Victory Cruise Lines celebrated a maritime milestone Monday with the christening of Victory II at Chicago’s Navy Pier – believed to be the first cruise ship naming ceremony in downtown Chicago. Twelve-year-old Molly Applegate, granddaughter of Victory Cruise Lines founders John and Claudette Waggoner, served as godmother, smashing a bottle of Maker’s Mark Kentucky bourbon on the ship’s bow.
Family Tradition Continues: The ceremony marked the third generation of Waggoner family godmothers, following matriarch Claudette and daughters Emily Coleman (who christened Victory I in Toronto two weeks prior), Marissa Applegate (Molly’s mother), and Angie Hack. Molly prepared for her duties by practicing bottle-smashing in her San Diego backyard.
Poetic Ceremony: With remarkable poise, Molly described Victory II as “more than a ship – she’s like a floating storybook” that will “create new memories for passengers that they will treasure forever.” The young godmother predicted guests would “feel something magical, like opening a new book for the first time.”
Strategic Location: Victory Cruise Lines holds exclusive overnight docking rights at Navy Pier, positioning the company uniquely in the Great Lakes market. Founder John Waggoner, born in Chicago suburb Elgin, called Navy Pier “Chicago’s crown jewel on the lakefront.”
Unique Insight: This christening represents more than family tradition – it signals a strategic shift in American river cruising toward major metropolitan homeports. By securing exclusive Navy Pier rights and conducting the first downtown Chicago ship christening, Victory Cruise Lines is pioneering urban cruise departures that eliminate the traditional “drive to nowhere” river ports. This Chicago-centric approach could reshape domestic cruising by making Great Lakes itineraries as accessible as ocean departures, potentially transforming how Americans view inland waterway vacations.
