MEDIA ADVISORY - PortsToronto, Victory Cruise Lines and Council of the Great Lakes Region Celebrate the Arrival of the MV Victory II to Toronto

Ceremony Marks the MV Victory II's Inaugural Tour
of the Great Lakes and First Visit to the Port of Toronto

TORONTO, July 30, 2018 /CNW/ - On Thursday, August 2, media are invited to join PortsToronto, Victory Cruise Lines and Council of the Great Lakes Region for a ceremony to celebrate the inaugural voyage of the MV Victory II on the Great Lakes and first visit to the Port of Toronto. This ceremony will mark the MV Victory II's first voyage on the Great Lakes and highlight the important role the Great Lakes passenger cruise industry plays in Toronto's booming tourism industry.

WHAT:	Geoffrey Wilson, PortsToronto Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Nierenberg, Victory Cruise Lines Chairman, and Ted Gruetzner, Chair of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, will participate in a ceremony to mark the MV Victory II's inaugural tour on the Great Lakes and first visit into the Port of Toronto.
	Following this ceremony, media will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and tour the 200-passenger luxury cruise ship.
WHEN:	Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. ET
	Please arrive by 10:50 am in order to register and board the ship
WHERE:	Cruise Ship Terminal, 8 Unwin Avenue (at the foot of Cherry Street)
	Toronto, Ontario
PHOTO OP:	Media are invited aboard the ship for the ceremony and to conduct interviews, take photos and/or video.

IMPORTANT: ALL WHO PLAN TO ATTEND MUST RSVP IN ADVANCE DUE TO SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS. Please RSVP to Sarah Sutton by August 1 at: [e-mail]

*Proper media accreditation/photo identification is required.

NOTE:           

• Solid shoes are recommended
• Parking is available at the Cruise Ship Terminal
• Refreshments will be served

About the Port of Toronto (https://www.portstoronto.com/port-of-toronto.aspxhttps://www.portstoronto.com/port-of-toronto.aspx)
The Port of Toronto, one of Canada's largest major inland ports, is situated on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. For over 100 years, the Port of Toronto has been connecting Toronto to the world. Located minutes from Toronto's downtown core, the Port provides a seamless network of cost-effective intermodal links to road, rail and air transportation, serving as a unique and crucial piece of economic infrastructure. In addition to moving cargo, the Port also welcomes cruise ships and passengers from around the globe through the Cruise Ship Terminal.

About PortsToronto (https://www.portstoronto.com)

For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed more than 2.8 million passengers in 2017; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $10 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.

About Victory Cruise Lines
With the addition of its newest ship M/V Victory II, Victory Cruise Lines becomes the largest cruise operator serving the combined Great Lakes, Canada and The St. Lawrence Seaway. Victory Cruise Lines' two vessels sail throughout these regions from May thru October each year. Our all-inclusive cruising features 5 Star food and Hotel Service. All shore tours and experiences are included featuring escorted tours and attractions, transportation, and guide services. The top sites throughout the region are featured on all Victory Tours. The M/V Victory I runs mainly between Toronto and Chicago on a season long series of 9-night cruises calling on the most popular destinations and touching all 5 Great Lakes. The M/V Victory II runs a series of 9-night cruises between Montreal and Detroit, as well as new itineraries to the Western Great lakes featuring Lake Superior, and Wisconsin. Both the Victory I and Victory II feature cruises sailing through the St. Lawrence Seaway. To learn more about Victory Cruise Lines, click here.

About the Council of the Great Lakes Region (https://councilgreatlakesregion.org/)
The Council is a binational non-profit organization that is dedicated to deepening the United States-Canada relationship in the Great Lakes Region. Its focus is on creating a stronger, more dynamic culture of collaboration in harnessing the region's economic strengths and assets, improving the well-being and prosperity of the Region's citizens, and protecting the Great Lakes for future generations. It achieves this mandate by conducting evidenced based policy research, connecting diverse perspectives from all levels of government, industry, academia and the non-profit sector, and acting as a strong voice for the Region's varied economic, social and environmental interests.

SOURCE PortsToronto

For further information: Media Contacts: PortsToronto, Sarah Sutton, Cell: [phone], E-mail: [e-mail]; Council of the Great Lakes Region, Mark Fisher, Cell: [phone], E-mail: [e-mail]; Victory Cruise Lines, Bruce Nierenberg, E-mail: [e-mail]

Related Links

https://www.portstoronto.com/home.aspx