Victory Cruise Lines Makes Inaugural Call at Port Miami
by Daniel McCarthy
Representatives of Victory Cruise Lines and PortMIAMI exchange plaques in a traditional first-call ceremony aboard Victory I. From left: Victory Cruise Lines Chairman Bruce Nierenberg, Deputy Port Director Hydi Webb, Victory Cruise Lines President and CEO Hans Lagerweij, and Captain Richard Kerr, master of Victory I. Photo: Andy Newman/Victory Cruise Lines
Adventure and small ship cruise line, Victory Cruise Lines, made its Miami debut last week when Victory I landed at PortMiami, marking the line’s first call at the port.
“We are grateful for the warm reception Victory Cruise Lines has received from PortMiami and the local business community,” said Victory Cruise Lines’ Chairman Bruce Nierenberg.
Victory I is now sailing a 15-night roundtrip Cuba itinerary that includes three days and three nights in Havana. It will then head north on May 5, where it will reposition to sail Canada and New England itineraries throughout the summer.
The ship will homeport at Miami and sail 12- and 14-night cruises to Cuba starting in January 2019.
In January of next year, the cruise company will also homeport in Miami its Victory II, a second 202-passenger ship that will debut in Boston on May 20, 2018. Victory II will sail a nine-night “Yucatan Cruise and Land Safari” itinerary.
The line is privately owned with a small group of shareholders, and according to its President Hans Lagerweij, relies on its partnerships with travel agents, including two preferred agreements with Ensemble and Cruise Planners.
“We don’t sell cruises, we sell experiences. Travel professionals are an important channel for us,” he said.
