Victory Cruise Lines has announced that photographer Gary Bogdon will join the Victory I as guest lecturer and host of interactive photography lessons on its April 25 to May 5, 2026, Toronto to Chicago voyage.
The sailing marks Victory Cruise Lines’ second season of exploration following its celebrated debut in 2025.
“The voyage to Chicago, calling on all five Great Lakes, is Victory Cruise Lines’ most popular, as it showcases so many postcard-worthy moments,” said John Waggoner, chairman and founder of Victory Cruise Lines.
“As an avid photographer myself, I am confident that having Bogdon aboard to share photography tips and stories of the many events he has captured will be a treat for everyone,” added Waggoner.
The company said in a press release that Bogdon is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and USA Today.
Bogdon brings more than three decades of experience, including photographing major news stories, such as Pope John Paul’s and Mother Teresa’s visits to the USA, as well as US Presidents Reagan, Carter, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Clinton and Obama.
Onboard, Bogdon will lead workshops on capturing stunning travel photos with only a smartphone or digital camera, as well as personalized tips for photographing nature, architecture and people.
According to the press release, guests will also have the unique opportunity to join Bogdon during select shore excursions, where he will provide hands-on guidance in framing, lighting and storytelling through images, helping travelers return home with professional-quality memories.
The itinerary on the Victory I is a 10-night journey from Toronto to Chicago that sails all five Great Lakes and showcases the region’s destinations.
Beginning with a pre-cruise hotel night in Toronto, guests will experience the Niagara Falls from Port Colborne, Cleveland and Detroit, Mackinac Island and Sault Ste. Marie.
The itinerary also features stops in Escanaba and Milwaukee before concluding at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Victory Cruise Lines’ voyages include a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, complimentary ground transfers and all-inclusive amenities.
