189 NE 2ND STREET
Victory Cruise Lines Makes its First Call at the Port of Miami
Safe Cruise Parking offers the most affordable and safest long-term parking in the Miami Port area.
Cruising is a vacation like no other! This is an experience that many of us will have saved for all of our lives. There are typical events that happen on most cruise trips. You can expect many diffent experiences such as:
- exotic ports of call
- fine dining
- shopping
There are also many onboard cruise activities such as:
- games
- shows
- casinos
This is all melted together with a “cocktail party” atmosphere where, even though you don’t know everyone, you are all at the same party and there is an air of camaraderie where strangers become instant friends. This is a vacation that appeals to a wide variety of ages and interests but it seems sometimes that even cruise lines cater primarily to the 20-something crowd, yuppies, and families, sometimes leaving the over 65 crowd to feel somewhat marginalized even though statistics show that this group historically makes up a large percentage of cruisers.
This is where Victory Cruise Lines Comes into Play!
Based in Miami, Florida it is the first of its kind catering primarily to those 65 and older. An annual survey conducted by MMGY Global, a worldwide tourism marketing company focusing on the travel and hospitality industries, shows nearly 30 percent of those 65 and older had cruised in the past year compared to 14 percent of those in the 30 to 50+ age bracket. Furthermore, Bruce Nierenberg, head of Victory Cruise Lines, is betting that these cruisers are looking for a company catering to their specific needs and wants such as new destinations.
“The main focus of Victory’s travels are the off ship excursions. This trip is about experiencing new places and the local culture in a more personal way including lectures and entertainment featuring the local people.”
How is Victory Cruise Lines Different?
Catch a free shuttle to and from the port when you park with Safe Cruise Parking.
Currently, the line features a single ship, the Victory I, but plans to add another shortly and, while other cruise lines are focusing on going bigger, Victory offers a more intimate experience by downsizing the number of passengers on board to approximately 200. Other cruise lines are also making the move to offer smaller vessels with Seatrade Cruise News reporting that 28 ships carrying less than 300 passengers are on order to be delivered between now and the year 2022 by several cruise lines.
One of the advantages of smaller ships is access to ports that larger vessels are not able to reach and Victory’s main objective is to offer new ports of call to their guests and plans for itineraries to Cuba and Mexico are in the works to add to their current offerings of ports in the Great Lakes.
Another great advantage of having such a small vessel is that the guests really get a chance to know one another. Even if you only got aboard the ship with your spouse, you may meet new friends that you will have for the rest of your lives. In fact, if more cruises to new ports is something you are looking forward too, maybe you will have found a new couple with which to travel.
Naturally, modest-sized vessels feature more modest-sized amenities, so in place of casinos, dozens of restaurants, huge formal dining rooms, and a plethora of decks to choose from expect a single sun deck, dining room, casual dining restaurant, bar, and lounge. In addition, aside from a couple of 300 plus square feet suites, the majority of cabins are approximately 150 to 200 square feet.
The Experience
The ports-of-call and the available excursions are the trade-off for less onboard amenities and activities. The main focus of Victory’s travels which are the off-ship excursions. This trip is about experiencing new places and the local culture in a more personal way including lectures and entertainment featuring the local people.
Victory prides itself on identifying and presenting the break-out activities that provide the unique experience its passengers expect. For example, passengers to Havana are treated to a private concert of pre-revolutionary Cuban songs by a group of Cuban musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club and a trip to Mexico includes a stay inside the Chichen Itza archeological site at the Mayaland Hotel which includes a private sunrise breakfast at the Mayan site before it opens to the public. In addition to the Mayan site, guests can expect a light show at Campeche and an invitation to a rarely seen traditional Mayan healing ceremony. Another distinctive component of Victory’s shore excursions is overnight land stays offering first-class entertainment and food.
Although Victory Cruise Lines has been operational since 2016 with trips to the Great Lakes, this is the first time sailing from Miami to Cuba; however, 13 and 14 night trips are planned for 2019 with stops in several Cuban ports as well as trips to Mexico aboard the newly commissioned Victory II for 11 nights.
Although pricing includes airfare, meals, drinks, tours, and hotel stays, the cost ranges from $3,500 for a Mexican itinerary to $7,000 for the Great Lakes and therefore may appeal mainly to more well-off retirees. That being said, as stated above, for many seniors this is a trip they have been saving for their entire lives.
“… should you need parking while you are away enjoying the vacation of your life you want to know your car and belongings are safe and well taken care of while you are gone. Safe Cruise Parking offers Miami cruise parking with free shuttles, 24-hour security, gated lots, and rates that won’t clean out your wallet.”
Port of Miami
Trust Safe Cruise parking with the safety of your car while you are on your cruise.
Although Victory’s vacation package includes airfare, not everyone will be flying; therefore, should you need parking while you are away enjoying the vacation of your life you want to know your car and belongings are safe and well taken care of while you are gone. Safe Cruise Parking offers Miami cruise parking with free shuttles, 24-hour security, gated lots, and rates that won’t clean out your wallet.
Miami cruise port parking rates cost a fraction of terminal parking which offers far less security and peace of mind. Nothing can ruin that vacation feeling faster than a vandalized car, lugging heavy luggage, and walking miles to find your vehicle. Take the headache out of getting home by choosing Safe Cruise.
