Table Of Content
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.
The Most Common Great Lakes Cruise Itineraries
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.
What to know about cruising between the U.S. and Canada
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.
Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards: Just Another List?
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.
Great Lakes Cruises That Include the Erie Canal
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.
Amsterdam to Nuremburg on Avalon Expression: An “Active Discovery” River Cruise
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.
Canada & the Atlantic Coastline
Experience unique ports of call in the surrounding states and provinces as you cruise through the magnificent Great Lakes. Discover hard-to-reach destinations, thriving cities, and breathtaking landscapes. Flip-flops or sandals come in handy for the Niagara Falls boat tour. The massive Great Lakes freighter, which was built in 1917 and retired in 1966, houses displays relating to maritime history in the cargo holds, including two lifeboats from the sinking of the legendary Edmond Fitzgerald in 1975.
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 2022 Cruise Season Kicks Off With American Queen, Viking Cruise Ships; Banner Year Ahead
Company that brought cruise ships to Escanaba closing its doors - Escanaba Daily Press
Company that brought cruise ships to Escanaba closing its doors.
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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.
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.
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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment