise Lines and Ponant have sailed ships on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River for several years. Victory Cruise Lines’ ships Victory I and Victory II will sail itineraries in the region in 2025, while Ponant will offer cruises onboard its ships Le Bellot and Le Champlain. The cruise line’s join existing organisation members Pearl Seas Cruises, St. Lawrence Cruise Lines and Viking Cruises.
“There is a strong market for cruising the Great Lakes and our talented team is passionate about delivering a wonderful experience in the region,” said John Waggoner, founder and chairman of Victory Cruise Lines. “As we prepare for our first season, we look forward to being a part of Cruise the Great Lakes and supporting their efforts.”
Ponant ships Le Bellot and Le Champlain will offer cruises in the Great Lakes region in 2025
“Ponant is proud to join Cruise the Great Lakes and strengthen our commitment to this extraordinary region,” said Patrick Augier, director of operations and general secretary at Ponant. “The Great Lakes ports and infrastructure allow us to explore stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage while staying true to our philosophy of responsible and immersive travel.”
Cruise the Great Lakes was founded in 2018 with the aim of attracting more cruise passengers to the region, which covers the eight states and two Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River in North America. The forum brings together the states, provinces, cruise lines, ports, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, associations and others to work toward shared goals.
“We are delighted that both Victory and Ponant have chosen to join Cruise the Great Lakes,” said Cathleen Domanico, tourism director for Cruise the Great Lakes. “Their beautiful ships turn heads in every port, so we are pleased the companies have strengthened their commitment to the region so more passengers can enjoy the amazing experiences these cruise lines provide.”
Cruise the Great Lakes is predicting more than 700 planned port visits in 2025, up almost 30 per cent from 2024. Over 22,000 individual passengers will visit the region in 2025, a ten per cent increase over the previous year. The organisation is also anticipating an increase in economic impact across the area, predicting more than $230 million will be spent by cruise passengers visiting the region throughout 2025.
“The beauty and diversity of our region continue to attract visitors from around the world,” said Anne Sayers, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and chair of Cruise the Great Lakes. “With more ships and ports on the itinerary, the positive economic contributions of Great Lakes cruising will continue to be felt across the region.”