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A large percentage of all Great Lakes cruises begin or end in Chicago, Milwaukee or Toronto. But there also are Great Lakes sailings that begin or end in Thunder Bay, Ontario; Duluth, Minnesota; Montreal and Detroit. A relatively small number of ships sail in the Great Lakes during any given year. Some of the ships that operate in the region will alternate between three or even four different routes during the short summer season, giving you lots of choices. Plus, there are the lakes themselves, which together are roughly the size of the U.K.
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The best time to book a Great Lakes cruise is right when a cruise line first opens bookings on that sailing, often more than a year in advance. You'll have your pick of itineraries and cabins and often the best fares. As noted above, the Great Lakes offer a wide mix of attractions and experiences. During a Great Lakes cruise, you might find yourself climbing aboard the bus where Rosa Parks took a stand at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit on one day and kayaking through the wild marshlands of Point Pelee, Ontario, the next. Both cater to a generally older crowd, which is the main market for Great Lakes cruises.
Accepted by Most Major Cruise Lines
Some of the ships also offer sailings that combine travel on one or more of the Great Lakes with a passage through the St. Lawrence Seaway. In some cases, these latter trips include travel all the way to Montreal. You're given a plastic poncho to help keep you dry as the boat (not your Great Lakes cruise ship) motors up to Horseshoe Falls, the largest and most impressive of Niagara's cascades. It's said that the equivalent of one million bathtubs of water tumbles over the falls each minute. Seven-night round trip cruises from Chicago sail primarily on Lake Michigan, entering Lake Huron to visit Mackinac Island.
CRUISE LINES
Cruise line calling it quits on the Great Lakes after 2 years - WOODTV.com
Cruise line calling it quits on the Great Lakes after 2 years.
Posted: Mon, 26 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A few days ago, American Queens Voyages announced that it has decided to end its Great Lake itineraries after the 2023 season and sell its twin ships, the Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager. The onboard lab where scientists, including from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct research and experiments is another wow factor, as is the 20-person expert expedition team onboard. In addition to the submarine, the ship also carries Zodiacs and kayaks (for use in Canadian waters). Discover the cultural treasures of Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, and venture to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland to view Elvis’ motorcycle and Michael Jackson’s white sequined glove.
Great Lakes Cruises That Include the Erie Canal
Ocean Victory, which is the company's new expedition ship coming to Alaska, is the first. Think about the destinations you want to visit, the nature of the ship you want to “live” on, and the cost (including what is and what is not included). Many stop in large Midwest cities, including Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee. But the ships also stop at places like Buffalo (Niagara Falls), New York; Duluth, Minnesota; and Holland, Muskegon, Sault Ste Marie, and Mackinac Island, Michigan. In May 2023, river cruise giant Viking arrived in Toronto for its second season on the Great Lakes, its first foray in North America.
You may not think of Cleveland, Chicago, Toronto, or Duluth, Minnesota, as hot ports on the cruise map, but this year they are. In June, Green Bay, Wisconsin, had its first-ever cruise ship visit, American Queen Voyages’ 202-passenger Ocean Navigator. On this comprehensive 15-night St. Lawrence Seaway & Great Lakes cruise, explore the breathtaking landscapes, historic harbors, and cosmopolitan cities that make this region incredible. Begin your journey in Québec City, a living museum with nearly four centuries of history, before exploring the narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways of Montreal, admiring the splendid architecture of one of the oldest cities in North America.
In addition to the main Coastal Dining Room, the ships have a casual buffet venue. Local musicians come onboard for performances, such as a Motown tribute in Detroit. Be awed through the cruise to Niagara Falls as our local expert guide shows you the best vantage points. Discover the history of American Music at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH, visit Motor City Detroit, and stop in Sainte-Marie, Ontario’s first European community. On this enchanting 11-night cruise, travel through four of the Great Lakes and the Georgian Bay to admire the magnificent scenery that surrounds you from the comfort of the Pearl Mist.
