Cruising the Great Lakes: Look inside Victory Cruise Lines' Victory I

A cabin aboard Victory I.

The 190-guest vessel, like sister ship Victory II, was built in 2001 and recently refurbished.

Mackinac Island in Michigan was among the stops during the nine-night voyage.

Guests had the entire day to visit sites like the famous Arch Rock.

The Compass Lounge provided a comfortable space for lectures, nightly destination briefings and shows.

The Grill was one of two dining venues onboard, offering breakfast and lunch and a special Tuscan Stone Grill concept in the evenings.

An outdoor deck doubled as a communal balcony for select cabins, with chairs facing the water.

Victory I transited the Soo Locks, which allow vessels to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.

There were ample opportunities to learn about maritime history, including at the Museum Ship Valley Camp in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where visitors can explore exhibits inside a freighter.

The ship stopped in Canada's Port Colborne, offering easy access for shore excursions to Niagara Falls.