The Victory II is moored at the Lower Harbor Park in Marquette. It marks the start of Marquette’s tourist and cruise season. As just a few hours prior to the picture, swarms of visitors from across the nation explored Marquette and a few hours after they left for the next city of their journey, Houghton. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE – A cruise ship docked at Lower Harbor Tuesday, bringing with it hundreds of tourists to explore Marquette, visit the Maritime Museum and see the home of Bishop Baraga. The ship departed later that day, but will be returning in precisely two weeks.

“In Victory Cruise Lines we have two ships; they are two Great Lakes ships and we do a variety of Great Lakes itineraries,” said Cruise Director Zach McCullough. “We actually have two this season coming this far into Lake Superior. They are 14 day cruises, Chicago to Chicago, and it is our first time up this season and we are really excited to be here.”

Guests from the cruise docked for the day and got to experience what Marquette had to offer and even had the option of various special tours.

“There is a Bishop Baraga Tour,” McCullough said. “A shore experience we call it. Today we have: Michigan Mining Industry, Marquette Maritime Museum, Harbor Lighthouse Tour and the Bishop Baraga Tour one as well.”

Victory Cruises has included shore experiences at nearly every stop, and the next stop for the cruise will be at Houghton before curling around Canada and returning to Chicago.

“It is great to be here on Lake Superior,” McCullough said.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.