Great Lakes Sailings Offer a Variety of Itineraries
The two Great Lakes ships are relatively new additions for American Queen Voyages. As American Queen Steamboat Company, the line became synonymous with river cruises in the U.S. After purchasing Victory Cruises in 2019, the line became American Queen Voyages in 2021 as it eyed an expansion into North American lakes and ocean cruises. While they were set to launch in 2020, the pandemic put plans on hold (which continued until Canada lifted its ban on cruise ships this year).
Night Great Lakes & Georgian Bay Cruise
What follows is a trip that comprises eight days and seven nights of splendor aboard the sleek, modern Viking Octantis. Your cross-two-countries trip will include visits to Point Pelee, Ontario, Detroit, Michigan, the Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where you’ll disembark. Cruise lines often run sales in the fall or in the early months of the year (a period known in the cruise industry as "wave season").
Cruise company to leave Great Lakes, sell ships - Duluth News Tribune
Cruise company to leave Great Lakes, sell ships.
Posted: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Visit Detroit, commonly known as The Motor City, though equally famous as the birthplace of Motown Records. Explore the Killbear Provincial Park in Parry Sound, where a local naturalist will educate you on the unique ecology of the Georgian Bay. Take Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride in Mackinac Island, past the famous Grand Hotel, and tour the homes of wealthy lumber barons in Muskegon.
Think about spending time before or after your cruise in Chicago, Toronto or Montreal. You won't have time to visit these great cities if you don't book some hotel time. Lake Superior is not on the basic lake-to-lake route of most Great Lakes cruises. Crossing it would mean backtracking to resume cruising on the other four lakes.
Great Lakes cruises also bring days that are all about getting up close to wonders both natural and human-made — from towering Niagara Falls to the engineering marvel that is the Welland Canal. The city-oriented stops that Viking and the other lines make, such as visits to Milwaukee or Chicago on Lake Michigan, give you time to explore the urban sensibility of the region. Brew-town Milwaukee offers the chance to explore the city's craft beer and brewing scene or to take a walking tour to the city's many outdoor sculptures. Chicago is famous for its world-leading architecture (which you can see on walking and boat tours), its Magnificent Mile lined with more stores than you've probably ever seen in one place and its world-class cultural institutions. Lengthwise, you'll find Great Lakes voyages ranging from seven to 15 nights. Others focus on just three or four of the interconnected bodies of water.
This new, state-of-the-art, long and narrow expedition ship was built for Southern Hemisphere summers in Antarctica and is spending Northern Hemisphere summers in the Great Lakes. Its style and onboard amenities are in a league of their own for cruises in the region. It’s the largest ship in the Great Lakes, though small enough to clear (by a tight one foot) the 27-mile Welland Canal that connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Fans of Viking will recognize the sleek Scandinavian decor and Nordic accents, dining choices (including Manfredi’s for Italian), and a wide range of accommodations, with designs that mimic the interiors of the line’s ocean and river ships. One difference, however, is that rather than have step-out balconies, staterooms feature windows that open to let in the breeze.
Another seven-night option is a one-way cruise from Chicago to Midland, ON, or vice versa. Ports of call on Great Lakes cruises vary slightly with Mackinac Island, Little Current and Niagara Falls among the scheduled highlights. Georgian Bay, often called the sixth Great Lake, is a large, picturesque, island-filled bay off the eastern side of Lake Huron. Some cruises on the Great Lakes might sail straight through the bay or call on Parry Sound. There are plenty of options for those who just want to cruise the Great Lakes.
It’s the kind of ship without a lot of activities, where passengers are happy to occupy themselves with views, reading, or conversation. Shore experiences include kayaking, hiking, lobster fishing, and glass-bottom boat tours. Detroit alone will have 50 cruise ship visits this year, according to Kyle Burleson, director of port operations for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. Cruises on the Great Lakes will cumulatively call at 28 different ports in 2022, offering a welcome boon in visitors to the destinations in the American Midwest and Canada that they visit.
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