Saturday, April 13, 2024

Great Lakes Explorer Cruise

cruise on great lakes

Stops include Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Mackinac Island, Michigan, where horse-drawn carriages are likely the only traffic you’ll see, and Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. 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"). Some of the most desirable cabins might be sold out; being flexible about your sail date or itinerary can help. 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.

Best Great Lakes cruise lines

cruise on great lakes

Enjoy a narrated cruise on the beautiful St. Mary’s River in Sault St. Marie and learn the rich 300-year-old history of the area and the story behind the Soo Locks. Explore Michigan’s pristine wilderness and scenic landscapes in Marquette, lined with miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Our premium category L staterooms are over 300 square feet and are located on the 5th deck level of the ship, allowing for plenty of privacy.

Viking River Cruises

Two more lines that occasionally operate sailings in the region are German line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and France-based Ponant. Tour organizer Smithsonian Journeys also occasionally offers Great Lakes sailings using chartered Ponant vessels. Experience our most immersive exploration along The Great Lakes, the largest freshwater system in the world. Aboard the Pearl Mist, enjoy a comprehensive exploration of the entire Great Lakes region. Explore the Killbear Provincial Park where a local naturalist will educate you on the unique ecology of the Georgian Bay and guide you on a geology stroll through the windswept pines and to Parry Sound’s stunning shoreline.

Redefining a New Style of Luxury Adventure

It warms up considerably by July and August, with high temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Here, The Points Guy offers up a guide to everything you need to know about planning a sailing in the Great Lakes.

Cruises

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. There's a lot to see and do in the Great Lakes region, and it's hard to argue that there's a better way to see and do it than on a cruise. Cruise vessels departing from such cities as Chicago and Toronto can take you to all of the highlights of the region — from the breweries of Milwaukee to thundering Niagara Falls — in a single trip. This has turned the Great Lakes into an exclusive zone for a handful of smaller cruise operators that focus on very small vessels. All this can be seen via an overland trip, of course, and many people explore the Great Lakes region by car or on motorcoach tours.

cruise on great lakes

Explore the historic buildings and public art displays of Thunder Waterfront and North Core. Delight in a scenic drive to Kakabeka Falls, which means ‘waterfall over a cliff’ in Ojibwe and is also nicknamed the ‘Niagara of the North’ due to its size and accessibility. Venture to Fort William Historic Historical Park for a guided exploration of this living museum, featuring reconstructed buildings and historians dressed in period clothing. Delve deep into the heart of the region's rich mining history as you experience a unique blend of education and adventure.

Great Lakes cruises expect increase in passengers - WSBT-TV

Great Lakes cruises expect increase in passengers.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Great Lakes Cruises

Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, one of the top art museums in the country, before traveling to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit to learn how he changed the world of technology and manufacturing. Experience the great beauty of Lake Michigan cruises, where pristine shores and stunning vistas await. Delve into the rich history and vibrant culture of the region with our Lake Erie cruises, offering captivating insights into this storied waterway. Journey through beautiful landscapes on our Lake Superior cruises, renowned for its rugged beauty and preserved wilderness.

Of the three main lines operating in the Great Lakes, as noted above, Pearl Seas Cruises focuses the most on the region's small towns, with fewer stops at bigger cities. Mackinac Island is a living Victorian town where personal motorized vehicles are prohibited – all those visiting or living on the island travel by horse or horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or on foot. While Mackinac Island is known for its opulent Victorian homes and hotels, it has a long Native American history. Anishinabe-Ojibwe tradition holds that the island was a sacred place populated by the first people and was home to the Great Spirit Gitchie Manitou. On this sightseeing tour of Detroit, get a glimpse into the rich history of the city as you listen to our local expert provide narration about the music that makes Michigan so special. Since the Industrial Revolution, the Amish have been largely known as hardworking, devoutly religious people who shun most types of technology.

Witness the blend of innovation and history as you learn about its transformation from the first transporter bridge in the U.S. in 1905 to the magnificent vertical lift bridge you see today. This path leads to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, with a wealth of information regarding life on the Great Lakes. Delve into the rich tapestry of maritime lore, where tales of ships and sailors come to life.

As you ride, enjoy narration, including the history of Duluth, its harbor, and the importance of the railroads to the development of Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Explore an actual Great Lakes Freighter at The Museum Ship Valley Camp, which houses a 20,000 square foot museum with over 100 exhibits inside her massive cargo. Visitors are able to view these cabins to see how Great Lakes sailors lived and worked aboard ship, from the nicely appointed Captain’s quarters to the plain accommodations lived in by the Oilers and the Coal Passers. View the Edmund Fitzgerald memorial and exhibit which features two lifeboats from the stricken vessel.

Using the detailed map provided, explore the many naval and military sites on the harbor, including a variety of historic naval vessels, sailor’s barracks, a square for military drills, and original officer’s quarters. With exhilarating speeds of up to 38mph, cruise Midland Harbor and the 30,000 Islands region aboard the Tobermory Flash, an all-aluminum, open-air speedboat. Along the way, the captain's live commentary will include points of interest, historic facts, and fascinating legends about the region. With spacious, comfortable forward-facing seating, this speedboat allows you to take in all the scenic highlights, including excellent views of Beausoleil Island, Bone Island, Honey Harbor, and more. Midland is the main town and economic center of the area located at the southern end of Georgian Bay’s Thirty Thousand Islands. Learn about the history of this fascinating city with a visit to Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a living museum depicting 17th-century missionary life.

The two main players in Great Lakes cruising are Viking (a newcomer in 2022) and Pearl Seas Cruises. Each has one vessel devoted to the region (Viking Octantis and Pearl Mist, respectively). When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and the price. Cruises at the beginning of the Great Lakes cruise season in May are generally a bit less expensive than those in June, July, August and September. Great Lakes cruise weather can be chilly at the start of the season, with low temperatures in the 40s in May in some areas and highs in the 60s.

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